URESHII in The Arts House - a taste of Korean-Japanese Fusion Menu

Tucked inside The Arts House, once the Old Parliament House, Ureshii serves Korean-Japanese fusion food in one of Singapore’s oldest buildings. We visited the restaurant for dinner recetly and had a good meal with interesting dishes in an unusual and historically significant setting.

Korean-Japanese Dining in The Arts House

Ureshii is located in the front of The Art House, facing the Singapore Criket Club and the Padang. There is a naurally ventilated dining area under porch.

The interior draws on both Korean and Japanese design cues, with lantern-style lighting, patterned artwork and dark wood furnishings throughout. The place was dimly lit, with pendant lamps hanging low over the tables. This made for an intimate mood, though it also meant photographs may not come out so well.

Seating varied from communal wooden benches to cosier corner booths, so the space suited both larger groups and couples on a date.

The Menu of Ureshii

The menu has sections for pancakes, pork, beef, fish, octopus, abalone, sukiyaki as well as for noodles, salad and soups. It features premium ingredients, including Hokkaido black pork, A4 Kagoshima wagyu and abalone shipped in from Jeju Island. Most mains fall between $28 and $38, with the sukiyaki set priced higher at $98 for three pieces, reflecting the wagyu used.

Below are pictures of a few pages of the menu of Ureshii.

Ureshii also has a set lunch menu, priced well below its dinner a la carte offerings. The abalone porridge set costs $33 and comes with rice, banchan and a side salad, while the Kurobuta udon kimchi soup set is priced at $23. These sets means a mid-week lunch is much more affordable, given that a la carte abalone dishes cost $38 each at dinner.

What We Tried at Ureshii

Beef

Sesame Beef ($48) was presented as thin slices of grilled beef on a bed of mashed postatoes and topped with a scattering of sesame seed. The well marinated meat was tender with a good smokey flavour. The mash was as enjoyable as the meat.

Octopus

The Sesame Oil Octopus ($38) was the most unusual dish of the night. An octopus leg came coated in a crumbly, nutty crust, with sesame oil drizzled over it at the table. The tentacle kept its bite underneath the crisp coating, and the sesame flavour came through without overwhelming the octopus itself. Both the flavour and texture were not quite what we expected, in a good way.

Fish

The Halibut Fish ($28) coated in breadcrumbs and fried, then topped generously with a herbed tartare sauce and served with a side salad. The fish stayed flaky under the crumb, and the sauce added a fresh, tangy note. This was one of the nicer surprises of the evening.

Halibut Ponzu ($28) was roasted halibut finished with a handmade ponzu sauce and topped with a light herb salad. The citrus note in the ponzu complemented the clean and fresh tasting fish very well.

Abalone

The Abalone Risotto ($38) was, by a clear margin, the best dish of the meal. Rice cooked risotto-style in a herb-flecked sauce came topped with slices of abalone. The texture sat somewhere between porridge and risotto, and the sauce had real depth. It was thoroughly enjoyable, though the portion was on the small side. If there is one dish worth ordering at Ureshii, this would be it.

The Abalone Porridge ($38) was a pot of creamy and comforting rice porridge topped with sliced abalone. It was a familiar dish that was well prepared. The quality of the abalone and the smooth texture of the porridge made it a very enjoyable dish.

Okonomiyaki

Osaka Okonomiyaki ($28) was served as a savoury pancake drizzled with okonomiyaki sauce and Japanese mayonnaise, and topped with bonito flakes. It was an easy item easy to share and like. Almost everyone at the table reached for a second helping.

Interesting and Delectable Food

Overall, we had a good meal at Ureshii. The abalone risotto alone makes a return visit worthwhile, and the sesame oil octopus offers something quite different. The menu’s range means diners can easily find dishes to suit different preferences and tastes. Patrons looking for interesting and delectable food in a heritage building in the city centre should consider Ureshii.