Anyone who’s on the hunt for a good steak in Singapore would have heard about Steak Sudaku by now. The Japanese steakhouse opened along Killiney Road early this year and has since racked up a whopping 5000 reviews on Google, along with a loyal following. Diners return for the thick, affordable slabs of A5-grade Omi wagyu beef, of which the restaurant is the largest and sole importer in Singapore.
Steak Sudaku’s third outlet in Telok Ayer, which opened in April this year, is a step-up from the two others in Killiney Road and Beach Road, with a slightly more refined look and feel – albeit still very much on the casual end. It’s also the only outlet to offer a wine list, catering to business folks in the area.
If you haven’t heard of Omi beef, it’s among the highest grades of beef in Japan, and has been enjoyed for a long time throughout history for its melty texture and buttery richness. Steak Sudaku prides itself on offering this luxurious cut from Shiga Prefecture at one-third the market price compared to other restaurants in the CBD. A regular A5 wagyu steak here is priced at $29.80, while the cheapest Omi beef meal on the menu starts from $17.80.
In the A5 Omi beef category, there are four selections ranging from $29.80 for 150 grams of regular wagyu to a whopping $216.80 for 200 grams of tenderloin. But the sweet spot for us is the 150-gram marbled steak ($39.80), which is neither too lean nor too fatty. Cut from the ribeye or sirloin, the slab is first fired up over a stone grill before arriving at the table sizzling on a hot plate, finished off with a signature steak sauce as well as potato wedges.
As if not juicy on its own, the steak is crowned with an additional slab of butter that melts onto each slice for an extra layer of unctuousness. There’s a whole assortment of condiments at each table, but our favourite way to savour this is with fried garlic chips, a dab of wasabi and salt, and rice to cut through the richness.
The Omi beef gyukatsu (from $38.80) is the newest item on the Telok Ayer menu, featuring steak slices deep-fried till golden brown on the outside and medium-rare in the centre. Steak Sudaku is currently the only restaurant in Singapore to offer this dish. The batter is light, airy and crispy, while the steak is perfectly tender and succulent. Dare we say, this leaves a better impression than the famous Gyukatsu Kyoto Katsugyu at Raffles City.
The Omi beef garlic butter rice ($17.80) hits the spot too, with generous chunks of Omi beef, garlic chips, veggies and an onsen egg to top it off. Everything gets mixed in a hot stone bowl at your table with a good douse of the same signature steak sauce. Our only gripe? The rice turns out a touch too creamy and moist to achieve that crisp, golden crust on the sides of the bowl that we usually love. This dish will also definitely warrant a food coma, so we recommend sharing.
We’d pass on the premium A5 Omi beef 100% hamburg steak ($26.80), which is drenched in a tangy tomato sauce that is a tad overwhelming, masking the taste of the patty. The $7 top-up for rice, soup and salad also feels a little steep, even with free refills. Thankfully, the Telok Ayer outlet is currently offering the set for just $1 – a limited-time deal to take advantage of while you still can.
So, is this the most value-for-money wagyu beef steakhouse in Singapore? All things considered, yes. One key detail is that as the island’s only importer of Omi beef, Steak Sudaku serves its wagyu fresh and not flash-frozen, unlike what’s typically distributed to other restaurants. But value-for-money doesn’t mean dirt cheap. You’ll still need to fork out upwards of $40 per person for a proper meal here, especially if you want to enjoy the better cuts. Sure, you could shave off ten bucks for a decent steak at any family restaurant, but in this case, the top-up might be worth it as a one-time treat.
Steak Sudaku Telok Ayer is open daily from 11am to 3pm and 5pm to 9pm at 3 Boon Tat St, Singapore 069612.
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