A Family Japanese Restaurant {Review and Giveaway of Restaurant Hoshigaoka}

Posted by ~Summer~ on February 11, 2015
in ,

さんお早うございます!

Did you know that I learnt Japanese for over a year when we were in Sweden? Not that I remember much of it, but my love for the language, the country and the food remains strong over the years. Yes, Japanese food! Does anyone not like it at all? I seriously doubt so. 

One good thing about returning to Asia means that I can introduce my kids to some delicious Japanese dishes and their current favourites are udon, soft shell crab and chawanmushi. Yes, even Ariel loves all of them! Angel would cutely pronounce it as cha-luan-nu-shi but we all know she is referring to that appetising steamed egg custard which is a must-have every time. That said, at times I do wish that I know of more family-friendly Japanese eateries on the island other than the common ones that we visit.

Do you smell what's coming up in this post?

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When we were invited to go for a food tasting session at Restaurant Hoshigaoka in SAFRA Toa Payoh, a place that we frequent because the kids get to swim and play, we were delighted to find out that not only have they recently launched a redesigned menu with five signature dishes, they have also introduced a KID'S MENU! This means that parents can get to savour yummy Japanese dishes while the little ones tuck in and enjoy a hearty meal.

With more than 40 years of rich history in serving only authentic Japanese cuisine, Restaurant Hoshigaoka strives to be a top-notch traditional Japanese restaurant in Singapore and its cuisine embodies traditional Japanese cooking, sumptuous dishes and signature Japanese hospitality.


The setup of the restaurant, with its warm colours, wooden walls and Japanese-styled decor, provides a cosy and homely ambience for all the patrons. Don't you love how the staff at Japanese restaurants are usually prompt to greet and serve? Those friendly greetings and wide smiles will hopefully help in making the little ones feel more at ease.



What was the first thing we were excited to see? Why, the kid's menu, of course!



There are a total of four sets (S$9.90++ per set) to choose from and each of them comes arranged in kawaii tableware. Angel chose to go with the Yoko Airlines airplane (Set D) which offers a variety of treats such as crispy prawn coated in breadcrumbs, cucumber rolls, mini udon and French fries. If your kid is like mine and prefers crab stick rolls over cucumber, you can request for a switch.


As for Ariel, she tried the Panda Bento box (Set C), which features omelette sushi, octopus balls and chicken wrapped with seaweed. I really love that cute-looking panda box, don't you? One thing you should note is that for every kid's meal, it comes with jelly, Yakult and a snack. If your child will likely go straight for these instead of the mains (my kids finished all the Hello Panda biscuits before they even started the meal proper!), you might wish to keep them for later. While my kids couldn't finish the veggies or meat, they did gulp down the udon and even asked for a second bowl!

Once the kids were happy with their orders, it was time for the hubby and I to sit back and relax (no, that's quite impossible with two animated kids around).

The first dish we tried was the Mentai Potato Salad - which consists of assorted vegetables, potato salad, spicy cod roe mayonnaise with sesame dressing. I must say it tasted better than it looked and was somewhat refreshing and appetising too!

My favourite dish of the day was the Goma Beef Houba Yaki - yes, we are quite the beef lovers! Served on a magnolia “Houba” leaf with sesame sauce and garlic marinate, the beef slices (so called "30 days Aged New Zealand Rib Eye Beef") were surprisingly tender and flavourful. A must-try in my opinion.

For our main dishes, we were served with the Hoshigaoka Zen which comes with appetiser, sashimi, salad, tempura, gindara teriyaki, beef misoyaki, rice, miso soup, chawanmushi and matcha ice cream. I have to say that the gindara teriyaki was a little too salty for my liking and the sashimi was not as fresh as we expected. Even though this was touted as the iconic set dish, we found it a little too commonplace.


In comparison, I much preferred the Black Pepper Gindara Teishoku which features a tender codfish drizzled with homemade black pepper sauce, served with asparagus, sliced onions and carrots. If you are thinking "Oh, codfish! Good for my kid!", you might wish to think twice because this particular fish is well-seasoned and bursting with flavour. The black pepper taste might get a little too overpowering for the little ones so keep this for your own taste buds. Oh, you might wanna share the deep fried chicken and chawanmushi instead!

Lastly, for dessert, we gave the Tempura Ice Cream a try. Crispy on the outside, cold on the inside, something which I thought was quite unique but no, I wouldn't be able to finish one of this on my own unless I wanted to have a bloated stomach.

All in all, I can't say that we were blown away by the whole experience but it was definitely an enjoyable first family session at Restaurant Hoshigaoka. While the food might not be the best Japanese food we've tasted, given its affordable menu pricing, pleasant environment and good service, this place is definitely value for money.

