Ka-En Grill & Sushi Bar launches Yakiniku Kurabu with al fresco barbecue and happy hour deals

Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski might not be the first place you think of for an evening barbecue, but Ka-En Grill & Sushi Bar is out to change that.

Opened in 2023, the Japanese restaurant has garnered a following for its diverse menu — featuring sushi and sashimi, hearty grilled mains, and sake.

Its newest dining experience, Yakiniku Kurabu (meaning “grilled meat club” in Japanese), takes things outdoors with an al fresco grill-at-table experience, where diners sear premium meats and seafood over a tabletop flame.

Platters for every appetite

The new yakiniku line-up offers something for every appetite, with five different platters to choose from.

At the entry level, the pork & chicken platter (S$26) brings together iberico pork jowl, Hokkaido pork belly, and chicken thigh, paired with seasonal vegetables such as leeks and shishitou peppers.

Those who want a bit more indulgence can go for the wagyu beef, pork & chicken platter (S$35), which ups the ante with slices of Miyazaki wagyu chuck roll alongside the pork belly and chicken cuts.

Given that pork and chicken are mild in flavour on their own, we wished the various meats were seasoned more, as it relied heavily on the accompanying egg yolk-yakiniku sauce (a soya-based sauce with mirin) for flavour.

With that said, the pork belly does have its fat to rely on for flavour — which we’re not mad at — but it would’ve been nice to have marinades that left an impression.

For true beef lovers, the luxury wagyu beef platter (S$108) is the star — a decadent 330g spread of deluxe and premium Miyazaki wagyu, offered both plain and marinated in a house salt sauce for contrast. The unseasoned cuts include deluxe Miyazaki marbled wagyu karubi, premium Miyazaki marbled wagyu karubi, and premium Miyazaki wagyu chuck roll.

Meanwhile, marinated options include premium Miyazaki marinated wagyu karubi in salt sauce and Miyazaki wagyu thin-sliced chuck roll (sukiyaki-style).

The best way to enjoy these delicate cuts is to grill them for no more than 30 seconds on each side, then dredge each slice in the yakiniku dipping sauce. Admittedly, the biggest downside to the wagyu being minimally seasoned is that every cut starts to taste the same after a while.

That’s not to say premium cuts such as these don’t taste great, but the meal would’ve proved more exciting with a myriad of flavours — perhaps some spicier, some sweeter, some saltier.

Still, if you can put away even more meat, individual plates of beef can be ordered a la carte from S$22 per platter, from S$9 for Hokkaido pork belly, and S$5 for an order of chicken thigh.

Seafood lovers won’t feel left out either: The assorted seafood platter (S$45) lays out tiger prawns, half-shell scallops, and oysters from Japan’s Murotsu Bay. 

We can’t forget about eating our greens, either, which is where the assorted vegetable platter (S$10) comes in, featuring lettuce, mushrooms, Japanese pumpkin, corn, and more.

Bites to complement the grill

To add more flavour to the feast, Ka-En Grill & Sushi Bar’s izakaya menu kicks in after 5pm, with bar bites from S$5. These bites are easy crowd-pleasers, such as the addictive shinjyaga garlic shoyu (crisp baby potatoes in shoyu butter, S$5).

We won’t fault you if you find it hard to stop at just a few of these garlicky morsels!

Elsewhere, there’s corn ribs shoyu butter aonori (baked corn “ribs” with garlic-shoyu butter and seasoned with seaweed, S$5) and a comforting bowl of kawari agedashi tofu (pillowy tofu cubes in broth, S$5).

When enjoyed with the barbecue spread above, the corn ribs’ spice stands out for its pepperiness — something we didn’t expect with straightforward garlic-shoyu butter, but totally appreciated.

However, the most indulgent highlight of Ka-En Grill & Sushi Bar’s izakaya menu is the kani koura yaki with mini baguette (grilled crab roe with miso in the shell, topped with crab meat and ikura, S$15.80).

It’s a moreish, umami complement to the meal that you’ll keep returning to, so remember to pace yourself before it’s gone too quickly!

Who doesn’t love a solid Happy Hour deal?

And, of course, what’s an izakaya without drinks? Ka-En Grill & Sushi Bar makes it easy with its daily Happy Hour promotions from 5pm to 8pm.

Think S$8 Suntory Kakubin highballs (U.P. S$10), 50% off Japanese oysters, and discounted Suntory beers and sake bottles — perfect for pairing with smoky bites from the grill.

To sweeten the deal and celebrate the launch of the Yakiniku Kurabu dining experience, there’s also a limited-time platter deal: From now till September 14, order the wagyu beef, pork & chicken platter and get your second one at 50% off (U.P. S$35).

Worth gathering around the grill

For all its sizzle, this al fresco barbecue dining experience proves surprisingly comfortable. Even while dining outdoors, the heat never felt overwhelming, and we left without that lingering greasy “barbecue perfume” you often carry home from other grill joints.

With generous portions and a good spread of sides built into the menu, it’s also a hearty option for convivial gatherings. Between the variety of platters, flexible add-ons, and easy-drinking Happy Hour deals, Ka-En Grill & Sushi Bar’s latest addition makes a strong case for your next after-work hangout or weekend catch-up.

For more ideas on what to eat, try affordable A5 Omi wagyu at Steak Sudaku, and also check out our guide on these Phu Quoc restaurants to explore.