This Japanese Stall Has $9.90 XL Pork Katsu Don Loaded With Mentaiko—Is It Any Good?

HARU-HARU Speciality in Mentaiko has cheap Japanese food 

Whenever I need me-time, I love to frequent Bras Basah Complex and browse through second-hand books while enjoying a cup of coffee. Recently, it came to my attention that there’s a potential lunch spot to check out after my book shopping at Shifu Food Court: HARU-HARU Speciality in Mentaiko, a Japanese stall run by ex-izakaya head chef Yuki Haruyama, whipping up XL mentaiko pork katsu curry and more under $15.

This New 24/7 Food Court Has Truffle Wonton Mee, Mentaiko Katsu Don And More

Food at HARU-HARU Speciality in Mentaiko

There are more than 10 items on the menu, from hearty noodle dishes and rice bowls to bite-sized snacks such as takoyaki.

Being a signature item, we had to try the XL Mentai Pork Katsu Don ($9.90). The hearty serving of pork katsu was enough to impress, but the generous drizzle of their house-made creamy mentaiko mayo made the dish all the more memorable.

Each cutlet is coated with nama panko, AKA Japanese breadcrumbs made from fresh bread, which means it’s of a higher quality than regular panko. While nama panko is harder to source, Chef Haruyama sticks to this recipe to craft a lighter and crispier crust—and this was true when we tried it!

The cutlet here had a nice, flaky exterior, boasting a delicate and airy crunch in each bite. Better yet, it stayed crisp even after being left out with all the sauce.

Despite the thick slices, the meat was juicy and succulent, and had a good fat-to-meat ratio. That said, some slices were slightly stringy, but this wasn’t a major issue as the cutlet was still quite tender.

Flavour-wise, the mentaiko mayo was not cloying, adding a delicious richness that wasn’t too briny. The dish also came with a side of sweet-tangy takuan, AKA pickled daikon radish, offering a refreshing break from the heavy flavours. We would’ve liked it even better if the mentaiko sauce were torched for a smoky finish.

A plate of Japanese curry paired with any katsu can easily exceed $20 at most Japanese restaurants in Singapore, but here, you can indulge in it for less than $15. Choose between several options, including the Chicken Katsu Curry ($9.90), Pork Katsu Curry ($10.90), and Premium Pork Katsu Curry ($14.90), which uses premium US pork loin. We decided to go with the latter to see if the premium cut was any different.

The katsu was even more tender than their normal pork cutlet. Unlike the other cutlet we had, the fat in this version wasn’t stringy, and the meat was moist and delicate, melting away after just a few chews.

Apart from the meat, we enjoyed the thick Japanese curry that came with it. It was subtly spicy and had a hint of sweetness that balanced out the richness of the dish. It, however, lacked the carrots, onions, and potatoes that you’d expect in Japanese curry rice. 

The curry tasted great, but do note the bold flavours overpower the mentaiko sauce.

FYI, if you’re not a fan of mentaiko, you can get their dishes with one of their other house-made sauces instead: Miso Sauce or the newly-launched Truffle Sauce. They’re also available a la carte for $1 each.

The truffle sauce had a deep earthiness, perfect for any truffle lover. That said, the strong truffle flavours can become cloying when served in the same generous amount as the mentaiko sauce.

We also enjoyed the aromatic Miso Sauce, which looks similar to the Truffle Sauce. It wasn’t as bold as the Truffle Sauce, but it brought a lovely sweetness that cut through the porky flavours of the katsu.

Besides the crispy chicken and pork cutlets, HARU-HARU also has a couple of seafood dishes on their menu, including the Unagi Don ($13.90): a large unagi fillet served with pickled daikon radish atop a warm bed of sticky and fluffy Japanese pearl rice.

Grilled to perfection, the unagi was soft and succulent, falling apart with just the slightest touch from our forks.

The unagi was coated with a delicious sweet-savoury glaze that paired well with the mentaiko sauce, made better by a depth of smokiness from the grill.

Moving on to their noodle dishes, we had the Mentai Inaniwa Onsen Egg Udon ($8.90), starring a bowl of Inaniwa udon, AKA a thinner and flatter variety of udon, coated in a creamy mentaiko sauce, then topped with fatty bits of salmon, shredded nori, and a silky onsen egg.

At first, the noodles were firm with a silky and chewy texture. Sadly, this didn’t last, as they became quite soggy after some time.

In terms of flavour, the combination of the mentaiko, fatty salmon, and nori made the dish a tad too fishy for us. On the bright side, we enjoyed the runny onsen egg, which melted into the sauce for an extra layer of indulgence.

Lastly, we had the Takoyaki W/ Mentai ($5.50), featuring six takoyaki balls with octopus, finished with a drizzle of mentaiko sauce and a dash of shredded parsley.

Unfortunately, the takoyaki was too doughy, with only small bits of octopus within. The octopus was also quite tough to chew on.

The saving grace was their signature mentaiko mayo sauce, again adding a delicious, rich creaminess to the dish and loosening the chewy bits.

Ambience at HARU-HARU Speciality in Mentaiko

HARU-HARU Speciality in Mentaiko is located at Shifu Food Court at Bras Basah Complex. The revamped food court boasts a fun and lively atmosphere, complete with vibrant storefronts and decor throughout.

The food court can house up to 430 people at a time, with tables seating groups of four. There are four seating areas to choose from: the main air-conditioned dining hall and three outdoor areas located by the different entrances.

For easy access, the stall is a quick six-minute walk from City Hall MRT Station. It’s also within walking distance of Bras Basah MRT Station, Esplanade MRT Station, and Bencoolen MRT Station. Do note that the place gets quite crowded during peak hours, so we recommend heading down early.

HARU-HARU Speciality in Mentaiko – Eatbook review

Despite having a few misses, most of the dishes at HARU-HARU impressed us. Overall, their main dishes were tasty, wallet-friendly, and of generous portion sizes. Coupled with the central location, we definitely see ourselves coming back the next time we’re craving an affordable Japanese meal!

Read our Bugis food guide for more good eats in the area. Alternatively, read our guide to the best Japanese restaurants in Singapore.

Address: 231 Bain Street, Shifu Food Court, #01-79, Stall 4, Bras Basah Complex, Singapore 180231
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9:30pm
Tel: 8511 3487
Website
HARU-HARU Speciality in Mentaiko is not a halal-certified eatery.

38 Bugis Food Places In Singapore For Souffle Pancakes, Wagyu Ramen And More

Photos taken by Jordan Ong.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.sg.