Butabage Butadon Suntec City

Butabage Butadon, a renowned Japanese restaurant from Hokkaido, has established its presence in Singapore’s Suntec City. Originating from Obihiro, Hokkaido. It is also known as the birthplace of the famous Obihiro Meibutsu Buta Don, or Butahage as it is known. The recipe is passed down and led by third-generation Chef Hitoshi Yano, with his son managing the Singapore branch. They have restaurant located in the heart on the ground floor of Suntec city mall and at Century Square in Tampines. Let’s take a dine-in.

In a nutshell, Butabage Butadon Suntec City is a restaurant specialising in their trademark pork slices butadon done. Butahage used to operate out of Liang Court mall, which closed since 2018 due to building redevelopments. Here, the restaurant’s interior is casual, featuring 61 seats, including regular tables and limited counter seats that offers a view of kitchen grilling area.

Also, the restaurant seating is decked in shades of wooden brown, which has a zen look to it. The decor includes bright red seats and wooden tables, reminiscent of compact eateries found in Japan. Do note that due to the small restaurant venue, do expect queues up to 30 mins.

You have a choice of offerings is a very diverse Japanese selection comprising of noodles, soba and rice, noodles, tempura set, and donburi sets. Still, Butahage’s menu centers on butadon, a traditional Japanese rice bowl dish from Hokkaido, Japan. Their highlight be their butadon set. You can’t wrong with that. Butadon comes with thinly sliced pork slices which are slowly roasted.

Butabage Butadon set, a highlight

Moreover, their signature Obihiro Meibutsu Japanese Pork Loin Don is available in two sizes: regular at $19.80 and large at $24.80. This dish features thick slices of pork loin grilled using the traditional amiyaki method over red-hot coals, then glazed with an 80-year-old tare sauce. The pork is served over Hokkaido Nanatsuboshi rice, known for its plump grains and mild sweetness.

Also, I found the pork slices offering is tad a lean and sweeter Japanese take on Bak Gua. The variant here is more juicy, sweet and chewy to the bite than the BBQ pork we are accustomed to here in Singapore.

Also, the Obihiro Meibutsu Pork Loin Don is a more budget-friendly option. It uses cheaper Canadian pork and is priced at S$11.80++ for a regular bowl and S$14.80++ for the large version with more meat and rice portions.

Another highlight is the Tendon, or tempura donburi, priced at S$9.50++. This bowl includes two prawns, a crab stick, Japanese mountain yam, pumpkin, and long bean, all lightly battered and fried to a crisp, served over premium short-grain rice.

Other Japanese dishes including Unagi

Furthermore, Butabage is after all a true-blue Japanese restaurant with several more other menu options. Other dishes on their menu includes their Unagi Unatama Jyurice don. You get grilled eel with teriyako sauce which give it s sweet taste, served with tamago (egg) in lacquered bento boxes, it is tad a traditional Japanese staple offering.

Also, exclusive to Singapore is the Salmon Mentai Don, priced at S$17.80++ with Avocado as an optional side. This dish features thick cuts of salmon topped with a torched layer of mentaiko mayo, paired with creamy avocado.

Nabemono mini soup pot

During my dine in, the restaurant is offering an offer for their Nabemono, which are mini steamboat sukiyaki woks comprising of Beef, pork and chicken priced from $14.80 to $18.80. It offers a rather filling meal with a different take on their regular pork loins. YOur dish is served with sides of udon and pair well with the soupy broth cooked with vegetables and mushrooms. It is quite a comfort hearty meal.

Salmon Ikura Oyako Don ($17.80)

Chicken hotpot

Bite sized Japanese Pork Loin

If you can’t get enough of their pork slices, for sides, the Butahage Bun at S$4.60 is a bite-sized version of their signature and one to order as a side or takeaway. It is a unique creation featuring Canadian pork belly glazed with their signature tare, sandwiched between a soft steamed bun. It has tad an inspirational piece similar to the buns we had at Abundance at Redhill previously.

Also, on fried options, their Hokkaido Special Tendo ($16.80) offers an elevated assortment of tempura-battered items, including Black Tiger prawns, scallops, and salmon. Here, you can choose between rice or noodles, with options like hot or cold udon and soba. Their smaller Agedashi Imo sweet potato tempura at $3.80 each is also one to consider, consisting of tempura-fried sweet potato chunks.

Wrapping up

Wrapping up with dessert offerings include the Hokkaido Strawberry Milk Cheesecake at S$5.80++, made with Hokkaido milk and strawberries, and the Maple Glazed Sweet Potato at S$4.80++, featuring deep-fried sweet potato batons in a sticky caramel coat.

All in all, that wraps up our dine-in at Butahage. The offerings here provides a taste of authentic Hokkaido cuisine in a casual setting. The signature butadon and tempura dishes are noteworthy, offering quality ingredients and traditional preparation methods. However, some diners might find certain pork slices slightly less tender than expected. Butahage is located at the first floor of Suntec City Tower 3 at 3 Temasek Boulevard, as well at the ground floor at Century Square Tampines. Their restaurants operates daily from 11 am to 10 pm.

This review is not sponsored by the establishment nor did they provide any editorial input or reimbursements into the content and outcome of this review. All meals were paid for in full out of my own pocket as a regular and anonymous patron.