Set in a 3-storey shophouse along Bukit Pasoh Road, Chikin is a bar unlike any other. Offering yakitori seasoned with Szechuan peppercorn and a range of sake, soju, beer and cocktails, this place is sure to leave an impression, especially if you love your food with a spicy kick.
Upon walking in, I was greeted by an enthraling display of neon lights and murals. The backdrop of glowing multi-colored lights paired with hip-hop tunes playing in the background made this place feel perfect for a TGIF hangout. Seated at the Long Bar which featured an exquisite marble bar top that panned across the whole floor, it was a pleasure to witness Chikin's skilled bartenders whip up the perfect concoction of drinks.
The second floor was not strikingly different, but different nonetheless. Gone were the neon lights and in replacement, more Japanese pop-culture motifs plastered across the walls. Aptly called the Izakaya Lounge, it was characterized by plump sofas and a massive wall painting that put me in the mood for food and drinks.
Lastly, ascending one floor higher, I stepped into Chikin's Karaoke Attic, where dining and open karaoke is combined into one. According to Chikin, over here, the night starts off relatively normal with diners enjoying each other's company. However, as the night progresses, customers begin to ditch their inhibitions and make for the microphone. It then goes downhill from there as everyone in the room turns into BFFs over sing-along nostalgic tunes played till late. This space is available for private events too, so email them if you're interested.
We were offered a wide range of alcoholic drinks to sample but this was the one that caught my eye. Bacon beer ($14). Wittily described as "breakfast in a bottle" by the bartender, it's not often that you get to witness beer marketed as bacon. Coming straight out of HK 🇭🇰, Black Kite has made available some of their craft beers in Singapore. Not too many places carry it, but we were lucky enough to have it here at Chikin.
Taste-wise, there was no actual resemblance to bacon at all - and thankfully so. Alcohol and bacon frankly doesn't sound like a good combination. That said, the bacon beer was characterized by a deep and strong flavour, likely due to the flavours imparted by smoked ale. I would drink this again.
Tonkatsu Bites ($14). Thinly-sliced pork like what you'd find in shabu-shabu, marinated with their house made sauce, breaded then fried. Served with delectable mentaiko mayo. This was a pleasure to have, as it was slightly crisp on the outside yet juicy and succulent on the inside.
Assorted skewers, all seasoned with Chikin's unique Szechuan peppercorn spices. Here, we have Tsukune Chicken Meat Balls ($3), Momo Chikin Thigh ($3), Tebasaki Mid Joint Wing ($4.5) and San Marzano Tomatoes ($4). The unique spices that were paired with these chicken parts really hit the spot. Don't stop at what I had though. Chikin, as the name suggests, serves any part of the chicken you coud possibly think of. Well, almost. There's also the chicken skin, liver, heart, gizzard, cartilage, tail and neck, which are not pictured here.
Gyuniku Teriyaki - Grilled Steak ($16). This. The tender steak was cooked to perfection, resulting in an almost melt-in-your-mouth consistency. This was no wagyu beef but it sure as hell tasted amazing. I expected no less since a lot of hard work goes into this dish - it is fully marinated for at least 1 day in a generous amount of spices before cooking. Paired with the mustard sauce, the two flavours were married together perfectly.
Tan Tan Men with Onsen Egg ($14). Just like the home-cooked food a grandmother would make, this provided a familiar feeling of warmth unlike any other. The Sze Chuan sauce which the noodles were generously drenched in paired the flavour and viscosity of the onsen egg perfectly, creating a runny, sumptuous mess. They always say not to let the looks of a dish deceive you, but one thing's for sure—this tasted as good as it looked.
And now, the best for the last. This was the MVP. The king of kings. The one item that you have to try when you're here. According to Chikin, their Unagi Garlic Fried Rice with Fish Roe ($16) is the most popular item here, frequently receiving rave reviews. It wasn't hard to understand why once I put a spoonful of this tantalising goodness into my mouth. It's hard to describe it, but certain flavours just work so well with each other. This dish felt like it would be incomplete without any of its existing components, but once put together, it delivered an opera of flavours that complemented each other perfectly. The sharpness of the garlic, the umami taste of the unagi and the sweetness of the fish roe. They held hands and formed a happy little family, dancing on my tongue. We know that Man Man sits nearby, but if you want a cheaper unagi alternative that doesn't pale in taste, this is definitely your best bet.
Chikin Address: 6 Bukit Pasoh Road, Singapore 089820 Telephone: +65 6910 2742 Email: roostar@chikinbar.com Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 5pm-1am, Sat 6pm-1am
Head to their Long Bar if you're coming as a couple or a small group. Move up to to the Izakaya Lounge (2nd floor) if you're here with more friends. If you're feeling courageous (and a little naughty), head up to the Karaoke Attic (3rd floor) and compete amongst your friends to see who sings better - or worst. Whatever the case, the food, drinks and ambience that Chikin has to offer will not leave you disappointed.
P.S. This was an invited tasting. Shout out to Jasmine for having me! (as of April 2018, we have stopped accepting food tastings/invitations to stay true to our mission of providing food reviews that are truly objective)
- Dylan Teo
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