I have always found myself drawn to restaurants that make me question whether I am heading in the right direction. Sometimes the best meals are not waiting along the busiest streets, but tucked away in places most people would not expect.
That was exactly how I felt when I made my way to Tora Tora Tora, a rooftop Japanese restaurant hidden above an industrial building in Ubi. Before arriving, I wondered if a place located away from the usual dining spots could create the kind of experience that makes people want to return.
But the moment I stepped in, the answer became clearer.
There was something exciting about discovering a restaurant that felt removed from the usual Singapore dining scene. Between the fresh seafood, carefully prepared dishes, and lively atmosphere, Tora Tora Tora showed me that memorable meals do not always come from the most obvious places.
Inside This Rooftop Japanese Hideaway
Located at Oxley BizHub 2, 62 Ubi Road 1, #11-19 Singapore, Tora Tora Tora Japanese is a rooftop Japanese restaurant that does not feel like just another hidden gem. It a standout of its own accord because of the experience it creates in an unexpected setting.
With an open kitchen, bar, and izakaya-style setting, the restaurant is suited for diners visiting with friends or family. The menu features plenty of choices, from fresh seafood and sushi rolls to hearty Japanese favourites.
During my July visit, what stood out was the balance between chilled seafood dishes and hot plates from the kitchen. Combined with attentive service from the staff, Tora Tora Tora leaves a memorable impression for those willing to make the trip to Ubi.
Two Sashimi Carpaccio Plates
The Salmon Carpaccio arrived looking almost too delicate to disturb. Thin slices of salmon were layered with salmon roe (ikura), Japanese egg yolk, and spring onion, creating a mix of buttery richness and small bursts of savoury flavour. The egg yolk added a silky finish that tied everything together, making each bite feel more indulgent than a typical sashimi dish.
The Hotate Truffle Carpaccio takes a different direction. Instead of the clean richness of salmon, the Hokkaido scallop brings a naturally sweet flavour with a softer texture, while the truffle adds a deeper aroma without taking away from the seafood.
For those who enjoy discovering how different restaurants approach fresh fish, Town Eats SG continued the search for the best sashimi Singapore has to offer, exploring the places that celebrate this craft through their own unique interpretations.
Salmon Ikura Mentaiko Maki
For sushi lovers, the Salmon Ikura Mentaiko Maki is one of the clearer signature choices on the menu. It combines salmon, ikura, tai, and mentaiko, creating layers of flavour and texture in one bite.
The salmon brings a buttery richness, while the salmon roe adds small bursts of savoury sweetness. The mentaiko contributes a slightly spicy, creamy quality that gives the maki more depth.
This is one of the dishes that represents Tora Tora Tora Japanese well: familiar enough for sushi fans, but with extra elements that make it feel more indulgent.
Hokkaido Kaisen Don with Abalone and Salmon Roe
This dish brings together some of the ingredients that Japanese seafood lovers naturally gravitate towards: creamy uni, sweet scallop, delicate seafood, abalone, and bursts of salmon roe sitting over a bed of sushi rice.
Each ingredient brought its own character. The abalone added a firmer bite, the uni gave the bowl a rich and buttery finish, while the ikura cut through with little pops of savoury sweetness. The seafood never felt crowded, with each element given enough space to be appreciated.
Japanese Food Plates That Made Us Stay a Little Longer
Some dishes are ordered because they catch your attention on the menu. Others are the ones that slowly become the reason everyone keeps reaching back across the table.
For me, these were the plates that brought a different energy to the meal. After the freshness of the seafood and the lighter flavours earlier on, these were the dishes that felt more relaxed and made for sharing.
Hamachi Kama
I have always enjoyed dishes that make you work a little for the best bites, so the Hamachi Kama immediately caught my attention. The grilled yellowtail collar arrived with a lightly charred skin, but the meat underneath was where the dish really came alive.
The hamachi carried a natural richness that felt deeper than a typical fish fillet. Every piece pulled away tenderly, with the fattier parts near the bone delivering the most flavour. A squeeze of citrus helped brighten the richness, keeping each bite from feeling too heavy.
It was not the flashiest dish on the table, but it was the one I found myself returning to between conversations.
Seafood Fried Rice Bento
While the sashimi and sushi showcase precision, fried rice is where comfort comes in. Their seafood fried rice had a savoury depth that paired well packed with the accompanying fried chicken, potato salad, white corn, and warabi mochi. I enjoyed the contrast between the smoky, satisfying rice and the lighter seafood dishes we started with.
Tori Karaage
I wanted something crispy to balance the softer textures from the seafood, and this delivered with perfection exactly what I hoped for.
The exterior had that satisfying crunch when bitten into, while the chicken remained juicy underneath. What made it work during the meal was its simplicity. Between bites of sushi and seafood, it gave the table something familiar to come back to.
The Topped Dishes That Made The Journey Worth It
Describing the dishes as delicious isn’t enough when each plate carries its own personality, from the tender seafood and smooth textures to the comforting flavours that make you want to stay a little longer.
What stayed with me was the balance throughout the experience. The seafood was tender, the textures were smooth, and each dish brought something different, from delicate flavours to richer plates with a satisfying coated crunch.
For me, the best discoveries are not always the most convenient ones. Sometimes, they are the places that give you a reason to travel further, gather with friends, and realise the meal was worth the money. This was one of those spots that turns an ordinary day into something more memorable.
