Haven Bistro Review: Cheap Teppanyaki Set With Fresh Prawns, Oysters, Squid And Chicken At Only $12.90 Nett

Either you’re paying through the nose for undersized cubes of wagyu beef, or you have to contend with frozen components and ready-made sauces at more affordable joints. Haven Bistro seeks to solve that dilemma, serving up affordable teppanyaki sets from $12.90 that don’t skimp on portions or quality. And with only one chef and two other staff manning the restaurant, they’ve been struggling to cope with the crowds.

We headed down to brave the queues and find out whether the hype was warranted. It was more reminiscent of a lobster you’d expect to receive in a fine-dining restaurant—or Larry the weightlifting lobster from Spongebob Squarepants.

Coming along for the ride is a bowl each of white rice and mellow radish soup, as well as a garden of bean sprouts and mixed vegetables, all smothered in black pepper sauce. It lived up to its hype in the savour department, flaunting robust, bouncy meat with a hint of sweetness.

It was also well-seasoned, with a caramelised layer of spice that enhanced rather than overshadowed the lobster’s natural savour. Out of the forest of veggies we were served, the bean sprouts were head and shoulders above its colourful counterparts.

We didn’t have lofty expectations after forking out only $12.90 for their most popular item, the Teppanyaki Combo 1 . Even so, we soon realised why this dish has been drawing in crowds, as a surprisingly large heap of prawns, squid, oysters and chicken sizzled seductively in front of us.

Considering that it comes with vegetables, rice and soup as well, this hot plate is the definition of value for money. Our first set was impressive and great for an occasional treat, but this is the dish we will make frequent returns for. Prawns and squid are two of the hardest proteins to cook, and since the food continues to cook on the sizzling hot plate after being served, slightly overdone seafood is likely.

Our trio of seafood was completed by a handful of oysters, akin to the type you’ll find in orh luak. They were decent rather than spectacular, with a light sear from the hot plate and nice balance of savour from the teppanyaki sauce and seasoning.

With rates constantly climbing in Singapore, getting four types of meat and seafood at this quality under $15 is tremendous value. Teppanyaki is what has led to this casual joint’s rise, but they as well boast a full all-day menu with a mix of Asian and Western cafe fare, such as Pinky Salmon ($9) and The LA-LA EVO ($9.50) , a laksa spaghetti dish. Ambience at Haven Bistro This new bistro is located on the first floor of The Noble Hotel, a short walk from Bendemeer MRT.

That’s a method for success no matter how you spin it, and we have massive respect for Eric and his wife’s commitment to using fresh components and preparing everything from scratch. For more food in the vicinity of Bendemeer MRT, check out our list of 10 Bendemeer food places and our review of Black Fairy Coffee . 10 Bendemeer Food Places Near Bendemeer MRT Station Including Blue Nasi Lemak And Unicorn Pancakes Let us know your favourite teppanyaki spots in the comments below!