The Pasta Shop by Sakae – Affordable Wafuu Pasta

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Popular sushi restaurant chain Sakae Sushi has diversified. This time, they are seeking a slice of the wafuu (japanese style) pasta market by opening up a new restaurant. Simply named the pasta shop, this casual eatery occupies the new area outside Tiong Bahru Plaza.

(Update on July 20, 2009: this outlet at Tiong Bahru Plaza has closed, while the Wheelock Place outlet still remains. As some of you may be interested in patronising the restaurant, I am providing the address for the remaining outlet.)

Like Sakae Sushi that offers sushi at affordable prices, you can choose from a large selection of inexpensive pasta here, as well as burgers and the thin Japanese pizza.

It’s a good idea to check out the restaurant during weekdays from 11:30am to 3pm, when you can take advantage of their $13.95++ set lunch promotion that comes with a soup, pasta and drink. Look what I got!

Chili Soft-Shell Crab Pasta (Set lunch)
SGD13.95 (includes soup, pasta and drink)++

It’s the delicious soft-shell crab pasta (that would otherwise cost $15.90, which is still affordable)! Even for the low price, the restaurant certainly doesn’t skimp on the portion. I got a full-sized crispy soft-shell!

The pasta is done a la Singapore chili crab style, with the same sweet and spicy chili gravy. I guess this is yet another rendition of fusion food — Japanese and Singaporean! It’s my first time having chili soft-shell crab. And on paper, it certainly looks like a yummy combo.

On my first mouthful, I found the gravy to be more salty than sweet. But soon enough I found myself slurping down the sauce-laced spaghetti hungrily, leaving none behind! The sauce is very delicious!

One minor pet peeve that I do have is that the waiter neglected to ask for my choice of pasta, despite the availability of three types of pasta (spaghetti, linguini, or penne) to select from. It’s no biggie for me though; I would have gone with spaghetti anyway, which I guess is the default option for the restaurant. But I know of people who swear by linguini that would certainly not be happy about this.

Cream of Corn Soup

Cream of Corn Soup

The soup of the day was cream of corn (some say the proper term is corn cream). When I drank the soup I liked it immediately. It’s sweet and savory, though not nearly smooth enough as I could still taste the kernels. But that’s just my preference.

For the drink included in the set lunch, you can choose from coffee, tea or green tea. The iced tea that I went for was too syrupy sweet!

The Pasta Shop by Sakae

While we’re on the subject of wafuu pasta, I’ve noticed an increasing number of restaurants offering mentaiko pasta. Even my favorite café tcc is offering it!

Have you tried mentaiko pasta before? What is it like? Let me know what you think! I’m tempted to go find out for myself too.

The Pasta Shop by Sakae
Wheelock Place
501 Orchard Road #02-03/14
Singapore 238880
(65) 6836 5123
Service:

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About the Author

Veron Ang is the founder and chief editor of Sparklette. She lives in Singapore and has dined and traveled across the world. She also runs Sparklette Studio, a web design and development firm. If you'd like to connect with her, head on over to the contact page or follow her personal updates on Twitter: @VeronSG.

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7 responses

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Melissa
October 3

That soft shell crab looks amazing! Who would have thought that it can be cooked with chilli crab sauce and still taste good? Your description makes my mouth water :P
Is mentaiko some sort of roe?
Reply
Veron
October 3

Yeah! It’s pollack roe. I have no idea how it tastes though.
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terence
October 3

the food looks appealing :)
have a wonderful weekend! :)
Reply
Munirah
October 5

Hello veron! Ok actually I tried the mentaiko pasta at TCC. But I ask the chef to make it extra spicy! It taste good, there’s salmon and sunny side up egg on top and some vegetable for garnish…it’s fish egg or something…i don’t know
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Veron
October 5

Wow, that sure sounds like a scrumptious plate of pasta! Thanks so much for the details! Now I can’t wait to try it :) But I still don’t know what mentaiko looks like or how it is used in a pasta. I know it’s roe. Is it used like garnish or something?
Reply
Myo Han Htun
October 6

Nice and impressive web site especially idea, design and layout.
regards
MYO HAN HTUN
Reply
Jay
October 8

Hello from Japan! Mentaiko – honestly there is not so much taste by itself. It is the spicy version of tarako, and looks like tiny tiny red balls (Tarako looks like tiny tiny pink balls). They don’t really burst when you eat them, as ikura or salmon roe do.
In fact, the dominant tastes in a mentaiko pasta would be soy sauce, butter, a bit of spice and nori seawed. and EVER so slightly fishy. It is definitely not an acquired taste and as long as you prepare yourself for soy sauce/butter, there is nothing really challenging about it. We never have it with an egg though! It’s always served with slivers of grilled nori seaweed.
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