The way I see it, we will be back again. Many thanks to Restaurant Hoshigaoka for having us!

For more information on Restaurant Hoshigaoka, visit its website or Facebook page.

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I don't always get to do any food-related giveaways but here's one if you are keen! 

This giveaway is open to all readers residing in Singapore only. Three different winners will be randomly chosen. To participate, leave a comment in this blog post with your name, email address and tell me which is your favourite set in the Kid's Menu. Indicate in the Rafflecopter widget that you have commented and to increase your chances of winning, you can choose to carry out the rest of the options. Good luck!


a Rafflecopter giveaway  
Terms and Conditions
- Valid at any Restaurant Hoshigaoka outlet (see all four here), dine-in only
- Voucher is not exchangeable for cash and is valid for 3 months
- Extension of voucher is not allowed
- Not valid on eve of/and on PH and festive occasions
- Not valid for use with Diners Club / Jack’s Place cobrand credit card
- Subject to any additional changes and conditions by JP Pepperdine

Disclosure: We were invited to a food tasting session at Restaurant Hoshigaoka in SAFRA Toa Payoh. All giveaway prizes are kindly provided by JP Pepperdine. All opinions are our own.


63 comments:

  1. Kawaii!!!! I likes Restaurant Hoshigaoka kid's menu all looks so Kawaii!!! My favorite kid's menu is Panda Bento box (Set C). I'm sure both my gals will enjoy the kid's menu if we go Restaurant Hoshigaoka.

    FB name: KaRen Ong
    Email: karen_opk@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. My kids would love Set A
    Fb name :Dominique Goh
    E-mail : dominiquegoh(at) gmail.(dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  3. My kids love aeroplane & train! So it's Set B & Set D!

    Katherine Teng
    tengbihlin@yahoo.com.sg

    ReplyDelete
  4. FB Name: Sonia Yong
    Email: sonia_ysf@yahoo.com
    Udon & fries are my kids favourite. They will definitely choose Set D.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Set A because my kids are 'rice buckets' (饭桶)! Lol

    Fb name: Ai Lee
    ngoailee@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  6. My boys love aeroplane! So set d!
    Adeline koo
    Adaline21@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Name : Jenluvsbaobei
    Email : cheeriblue@hotmail.com
    Fav set : c
    She loves sushi

    ReplyDelete
  8. Tay Siewlan
    siewlan_tay@yahoo.com.sg
    Set D

    ReplyDelete
  9. Name:jia jun
    email: jia2x@yahoo.com.sg
    fav set: D
    they love aeroplane!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Name: Sharon Toh
    Email address: mantingtoh@hotmail.com
    Favourite set from the Kid's Menu: set B

    ReplyDelete
  11. Set C or D would bring a smile for my girls! Lovely!
    Email: olengjuz@yahoo.com.sg
    Name : Michelle Ng

    ReplyDelete
  12. Name: Stephy
    Email: colourfull333@gmail.com
    My gal fav set would be panda Set C. She loves panda and would go crazy over it. With that, we can have our meals peacefully as she will sure enjoy it. 👍✌😍😊

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you for the chance...my youngest would love set D comes with mini udon her forever favourite.
    Name : Shirley Chia
    Email shirleychialp@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Name: Leong Yee Ming
    email address: leongyeeming@yahoo.com
    Set B, my kids love Shinkansen!

    ReplyDelete
  15. My girl like set D coz she simply adore aeroplane

    Name : grace ng
    Email : nctgrace@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. My son loves plane so I guess Yoko Airlines airplane is his choice

    Diana Bok
    Blogaaholic@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Set D!!!! For sure!! Jap + Fries!! My kids' favourite :)
    FB Name: Rachael Joel-Tan
    Email: rachael02@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Name : June Lee

    Email : junelee_1980@yahoo.com

    I choose Set B cause my nephew loves train so to present his meal in such a way will surely delight him =) And he loves his noodle! Just like me so the cha soba is a great addition to the meal.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Jessica Tham
    jesstham7@hotmail.com
    Favourite set wld be Set D as my daughter loves udon and fries; best of all, seved on an aeroplane!

    ReplyDelete
  20. My kids love the aeroplane & train (Set B & Set D).
    Name : Belle Ng
    ng_belle@yahoo.com.sg

    ReplyDelete
  21. Wenqi
    casperian05(@)gmail(.)com

    I would choose Panda Bento Box. I can so imagine my boy going after the yakult first.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Khor Lee Ling
    khorleeling@gmail.com
    Set D

    ReplyDelete
  23. My kids would love the Set D cause it's TRAIN =)
    Name : Stella Kwa
    huey_0924@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. My kids love Panda bento box. They love pandas!

