I had seen a few videos about Hikiniku in Japan, but I didn’t realise they had an outlet in Singapore until someone mentioned it to me. I did a bit of research and was surprised to find out they were at VivoCity.
Thankfully, they don’t take bookings, so you simply turn up and see if they have availability. And thankfully, you don’t have to arrive first thing in the morning and then wait around hoping to get a dining spot later that day. I arrived just after 10:30am, and there were already nine people ahead of me in the queue before the 11 am opening. While waiting, I also managed to see the same ground the meat and shape it into hambagu.
Finally, 11am came around, and it was time to go in. First, you pay upfront at the kiosk, then get directed to your table. The chefs were already cooking the hambagu over charcoal, and it was really interesting watching how they prepared it.
At the table, you get printed recommendations on how to eat your hambagu, plus an outline of the different free condiments that are on either side of you and how there is unlimited bowls of rice. I was really excited to try everything.
The first hambagu arrived and, as recommended, I ate it on its own and let the juices fall out. Wow. The hambagu was perfectly tender, and you could really taste the beef while still getting that minced-meat texture. The charcoal added another layer of flavour. On its own, it was already fantastic.
Next came the second hambagu, which I tried with their freshly grated radish and vinegar. This took it to another level. I then started experimenting with the rice and hambagu alongside the different condiments, trying all the different combinations. It was a lot of fun seeing how much the flavours could change.
Finally, the third hambagu arrived, and this time I cracked my raw egg. I scrambled it together with some of the soy sauce, dipped the hambagu into it, and wow, what a combination. So delicious.
I then followed what I saw other people doing and poured the remaining scrambled egg mixture into my rice before adding the different condiments. What a dining experience. Mixing in the different toppings, from the umami flavours to the spice, was unbelievable. Every combination brought something different to the rice and meat. Also, getting new bowls of rice to start creating flavour profiles all over again.
I also ordered a side of their potato salad with meat, because I do love a good Japanese potato salad. It was creamy and had some very thin slices of zucchini mixed through it. The meat was some of the same ground beef they use for the hambagu, and it was incredibly tasty. I added some garlic flakes and their fermented soybean sauce, and combining everything together was absolutely worth it. Super delicious.
Overall, this was a great dining experience. The meal is a set-menu price, with extras like potato salad available separately.
I really loved watching the chefs cook the hambagu over the charcoal, taking their time and making sure each one was cooked perfectly. The rice was some of the best I’ve had, and mixing it with the different condiments was so much fun—you can create so many different flavours and combinations.
I had such a great time here and came away feeling like I’d had both a really fun experience and a fantastic meal. Definitely worth visiting and experiencing for yourself.
Website: Hikiniku To Come
Address: 1 Habourfront Walk #01-102/103 (Lobby, F VivoCity, Singapore 098585
