Tora-San’s second outlet brings its signature towering dons to Novena

Singaporeans have a not-so-quiet obsession with Japan — from ramen shops tucked in malls, to sashimi bars packed on weeknights. So, we can only imagine the silent glees of joy knowing that Tora-San now has a second outlet at United Square.

Known for its creative rice bowls (dons) stacked with fresh seafood, the brand’s expansion means even more ways to get your Japanese food fix.

From Orchard to United Square

The story of Tora-San began at The Centrepoint, where it quickly drew fans with its chirashi (raw seafood on seasoned Japanese rice) and kaisen-don (raw seafood on plain Japanese rice). Its calling card? Generous toppings of fresh sashimi and seafood, presented in casual, affordable rice bowls that make a proper Japanese meal feel like an everyday option.

The vision has always been to bring quality and vibrant Japanese street dining to Singapore, without the stiff formality of fine-dining sushi bars. 

At The Centrepoint, that meant chirashi bowls and donburi that balanced creativity with accessibility, appealing to both office crowds and families in Orchard.

In late August, Tora-San opened its second outlet at United Square. Here, you’re greeted by the same playful tiger motif splashed across the wall, this time paired with rows of glowing paper lanterns that set a distinctly Japanese mood.

The space leans intimate — cosy seating rather than sprawling tables — and the warm lighting keeps it softly lit, giving the restaurant a comfortable, relaxed air.

While it carries over most of the staples from The Centrepoint, the Novena shop presents a new menu addition under the limited-time Tora-King Series (depending on availability of ingredients) — an upgrade that features premium seafood such as Alaskan king crab and other luxe toppings.

Positioned in a family-friendly mall, this outlet also leans into variety. It caters not just to quick solo meals, but also to groups looking to share and sample across the menu.

Towering portions, thoughtful flavours

Every meal here begins with a complimentary miso soup (for all diners), simmered with whole salmon heads for a deep, hearty broth. It’s a simple touch, but one that sets the tone for the meal’s focus on freshness and umami.

With our appetite awakened, we moved on to appetisers that leaned indulgent, yet comforting, such as the mentaiyaki tamago (S$6.90). It’s a crowd-favourite layered omelette blanketed in torched, creamy mentaiko sauce (cod roe mayonnaise).

Straightforward, sweet, and salty — with all the makings of a satisfying starter.

To wash it all down, Tora-San’s beverage list offers both playful and classic picks. We ordered the fizz cherry blossom lychee (S$8.90) with bits of sakura konjac jelly for texture. It’s a fun drink that is pleasantly sweet, and we totally understand why this non-alcoholic thirst-quencher is a hit!

There’s also the gingerale highball (S$12.90 for single shot, S$18.90 for double shot), a slight deviation from the usual soda and yuzu highballs you often see.

The crisp, ginger-lemon notes made the highball especially refreshing, especially when enjoyed with the decadent una tama don (Japanese braised rice topped with layered egg and grilled eel, S$24.90).

Here, Tora-San puts its own spin on tradition: The rice is flavoured with goma oil (sesame oil) and shoyu (soya sauce), then topped with shredded char siew (barbecued pork) and crowned with a hefty portion of glistening grilled unagi (eel) and tamago (layered egg).

The kabayaki sauce, usually reserved for basting unagi, is drizzled over the entire bowl, giving the dish a very luxurious mouthfeel. The result is a rich dish that we’d suggest splitting among friends, reminiscent of roasted duck rice — albeit a drier, less saucy iteration.

Speaking of rich dishes, the heaping serving of Mount Fuji kaisen san (S$27.90) is another impressive rice bowl dish that is great value for money. In fact, there’s also a S$99 version that features over 500g of sashimi and feeds four diners!

It certainly lives up to its name, with a towering heap of raw fish, such as salmon, tuna, hamachi (Japanese amberjack), scallops, octopus, cucumbers, tobiko (flying fish roe), ikura (salted salmon roe), and finally capped with an impressive amount of snow crab flakes to represent Mount Fuji’s snowy peak.

We were also informed that “san” in the dish’s name is a nod to “mountain” in Japanese (山), adding to the playful symbolism.

Taste-wise, it’s a dish you’ll want to enjoy gradually, as every type of seafood brings out a different level of umami or seafood sweetness. And of course, be sure to enjoy every scoop with a helping of snow crab flakes; it carried a distinct sweetness that made this dish an enjoyable eat.

It slowly became clear that Tora-San doesn’t play when it comes to the portions of its rice bowls. The Tora-San deluxe chirashi don (S$36.90) is a delightful bowl of raw slices of salmon, tuna, and hamachi, with scallop, awabi (abalone), and aka ebi (Argentine red shrimp) draped over rice.

All that is topped with tonburi (vegan caviar made from Bassia scoparia seeds), black caviar, and ikura, and served with freshly grated wasabi — something that Tora-San is very proud of.

The awabi is the standout here, for its deep, briny flavour and lingering aftertaste. If you’re a fan of molluscs, this dish will win you over.

Still have room for a small sweet treat? The ichigo strawberry daifuku (S$5.90 for two pieces) — chewy mochi filled with fresh strawberry ice cream — is easy on the palate and a welcome, subtly sweet dessert after the feast we just enjoyed.

Additionally, every diner also gets to enjoy a complimentary shot of yuzu sorbet, served by a keen-eyed server, just as we polished off our meal.

A mountain of flavours worth climbing

Tora-San’s second outlet at United Square reinforces why the brand has been steadily winning fans — hearty rice bowls, playful touches, as with the freshly grated wasabi, and symbolic creations such as the Mount Fuji kaisen san.

Generous portions mean most dishes are made for sharing, making it easy to come with friends or family, and try a spread. Add in the complimentary miso soup at the start and yuzu sorbet shot at the end, and you get a dining experience that feels thoughtful without being fussy.

For more ideas on what to eat, try Viva Lavender, a new Euro-Asian restaurant at Bendemeer, and also check out our favourite spots for fluffy shio pan.