Nakajima Suisan – Get Hooked on Grilled Fish That’s Hidden in Town!

Hidden in a corner of the food village in Takashimaya is Nakajima Suisan Grilled Fish, where delicious Japanese meal sets are priced affordably. The menu boasts a range of fish dishes that are mostly imported from Japan. The uninitiated might struggle to discern the differences between the types of fish due to the Japanese words, so here I have a quick guide for your reference. 

Ever wondered what Teriyaki means? Yaki is a cooking method of grilling or broiling, while Teri is a soy sauce, mirin and sugar glaze concoction. We ordered the Salmon Teriyaki Set, which is essentially sees a grilled salmon coated with Teri. The set comes with a bowl of rice, miso soup, salad and Tsukemono (Japanese preserved vegetables).

The salmon pales in comparison to the other fish we ordered. Though meaty, the fish was overcooked so the flesh was tough and dry. The sweet undertones from the Teri gave the fish added dimension, which I liked. The refreshing salad was coated in a roasted sesame dressing which could have easily stolen the limelight from the salmon.

The menu also features a number of Saikyo dishes. What I know about Saikyo is that it actually is a naturally sweet golden miso which was traditionally produced in the Kyoto/Kansai region in Japan. We got the Mero Saikyo Set ($16.50), which comes with rice, miso soup, salad, Tsukemono & Kobachi (sesame tofu). Mero is actually a Japanese term for sea bass.

I love this dish! The white flesh carries a rich and buttery sweet flavour that can rival those of premium crustaceans. The grill on the fish was almost perfect, giving rise to crispy caramelised edges. The sweetness of the fish is enhanced by the sweet miso, giving it a full-bodied texture. My only complaint is the huge number of bones within the sea bass, so be cautious while you devour this dish.

You can opt for a la carte dishes too. We ordered the Gindara Teriyaki ($12.50), which is grilled cod fish coated in Teri. The Gindara is succulent, with a good amount of oiliness that was balanced off with the sweetness from the Teri. I do recommend eating this dish with a bowl of rice, as the combined sweetness from the Teri and the natural sweetness from the cod dish may overwhelm your tastebuds.

All set meals also come with a complimentary cup of hot green tea, so I would say that Nakajima Suisan serves Japanese set meals that are value for money. I’ll definitely be back for their fish, especially the mero. Shiok!

MissTamChiak.com made anonymous visit and paid its own meal at the stall featured here.

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