Review: Six Hands is a vibrant, mod-Japanese take on the salad genre

Salad bars, the once unexciting lunch option of choice for the health-conscious office worker. At least, that’s what it looks like on the surface. 

I don’t know about you, but there’s no shortage of salad options anywhere I go, with many of them moving on from joyless limp leaves and vinaigrettes to something a bit more complex in recent times. Now, it’s about variety, bold flavours, and increasingly, culinary innovation.

Still, anyone hopping onto the salad bar bandwagon must have some degree of conviction to stand out from the rest. Good thing then that Six Hands, which opened in Millenia Walk in late-September, comes with a bit of a story and good salads to boot.

The backstory

The team behind Six Hands are the same people who’ve had quite some success with Omote, known for its modern Japanese donburi and sushi, and the artisanal udon bar Umai. 

Six Hands brings a similar ethos to the bustling salad scene — quality ingredients and six thoughtfully constructed signature bowls, and a firm nod to Japanese flavours.

The shop occupies a small space in the middle of the mall, decked in a contemporary green and black colour scheme with several standing tables and some seating along the wall. 

Ordering and customising your salad is a breeze, too — just use any of its two kiosks, located prominently in front of the shop. 

Our verdict

Six Hands certainly has ambition: Its ingredients are undeniably fresh and the flavours — miso marinades, wasabi ricotta dressings, and their umami-packed chilli — are bold and exciting, which also differentiates them from the rest of the salad crowd.

With all the marinated meats, creams and sauces in its signature bowls (from S$12.80 to S$16.80), no surprise that they’re probably less “healthy” compared to other salads.

That said, there’s a make-your-own-bowl option from S$12.80 if you’re particular about the amount of calories you’re consuming. 

The ordering process through the digital kiosks is a cinch and the staff are cool and cordial. If you’re not grabbing a bowl to go, seating may be limited and a tad cramped, but is adequate.

All things considered, Six Hands is definitely worth a visit if you’re in the area and want a substantial salad that won’t leave you feeling like you’ve given up joy for the sake of health.

What it’s good for

The Nusa spiced beef (S$16.80) is what happens when a salad takes a trip to flavourtown and comes back looking to spice things up. 

The first thing that hits is the tender barbecue pulled beef — smokey, sweet, and spiced up with habanero hot sauce. 

The crispy shallots, spicy cashews and wasabi peas deliver a satisfying crunch, while pieces of kale, buffalo sauce-roasted cauliflower, panko broccoli, and raw onions keep things earthy and grounded. 

There’s also a spoonful of well-meaning nori purple rice, but you don’t really notice it until you dig down into the bottom. It’s good to have, but doesn’t do much for the salad.

You can top up 50 cents for its housemade chilli, and by “can”, I mean you absolutely should. 

This is a jammy, sambal-type chilli that has the sweetness and onion flavours of a nasi lemak sambal and the crispy garlic texture of Lao Gan Ma chilli. It’s so good you can eat this on its own.

Loaded with corn chips on top, the chipotle chicken (S$14.80) doesn’t look much like a salad, but it really is (or we think it is). 

This bowl oozes Tex-Mex influences with corn chips, creamy avocado, and sour cream, while the pulled chicken, slathered in chipotle sauce, is zesty and sweet. The heat is less than I’d hoped, but that’s where the house chilli comes in.

The whole bowl has a lot of crunch thanks to the chips, baby romaine and crisp coral lettuce, but it’s balanced out by the avocado and cream (which also provide a welcome cooling counterpoint).

The eggplant miso (S$14.80) is where the Omote influence really shines, and for a vegetarian option, this is a clear winner. 

At the heart of it all are the savoury and lightly-charred eggplants that’ve been roasted with a clever blend of miso and raclette cheese. 

The beetroot hummus provides a sweet, earthy contrast, while purple cabbage, wasabi peas, panko broccoli and spicy cashews again add crunch to keep things interesting. Even the nori purple rice, which seemed a tad puzzling in other bowls, works here to bring the salad together.

I’ve had tough and dry salmon in salads before, so the perfectly-grilled salmon steak in the Chillichanga salmon (S$16.80)⁣ is very much welcome. Its crispy skin gives way to soft, flaky flesh that goes well with the tempura bits, crispy shallots, and wasabi-infused ricotta on top. 

There are more wasabi peas, purple cabbage, golden beets, and a special seaweed salad that adds a burst of savouriness to each bite. 

Despite its name, this salad isn’t particularly spicy, and most of the chilli comes in the form of a spicy sesame sauce that the salmon is baked with.

You won’t find any ol’ soft drinks here — it is a salad bar afterall. 

Instead, Six Hands has a range of iced drinks with purported benefits, such as the Glowing Skin vitapop (S$4.80), a refreshing blend of strawberry and kiwi that hits you first with its natural sweetness then follows up with a tart, zesty finish. The collagen peptides inside leave a subtle smoothness on the tongue, but it’s barely noticeable unless you feel for it.

I don’t know about my metabolism, but the Metabolism Booster vitapop (S$4.80) shines with the vibrant flavours of apricot and peach in every sip. It’s a fizzy treat that perks you up without feeling overly sweet.

What it could improve on

There are some veggie crisps (S$4) in the form of taro chips, though apparently the veggie choice might change according to the season. The yam is sliced very thinly and lightly salted, and has a taste similar to the tapioca chips you find at the supermarket. 

On this occasion though, the chips seem to have gone a tad stale and lost their crispiness. Plus, the accompanying spicy sweet dipping sauce, while delicious with its umami notes of fish sauce and lime juice, was too runny to properly scoop up with the crisps.

Thicker and crunchier crisps, and a more viscous sauce would’ve made for a better overall experience.

Our quick takes

Is it conducive to conversation? Seating is tight at Six Hands. Plus, expect this place to be packed during lunch hours, so we’d recommend a grab-and-go or a quick lunch if you’re dining here.

Is a reservation necessary? Walk-ins only.

How to get there? Six Hands is located on the side of Millenia Walk closest to Promenade MRT Station Exit B. Keep left once you enter the mall!

HungryGoWhere paid for its meal at this restaurant for this review.

For the latest eats, read about new artisanal pizza joint at Holland Grove, Paradise Pizza, or 5 Senses at Odeon 333 with its Hainanese and local classics. Alternatively, check out the newest openings in Singapore here. 

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out. 

You can also book a ride to Six Hands at Millenia Walk.