By Phyllis Pan

It’s not an everyday thing to travel to an island just for dinner. And yet, that’s exactly what we found ourselves doing. We couldn’t pass on the opportunity to experience MinSuiZen-Raku, a top-tier omakase teppanyaki brand from Taiwan.

Located within Amara Sanctuary Sentosa, the stillness and greenery gently set the mood for the evening. This marks the brand’s second outlet in Singapore, following its city location. Even before the meal begins, the atmosphere feels relaxed and comfortable.

We arrived for the dinner seating, where the intimate teppan setup offers a quiet sense of exclusivity. The restaurant offers three menus in total, an elegant lunch menu priced from $148++, and Premium and Royal menus for dinner at $198++ and $258++ respectively.

For the main course, lunch diners can choose between A5 Japanese wagyu, pork or duck, while the dinner menus offer a choice of A5 Japanese wagyu, pork or tako.

Inside, the teppan counter feels calm and welcoming. The chefs greet us warmly and work with a quiet efficiency that immediately puts us at ease. From the moment we sit down, there’s no sense of pressure. 

We began with a tray of small appetizers — burdock root, mozuku seaweed and a surf clam salad — with the mozuku seaweed leaving the strongest impression. Tangy and refreshing, it gently woke up the palate. Slowly, the meal found its rhythm. 

Dobin mushi came next — a light Japanese soup served in a small teapot. Warm and comforting, it tasted even better with a squeeze of lime juice.

From there, the meal moved into seafood, beginning with the madai fish, simply prepared and paired with a fish bone sauce that added depth without overwhelming its natural sweetness.

The king prawn was served with a prawn head sauce that brought out its natural sweetness while keeping the flavours clean. A scallop with edamame sauce arrived after — gentle, fresh, and well-balanced, with the edamame adding a light nuttiness without taking over.

The seafood dishes moved on to the live lobster, paired with a lobster bisque sauce. A5 wagyu followed, served with a satsumaimo sauce. Tender and rich, it was one of the more satisfying moments of the meal. Certificate of origin for the beef is also displayed, making it clear where the wagyu comes from.

The pork option was equally well executed, cooked at the teppan and served simply with vegetables and a smooth purée on the side. 

Mini sliders were served after, and we tried both the beef and chicken versions — a small, casual bite before the meal moved towards its close. Wipes were offered after the sliders, which was helpful before the next courses.

As the savoury courses slowly came to an end, a dish of spinach with truffle sauce was served. Simple and comforting, it acted almost like a pause before the final mains.

The garlic fried rice came next — familiar, fragrant, and quietly satisfying, especially after the richness of the earlier dishes. It felt like a natural way to round off the savoury part of the meal.

Dessert was kept light with a house-made ice cream, available in either sesame or matcha, bringing the evening to a gentle end. If it happens to be your birthday month, the chefs will also prepare a special dessert.

What stayed with me was how lightly everything was seasoned, with the focus staying firmly on the ingredients. Ending the night with a quiet walk nearby made the evening feel complete.

MinSuiZen·Raku is located at 14 Gunner Lane, Sentosa, Singapore. Complimentary parking is available for guests who are driving.