    Serene Leow
    liaoserene@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. would definitely go for Set C
    Name : SHENNY FU
    Email: shenny@live.com.sg

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hmm.. I have 3 kids so I would probably pick all three sets - I'm sure they would be able to pick and choose between the sets to see what they would like to eat! wahahah!!! Since kids are sometimes unpredictable, and you never know what they want right??? :D

    Name: Edlyn G
    Email: mailmummyed (a) gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. My kids will take set D with crabstick roll!
    Wendy Tay
    wendyaipeng@gmail.com
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  28. D as my daughther will eat all of it as its her fav...what more served on her fav aeroplane
    Jamie chaw
    Fb n IG : Jamie chaw
    Jamiechaw@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Robert Sim
    robert_sim@yahoo.com
    Set D: who can resist food served on a kawaii aeroplane crockery???

    ReplyDelete
  30. Both my girls love set C, panda bento set. Would love to win the vouchers so that we can go there for lunch after kids amaze play!
    Thanks a lot for arranging this giveaway!

    Janice Koh Sock Hoon
    janicekohsh@yahoo.com.sg

    ReplyDelete
  31. Definitely Set B for both the Shinkansen and the maki sushi and chicken wrapped with seaweed. Yummers!

    cmeilim@gmail.com
    Carol Mei Mei Lim

    ReplyDelete
  32. My boy's favourite set in the kid's menu:
    Set B Train & Set D Airplane.

    Sandra New
    sandranewsg@yahoo.com.sg
    IG: summerscenz

    ReplyDelete
  33. Yoko Airplanes Airplane Set D

    bebe03@outlook.sg

    ReplyDelete
  34. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  35. My gals will like the cute Panda Bento Set
    Lyn Teo
    lp8834@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. My kids would love set A.
    Name: Tan Liujun Jean
    Email: jeantanlj@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Name Amanda Soh
    Email amandasoh@gmail.com

    Set D pls!

    ReplyDelete
  38. Yoko Airplanes Airplane Set D! Michelle Ang, ma_smartgirl@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. My son will most probably go for Set B as he loves trains!
    Name: Qiu Xian
    Email: qiu_xian@yahoo.com.sg

    ReplyDelete
  40. My girls will go for Set C, the Panda Set.
    Name : Valerie Quek
    Email : cloudiey@gmail.com
    Thanks :)

    ReplyDelete
  41. My kids would love Set A
    Fb name :Jaime Chan
    E-mail : chueimei@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. My kid will love Set D.
    I am Margaret Yap.
    My email is yap_margaret@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Set D
    Garick Bay
    garick.bay@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Set C - Panda Bento C

    chquek@hotmail.sg

    ReplyDelete
  45. Set B!
    Joanne Ho
    joannehmm@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Ashley Tan
    ashley_tan@singnet.com.sg
    Set D looks so yummy to my gal!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Set D will be her choice. :)
    Ang Siew Tiang
    ang.siew.tiang@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. Our fave is set D, not my choice but the little gal's choice, she pointed at the pic!! : )

    My name is Andy Neo and my email is cardz_house@yahoo.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  49. Our face is set D, not my choice but the little gal's choice, she pointed at the pic!! : )

    My name is Andy Neo and my email is cardz_house@yahoo.co.uk

    ReplyDelete
  50. Whoa so innovative! I love the cutesy table ware they provide with each meal!! :D I'm going with Yoko Airlines airplane (Set D) just because my little princess loves udon soup and battered prawn! :)

    Cheers,
    Adelyn Khoo (adelynkwt@gmail.com)

    ReplyDelete
  51. My daughter will love Set A

    Grace
    glwc88@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Set D!
    Corinne Lee
    corinne0709@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  53. The favorite will be Set B!
    Paul Tan
    paultan16@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  54. My daughter loves their airplane set, asked if I could bring it back after her meal lol

    Lorna Tan
    lornat28@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  55. Set D cos my son loves aeroplane!

    KM Wong
    Andrew.wong017@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  56. Set D because it has all my girl's favourite foods especially udon!
    Lin Meibing Sarina
    everlastingtwins@yahoo.com.sg

    ReplyDelete
  57. Set D
    Rosie Chua (FB)
    bodoh.sin@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  58. Yoko Airlines airplane Set D

    FB : Sean Ang
    Email: sean_sin@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  59. My favourite set is C. It comes with my girl's favourite Omelette and Beancurb Skin Sushi.
    Name: JingRong
    Email: lohjingrong@yahoo.com.sg

    ReplyDelete
  60. Set D. Udon..my little ones fav food

    Rowena Lim
    rowenna{dot}lim{at}gmail{dot}com

    ReplyDelete
  61. Yoko Airlines airplane (Set D)

    Louis Lee
    leechlouis@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete

Yoohoo, thanks so much for reading my blog and leaving your comment! I am feeling the love! (^.^)