Wasabi Tei Japanese Cuisine

So long before I visited Chikuwa Tei, I've been an ardent fan of Wasabi Tei at Far East Plaza. I liked that it's yummy, affordable and fuss-free. The salmon sashimi slices were always thick, juicy and extremely fresh!

My visits to Wasabi Tei were always on Saturdays and I make it a point to get in during the first seating when they open at 530pm. As the restaurant is a small tiny unit with only 16 seats, the queue outside always get incredibly long after 6pm or so. It's quite an experience to watch everybody sitting around the counter and eating together in a small cozy environment with the radio playing in the background. Don't visit this place if you mind the occasional squeeze. I'm pretty fine with shifting around to allow others to enter or leave since this is truly part of the charm of this place.

I like their grill dishes as well especially their grilled chicken and grilled salmon sets. I usually alternate between these two sets when I visit and the sets come with an appetizer at the start. I can't quite figure out what the appetizer is but it tastes great! There are bits of chicken, wakame and beancurd skin braised in a dark sauce.

Every seat at Wasabi Tei costs $2 which includes a drink and you would have to order something else for each seat that you occupy. That means you cant have two people sharing just one item and occupying 2 seats which makes sense since there are only 16 seats inside.

All in all, it's a very different dining experience with great food!

For pictures visit toseetofeeltoeat

This eatery is very cramped but somehow it adds to the cozy atmosphere. I usually try to go early or late so that I avoid the crowds. This place only offers 16seats after all!!

I like the fuss-free, efficient setting. I always order salmon sashimi ($10) for 6 THICK slices on top a bed of shredded Japanese cucumber. I have also tried their fried beef slices in onion set, chicken teriyaki set and grilled fish (yellow-tail throat portion). All were excellent!

The staff are always busy churning out food and serve loads of regulars who tend to be young people around 20-30 years old.  

Prices for all dishes are NETT and there is a flat $2 surcharge for each seat which comes with a drink (soft drink or green tea). 

I have been to Wasabi Tei three times in the last 2 months as well as Chikuwa Tei (because of all the comments by former customers of Wasabi Tei). I prefer the location of Wasabi Tei because I tend to be around Orchard Road and the food is to my liking. However, if I am around Mohamed Sultan, I will definitely go to Chikuwa Tei! 

For those suffering from withdrawal symptoms since the nazi chef sold his business in Far east plaza, he has opened a spanking new outlet at Chikuwa Tei! food is as good and generous, although pricier with gst and service charge. FEP regulars will appreciate this place for sure!

Recommended in the Lonely Planet, this has been on my to do list for a while. I checked the reviews here, and it features all the typical crap of people complaining that it used to be better. Welcome to 2010, it costs good money to get good food.

So dropped in here on a Friday about 6pm, the notoriously long queue was 4 people deep, and as dinner had just started, we had a good 25 minute wait. No big deal because they post the menu on the glass wall, so you can decide what you want.

Got seated, we ordered a good selection. Started with the sashimi mid sized set ($25), then got the sushi mid-sized set ($15), a cucumber hand roll ($3), a California maki ($6), two Asahi ($6/ sm bottle) and walked away full for $64 for two persons. The sashimi was very fresh, there were 3-4 slices of swordfish, salmon, tuna and a few others. Just melt-in-your mouth awesome.

The sushi was great, not mind blowingly spectacular, but I have always had good sushi in Singapore, so it is hard to really wow me.

Really like how the prices are net. No stupid added GST and service charge, which more places should do. Unless I have the option of not paying it, include it in the price. The service was fine, there was no rush for us to get out, and we took our time. They could provide miso soup, and the interior could be updated a bit. Overall, a great dining experience, if these losers complain and do not go there anymore, good. There will be more seats for people who can actually appreciate the food and experience.

Favourite Chirashi set 's Sashimi shrunk both in size and quantity unlike previous time

 

My friend tried queuing up early to get in for lunch. But we found out later that the management has changed. The food was good, but the portion no longer appears huge, so I guess the great value for money factor is lost now. No more bad-tempered chef/staff anymore - so different dining experience. Still quite an interesting place, amidst a very tight place.

It is never the same again - all portions at least cut by 25%. Not worth queuing anymore, even if there is no queue, I won't be back.

I went there many times before after seeing the reviews here,

satisfying experiences previously with yummy and affordable Jap food,

and this was the only time I was truly disappointed.

