Mei Lin Tan

A serene moment at a high-end sushi bar, where a single piece of dark pink tuna nigiri sits centered on a rectangular, textured ceramic plate in the foreground. To the left of the plate is a dark, matte ceramic tea cup, and to the right, a small dish of soy sauce and a neatly folded white hand towel. In the blurred midground, an expert sushi chef in a crisp white chef's coat is meticulously slicing pieces of raw fish on a light wooden cutting board with a long, professional knife. Behind him, another staff member in a white uniform carries a traditional wooden sushi rice tub (hangiri) across the dim, warm-lit kitchen. The background features dark wood accents and a small bonsai tree illuminated by soft, golden light, creating an intimate and disciplined atmosphere.

Behind the Counter

The Heat Was Adjusted Without Announcement

I watched the apprentice step out from the shadows of the back kitchen. He held a round cedar tub in his hands. His footsteps were completely silent against the stone floor. He approached the master at the counter and gently…

Mei Lin Tan
April 23, 2026

1: A wide shot of a dimly lit, high-end omakase restaurant. A sushi chef in a white uniform stands behind a light-colored wooden counter, meticulously preparing a piece of nigiri with chopsticks. In the foreground, the back of a customer in a dark blue suit is visible. The counter is organized with small ceramic dishes, a wooden ginger box, and bottles of sake. Other patrons sit blurred in the background, creating an intimate, focused atmosphere.

Omakase Guides

Unveiling Omakase Mastery in Somerset: A Culinary Exploration of Sushi Craftsmanship

The evening air in Somerset always feels alive, doesn’t it? But stepping through that heavy wooden door. The world just melts away. Suddenly there’s this beautiful quiet that wraps around you like a warm blanket. I breathe in and catch…

Mei Lin Tan
April 17, 2026

A sushi chef’s hands meticulously preparing a piece of nigiri in a dimly lit, traditional Japanese restaurant. The chef, wearing a white uniform, cradles a delicate slice of orange salmon over a small bed of rice in his left hand, while his right hand uses a wooden-handled brush to apply a glistening, dark soy-based glaze (nikiri) to the fish. The scene is set against a rustic wooden counter, with a small ceramic dish of sauce in the foreground and a blurred background that hints at the authentic, focused atmosphere of a high-end omakase kitchen.

Behind the Counter

The Order Felt Inevitable

The chef wiped his blade with a damp cloth and set it down. He reached for a block of amberjack. I watched his fingers gently trace the surface of the skin before he made the first cut. Up until that…

Mei Lin Tan
April 16, 2026

A wide-angle interior shot of a sophisticated, minimalist Japanese Kappo-style dining room. A long, polished light-wood counter dominates the foreground, set with several individual placemats featuring dark textured chargers, white linen napkins, and wooden chopsticks. In the background, floor-to-ceiling shoji-inspired sliding screens with delicate vertical wooden slats create a warm, private atmosphere under soft recessed lighting.

Omakase Guides

What is Kappo Omakase? Understanding This Unique Japanese Dining Style

There’s something magical about settling into a quiet sushi counter. The pristine wood feels cool beneath your hands, and you watch the chef’s knife dance through beautiful fish with quiet grace. It’s a moment that never gets old, that gentle…

Mei Lin Tan
April 14, 2026

The entrance to Shunsui, a Japanese restaurant. The doorway is obscured by heavy, dark charcoal-grey noren (traditional fabric dividers), which are parted slightly to reveal a glimpse of a warmly lit interior. To the right of the drapes, a square, backlit glass sign features minimalist black Japanese calligraphy. Below the sign, a sleek black menu stand displays a printed menu with vibrant food photography. The surrounding wall is composed of dark, vertical wood grain panels, creating a sophisticated and private atmosphere.

Omakase Reviews

Shunsui Singapore: A Kappo-Style Omakase Experience with Theatre and Precision

Sometimes your heart knows exactly what it needs before your mind catches up. After days of bright lights dancing across Orchard Road and the endless hum of the city wrapping around me, I found myself wandering down a quieter street,…

Mei Lin Tan
April 10, 2026

Close-up, eye-level shot of an elderly chef's weathered, wet hands meticulously shaping a small, oval ball of seasoned sushi rice over a rustic wooden cutting board. The rice has a slight golden-brown hue, indicating the use of red vinegar, and a single slice of raw, pink tuna sits nearby on the dark wood. The chef wears a blue and white pinstriped sleeve, and the background is softly blurred, showing a warm, traditional Japanese kitchen setting with ceramic bowls and wooden utensils bathed in natural light.

Behind the Counter

The Rice Was Touched More Than the Fish

I sat close enough to hear the faint sound of the willow blade moving through the flesh of a lean tuna. The cut took only a fraction of a second. The chef laid the ruby slice gently on his wooden…

Mei Lin Tan
April 9, 2026

A close-up, high-angle shot of two chefs in white uniforms meticulously plating a gourmet dish on a grey stone counter. Two identical white circular plates feature a central arrangement of seared beef or tuna medallions topped with a nest of thin green scallion slivers and white onion bulbs, drizzled with a dark balsamic or soy-based glaze. A small dollop of bright green wasabi sits on the edge of each plate. One chef’s hand is visible using a wooden tool to press or finish a component of the dish.

Best Omakase Lists

Top Somerset Food and Omakase Restaurants: A Food Lover’s Guide to Singapore

There’s something magical about stepping off that train platform at Somerset MRT. The busy hum just melts away, doesn’t it? I love wandering these vibrant streets, watching people drift between the towering malls and all those glowing restaurant windows. Most…

Mei Lin Tan
April 3, 2026

Two people sit at a cozy, dimly lit izakaya counter, enjoying yakitori and drinks. A cook, surrounded by smoke, grills skewers in the background.

Behind the Counter

A Brief Pause Before the Richest Course

The rhythm of the meal had been firmly set. For an hour the chef moved with a steady and unbroken cadence. Slice the fish, press the rice, present the offering. We received each piece of subtle white fish and bright…

Mei Lin Tan
April 2, 2026

A high-angle, vertical shot of the minimalist entrance to "Sushi Muni." The entryway features a traditional Japanese light-wood slatted sliding door (shoji style) set against soft, textured beige walls. To the left, a vertical rectangular lightbox made of textured washi paper glows with a warm light, displaying the Japanese kanji "無二" above the word "MUNI" in small English letters. The floor at the base of the door is lined with smooth white river stones surrounding a dark grey rectangular floor mat.

Omakase Reviews

Sushi Muni Unveiled: A Hidden Omakase Treasure in the Heart of the City

Oh, there’s something that just melts my heart about stumbling upon a quiet little haven tucked right into the chaos of city life. You know that feeling when you’re craving something real, something intimate? When you find a place where…

Mei Lin Tan
March 27, 2026

Entrance to Ginza Sushi Ichi. The focus is on a rectangular, backlit frosted glass sign mounted on a light wood panel against a dark, textured wall. The sign features elegant Japanese calligraphy and the English name "Sushi ichi" at the bottom. To the right, a vertical wooden slat door is slightly ajar, revealing a glimpse of a soft, peach-colored interior hallway and another smaller glowing sign, creating a sense of exclusive entry.

Omakase Reviews

An Omakase Journey to Remember at Ginza Sushi Ichi Singapore

You know that feeling when you’re hunting for something truly special? Something that makes your heart flutter just a little? That’s exactly how I felt when I discovered this magical special omakase place tucked away in the city. If you’re…

Mei Lin Tan
March 25, 2026