Just like its namesake, Ikkagoyo, a Japanese kaiseki restaurant blooms on Amoy Street. Behind the unassuming entrance lies an intimate wood-toned space that mimics the tranquillity of traditional tea ceremonial houses. At the helm is chef Mitsutaka Sakamoto who boasts over 20 years of kaiseki experience in Japan at top-notch ryokans and restaurants – Hyakurakuso, Sushi Arai and Naruse.
The 12-course prix fixe menu ($338) sees the seasoned chef display his flair for finesse and the arts to present haute Japanese cuisine using only peak-season ingredients. Think glistening eel from Oigawa, skipjack tuna from Shizouka and abalone from Ishikawa. Contemporary elements also tease the five senses and draw from Western influences like the addition of fresh black truffles and almond cream cheese to the Amazonian cacao.
For drink pairings, Sakamoto personally picks out limited edition Junmai Daiginjo grade sakes such as Noto Arabashiri ($250) from Ishikawa and the fruitier Kokuryu Shizuku ($560) from Fukui. Wine lovers, look out for an impressive well-bodied Merlot from Chateau Gingko produced by Risa Yurigusa, the first Japanese female winemaker in Bordeaux.
