Shin Minori review: 1-for-1 Japanese a la carte buffet with Entertainer App

This is Shin Minori review – featuring the Japanese a la carte buffet at United Square mall. So, a friend and I went, and we loved it!

Entertainer App: 1-for-1 deals

Thanks to the Entertainer App by HSBC, diners may eat out and receive 1-for-1 deals at participating resturants. 

So far, I’ve used the Entertain App to get 1-for-1 mains at The Pelican (Fullerton road), and the Drunken Poet (Irish bar along orchard road). 

But this is the first time that i’m using the Entertainer app for a 1-for-1 buffet. Of course, I had to drag a friend along to try out Shin Minori’s a la carte lunch buffet.

Shin Minori (United Square)

Located on the 4th floor of united square, the entrance to Shin Minori is literally plastered with the menu. 

Inside, once can see a live sushi and sashimi counter. 

To navigate ordering for the a la carte Japanese buffet, Shin Minori has attached ipads to most of their tables. Increasingly restaurants are harnessing technology to help with work. 

Ipad menu page – featuring Hand Rolls (Temaki)

Here, customers can simply select their choice of dish, the amount desired, and the ipad sends out the request – all without needing to bother the servers.

Ipad menu page – featuring Rolled Sushi (Makimono)

If you’re unfortunate and get seated somewhere (i) with no attached Ipad, or (ii) if the Ipad is faulty, Shin Minori gives out the traditional pencil-and-paper menu for customers to tick off their orders from a list. 

Sashimi and Sushi

My favourite part of any Japanese buffet (or hotel buffet with a Japanese section) is the Sashimi (raw fish).

We ordered the Sashimi Moriawase (Mixed Sashimi Platter) – but customized it. On the ipad, customers can request for extra portions of certain fish and ask for some to be eliminated. We removed the Tako (Octopus) and Ika (Squid), and asked for more Sake (Salmon)… 

Sashimi Moriawase (Mixed Sashimi Platter)

The Sashimi here came in huge generous portions, and were all VERY thickly sliced…

Sake (Salmon) – Whoa at the marbled fish fats

Hamachi (Japanese amberjack/ Yellowtail)

We loved the Sake and Hamachi so much, we had to order just a little more!

I know that some folks like to stay away from carbs (rice) at buffets. But to me, personally, a Japanese buffet isn’t complete without some sushi.

We ordered the Crunchy Maki Roll – which was really a california roll deep fried in tempura batter. And a Hanabi Maki – Panko-crusted shrimp (fried), rolled with crabmeat and topped with seared salmon and tempura bits.

Left – Crunchy Maki Roll (Deep fried California roll);  Right – Hanabi Maki

The sushi was really good and so we had to order more to try.

We then had the Rainbow Maki Roll – a Shrimp Tempura roll topped with four different kinds of raw fish, followed by a dash of fish eggs.

Rainbow Maki Roll

My favourite sushi however – has to be the Nigiri style, of the Aburi Sushi (torched sashimi) variety.

Somehow torching the fish just (i) softens the fish a little and (ii) brings out the fish flavour. Meanwhile fish fats oozes out and drips into the rice… it’s like a bit more oomph in the flavouring and texture overall. Ultimately, these were so good! If i had to recommend ONE item for this Shin Minori review – hands down it’s the the Aburi Sushi!

Top: Torched Salmon & Cheese, Torched Salmon & Mentaiko, Torched Salmon belly, Torched Hamachi. Bottom: Inari Sushi, Salmon Wasabi Mayo (with avocado), Negi Toro (tuna & green onion)

Also ordered a Temaki (Hand Roll), just for the heck of trying one. Picked the Soft Shell crab roll. It was lovely (crunchy crab against soft rice) but i much preferred the texture of Torched fish sushi. 

Hand Roll (Temaki) 

Grilled, Deep-fried, Simmered

If you’re not into raw fish or sushi (though why would you come to a Japanese restaurant in that case?), fret not. At Shin Minori, there’s other noteworthy items on the a la carte menu to try.

Cooked mussels, for instance – these were unique and not the kind of stuff you usually see at a Japanese buffet.

Mussels simmered in a clear white wine soup base

Agedashi Tofu – deep fried tofu in a sweet broth (dashi) sauce. These were okay.

Agedashi Tofu

The grilled items were very well done – i especially love how grilled vegetables (we tried lady’s finger and mushroom), topped with bonito fish flakes, look so simple but are so flavourful.

Okura Shioyaki (Grilled lady’s finger with salt)

Left: Shitake Shioyaki (grilled Japanese mushroom with salt); Right: sashimi salad

Top: Skewer of Okura and Shitake Shioyaki; Bottom: Grilled pork with garlic seasoning

Shishamo Yaki (Grilled pregnant capelin)

Tempura – this was okay. In terms of flavour, however, the grilled items actually felt like a better quality.

Tempura Moriawase (Assorted tempura)

My friend actually decided to order udon because she ‘really likes udon’, and claims that it’s good – not too hard or soft, with a nice dashi (broth). 

Kake Udon (plain soup udon)

Sweet Endings

The meal ended off with dessert: Ice cream!

Black Sesame Ice Cream

Yuzu Sorbet

Both ice creams felt like average quality – but the taste yummy – you can taste the creamy black sesame and citrusy yuzu. 

Overall Shin Minori review

My personal Shin Minori review – Some food items were better quality than others. I recommend going for: Nigiri Sushi, Aburi Sushi, Sushi rolls, Sashimi, and Grilled stuff. The deep friend stuff was more hit-and-miss.

However, considering that this is a 1-for-1 buffet at a reasonable price point, you do get good value for money. If you truly wanted a GOOD Japanese restaurant, with food served at consistently amazing quality (and don’t mind paying more for it), a place i can recommend is Sen of Japan (Marina Bay Sands).

The staff here at Shin Minori’s buffet looked overwhelmed. Customers and orders were aplenty; it wasn’t easy to catch up with multiple order requests. I do wish for more servers, but unfortunately it might translate into higher prices for customers. Would people still be willing to pay for it then?

My only real gripe about Shin Minori is, for two people, a two-seater space could get really crammed. And if you sit next to one of the wall panels, try not to look there – it’s really REALLY dusty… like no one had cleaned it for a long time 🙁

Otherwise – good food for what you pay for (especially if you do get the 1-for-1 discount), and overall a pleasant experience.

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