Japanese Restaurant Review

Monzen Gardens Review: Chirashi and Wagyu Beef Don That Can Rival Tanuki Raw

17 September 2019 Serangoon Gardens

7.5/10

Serangoon Gardens is often called the Holland Village of the North-East. Located slightly off Serangoon Central, this tranquil area is home to a wealth of exciting restaurants and possesses a remarkably chill vibe. Adding to the list of restaurants worth checking out is Monzen Gardens — a newly opened Japanese rice bowl joint tucked in the corner of myVillage@Serangoon Gardens.

Flat lay of Monzen Gardens Japanese rice bowls

Meet the Chef: Alfred Ng

The restaurant is helmed by Alfred Ng, who also opened The Milky Way—an ice-cream cafe at Tanglin Halt. He has since sold his ice-cream business and decided to focus his efforts on Japanese cuisine instead. Swapping the ice-cream scoop for a chef's knife might sound surprising, but the 32-year-old was heavily inspired to serve up Japanese rice bowls after a visit to Japan. Together with his brother, he enrolled in the prestigious Tokyo Sushi Academy in Tokyo to learn more about Japanese food. The gruelling eight-week course was tough for someone without formal kitchen experience, but the training gave him a better understanding of Japanese fare.

Food at Monzen Gardens

Alfred takes pride in sourcing the freshest ingredients, insisting that his sashimi be delivered fresh daily. This means that his rice bowls might get sold out earlier than expected — a necessary cost to pay for quality.

Bara Chirashi Don

$15.80+

A generous serving of chopped salmon, tuna, swordfish sashimi, tamago, and tobiko heaped over sushi rice. The pieces of sashimi are marinated in a special house-made sauce, which includes shoyu and a hint of sesame oil.

There's a pleasant mix of seafood tossed inside, so you're bound to scoop up different pieces with each spoonful. The seafood was fresh with no overly offensive fishy taste, and the fatty pieces of salmon gave everything a pleasant burst of rich flavour.

Wagyu Beef Don

$18.80+

Wagyu beef is seared and served on a bed of white rice, then drizzled with a special truffle shoyu. The beef bowl is garnished with garlic chips, green onions, and an onsen egg.

Monzen uses only the feather blade cut for their beef bowls — a cut praised for its tenderness and flavour. The beef was cooked to a nice medium with an attractive sear. Mix the creamy egg yolk, piquant garlic, and beef for a real explosion of flavours.

      
        Must-Try Recommendations
      
      Bara Chirashi Don — Quality comparable to Koji Sushi Bar and Manzoku at affordable prices
Wagyu Beef Don — Best enjoyed by mixing the creamy egg yolk, garlic, and beef together

Bar Bites & Happy Hour

Enjoy a variety of bar bites with the restaurant's permanent happy hour promotion. Their Kaki Fry ($10+ for four pieces) features Japanese oysters breaded with panko crumbs and deep-fried to a golden-brown crisp. While the batter could be improved, the oysters were plump, juicy, and packed an addictive brininess.

Kronenbourg Blanc & Asahi pints at $10 nett — all day, every day!

Ambience at Monzen Gardens

Cozy interior of Monzen Gardens restaurant

A Warm, Welcoming Space

Both indoor and outdoor seatings are available here. The indoor setting is comfortable and features warm lighting along with comfortable chairs. The staff were friendly when we visited, and there's no service charge here as well.

You might have to wait for your food though — Alfred is currently running the kitchen as a one-man operation, so you'll have to be patient. If you have the time, be sure to have a chat with Alfred after your meal. He's a chatty individual and will be more than happy to share more about Monzen and his time in Tokyo with you.

Pro tip: Alfred is always changing his recipes according to feedback, so dishes may improve over time based on customer input!

The Verdict

7.5/10

Quality Japanese fare is commonly found in town, away from the heartlands. Serving up tasty food with generous portions, Monzen Gardens is a welcomed addition to Serangoon Gardens. Besides Sushi Tei, there aren't any other Japanese food options around at this tranquil neighbourhood. While there's room for improvement, Monzen looks set to be a name for fans of Japanese food to remember in time to come.

Pros

Quality chirashi bowls with fresh daily sashimi
Cozy and comfortable location
No service charge
Chef Alfred is receptive to feedback

Cons

Execution of some dishes can be improved
Inconvenient location for some
One-man kitchen operation means longer wait times

Address

1 Maju Avenue, #01-09/10
myVillage@Serangoon Gardens
Singapore 556679

Opening Hours

Wed–Fri: 12pm–3pm, 5pm–11pm
Sat–Sun: 12pm–11pm
Mon: 12pm–3pm, 5pm–11pm
Tue: Closed

Contact

9119 0700
Facebook

Price Range

$$
Under $20 per person

Not halal-certified