Mare Hachikyo, a celebrated name from Sapporo, has established its first overseas restaurant at Palais Renaissance in Orchard Road. The restaurant aims to showcase the heart of Hokkaido cuisine through ingredients sourced directly from Japan’s northernmost prefecture.
A Taste of Hokkaido
Hokkaido, Japan’s premier food-producing region, boasts pristine waters, fertile soils, and a distinctive four-season climate. These natural advantages produce exceptional seafood, agricultural produce, and meat products, which are celebrated throughout Japan.
Mare Hachikyo imports 90% of its ingredients directly from Hokkaido. The restaurant’s name itself—”Mare” meaning “rare” in Japanese—reflects its commitment to offering an authentic special dining experience. The Hachikyo Group maintains close relationships with fishermen, farmers, and artisans who preserve Hokkaido’s food traditions. The company’s in-house procurement team visits fishing ports, participates in harvests, and makes direct purchases at markets to understand the people and processes involved.
Mare Hachikyo Singapore
The new restaurant is located on level 1 of Palais Renaissance in Orchard Road. The interior features classic Japanese elements, with various woods from pale pine to dark rosewood used throughout the space. The restaurant centers around a 12-seat counter where guests can interact with the chefs. Two private rooms accommodate 4 to 8 people each, or up to 12 when combined.
Signature Dishes
The restaurant’s standout offering is the Tsukko Meshi, a dish pioneered by the Hachikyo Group. This theatrical presentation features premium ikura (salmon roe) generously scooped onto a bowl of rice until it overflows, accompanied by enthusiastic shouts of “Oisa!” from the staff. The dish honors a memorable encounter between the group’s founder and a fisherman who served him rice topped with plentiful ikura as a gesture of hospitality.
Another highlight is the Signature Hokkaido Temaki. This hand roll combines freshly picked kegani (hairy crab), ikura, and creamy uni wrapped in crisp, lightly toasted seaweed. The rice used is Hokkaido’s prized Yumepirika, cooked with Hokkaido water and seasoned with a careful blend of seven ingredients, including red and white vinegar, mirin, and Hokkaido salt.
Diners can enjoy the Signature Donabe in three ways: with seasonal seafood, as Tsukko Meshi, or as ochazuke with a pour of warm dashi broth.
Menu Options
Mare Hachikyo offers a range of dining experiences to suit different preferences and budgets. The nine-course dinner omakase is priced at $228++ per person. For lunch, guests can choose three-course ($68++), four-course ($88++), or five-course ($108++) set menus.
An à la carte dinner menu is also available with a minimum order of five dishes, allowing diners to create their own experience. The new restaurant offers a selection of Japanese alcoholic beverages, including sake, premium whisky, beer, and shochu from across Japan.
Seasonal Approach
The new restaurant in Orchard Road will refresh its menu substantially every six weeks to ensure that ingredients are served at their peak. The kappo-style cuisine employs subtle techniques that highlight the intrinsic qualities of the ingredients, with minimal intervention but occasional Chinese and Western influences. Through this approach, Mare Hachikyo hopes to reshape perceptions of Hokkaido by focusing on its dynamic food culture rather than just its winter landscapes.
Mare Hachikyo Singapore
390 Orchard Road, #01-07 Palais Renaissance
Opening Hours:
Monday to Saturday: 12:30 pm to 3 pm: 7 pm to 10 pm
Tel: +65 8428 0073
The Ordinary Patrons | Real Dining Experience of Ordinary People
an independent Singapore food blog
Share this:
Related
Discover more from The Ordinary Patrons
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.