The sliced rawfish now comes in thin and small portions,

and I realized they've also cut back the portions for appetizers.

The sushi rice was also not well done with too much vinegar.

It's no longer value for money will small portions and

bad food.

Service was VERY slow compared to the past,

and some of the food came lukewarm.

Eg appetizers.

Don't expect prompt refills of green tea anymore.

the most delicious part of the meal was probably the watermelon which needed not much preparation.

Will not be back.

A reminder of Tsukiji, and not because of the fish. Well to be fair, I didn't try the sashimi although the large chunks of fresh looking salmon did look rather enticing. We had walked past Wasabi Teh several times before, and decided to brave the queue to try it just once.

Food: Came with the folks so we ordered four sets to share, i.e the salmon claypot, the grilled saba, the teriyaki beef and the teriyaki cod. The claypot wasn't all that great, I didn't try the saba, the beef was pretty good and the cod was just OK, have had better elsewhere. I liked the pork and seaweed appetiser, and the watermelons for dessert were quite sweet.

Service: So-so.

Ambience: Reminds me of the miniscule sushi bars in Tsukiji.

Queued for 40 mins not cos it was popular but 'cos food came slowly and the place was tiny. Food was just average and I wouldn't care to repeat the experience. Wasn't THAT cheap either.

Singaporeans seem to be fond of standing in line, something I am unable to comprehend after all these years. From Hello Kitty to Louis Vuitton, Wasabi Tei should be added to this distinguished list.

I have seen people queueing for over half an hour for a place at this 16-seat hole in the wall. I would like to state right off the bat that this is not something I would do. If you wish to dine here, I recommend arriving just before they open for either lunch or dinner (12pm and 530pm respectively, I believe). This should ensure a place in the first seating.

Wasabi Tei seems to inspire strong emotions in the people who dine there. These range from a cult-like following to vitriolic hatred. Indeed, diners should be prepared for grumpy and unfriendly proprietors. Customer interaction is kept to a bare (really bare) minimum.

There are certain taboos to watch out for when dining here. Some are reasonable, such as being charged extra for making a second order. I believe this is only fair to the customers who have been waiting patiently outside the restaurant. Others are idiosyncrasies peculiar to the couple running the place, such as not placing your personal effects on the table, or placing anything at all on the sashimi display case. These are fairly simple conditions to comply with. If one feels that a paying customer should not be obliged to do these things, don't bother dining here and making yourself unhappy.

Food-wise, I'm going to borrow a phrase from an earlier reviewer. The hallmark of this place would be generous portions of above average food. Cooked food worth trying include the teriyaki salmon ($10 for the set), unagi with rice (about $13?) and the cod hot pot ($18 set). The portions are big and make for a hearty meal. The ingredients are fresh and have never given me a stomach ache. If you're on a budget, but still remain unsatisfied, top it off with a portion of salmon maki ($3) which is again, generous for the price. It's really comfort food. I don't think teriyaki flavoured/hotpot cooked food could be anything else. If you're not expecting fine cuisine, you're less likely to be disappointed.

If raw fish is your thing, the sushi set ($15), which comprises of (I think) 2 pieces each of maguro, sake and tai (tuna, salmon and sea bream). The fish is generously sized and rather fresh. I'd rate the fish as being of higher quality than your standard conveyor sushi chains, but below that of Dining Sun/Waraku/Sushi Tei. Everything above applies to the sashimi set (also $15), which comes with a bowl of rice and several slices of sashimi of the same varieties. Again, the raw fish here has never given me a stomach ache, despite my rather delicate digestive system.

There is no service charge here. Some might find this appropriate because there doesn't seem to be any service. However, the food is served to you fast, and your green tea (if this is your beverage of choice) is frequently refilled. An arbitrary charge of 2 dollars is charged per diner, which gets you a drink.

Contrary to what some people claim, the proprietors do not actually glare at you for talking loudly. Then again, my idea of being noisy might not be considered as such by some. If you feel restrained by being unable to indulge in rowdy, uncouth behaviour, you might find dining her to be an unpleasant, repressive experience. I find it rather pleasant not having to be regaled by the stories of other diners, despite the close proximity in which everyone is seated.

Food might not be of the highest quality, hygiene might not be of the highest level, but everything is decent and quite affordable. A meal can cost as little as $12 and rarely exceeds $20 here. Taking into account its centralised location (adjacent to the Orchard Road belt and right outside the thrice-damned ERP zone), I'll probably return for the value and convenience.