Dining at Sakae some years back used to be an all-inclusive experience. And by all-inclusive, I mean, literally, including all (ok, most) dishes on the menu. Because, a couple of years back (in the mid 2000s), the voracious appetite craved for what Sakae could offer – and what every Singaporean relishes -…..

All-you-can-eat-BUFFET!

I once had an eating competition with a good friend from my university days. And this all came about because of a single conversation we had – in which I had told him in not so many words that I loved to eat, and I had a ‘healthy’ appetite, to say the least. Both in quality, and in quantity. He raised his eyebrows with a hardly concealed notion of skepticism, and gamely challenged me to an eating competition. We chose Sakae due to a couple of reasons – we both enjoyed Jap food; and what better way to have an eating challenge than with a buffet?

To cut a long story short, we ate. And then we ate, and then we ate some more. And I won the challenge, with a grand total of 25 plates – in a mixture of sushi and other dishes. The dear friend (we’ll call him Jack), finally admitted defeat. [both of us couldn't really walk properly for the next few hours after that meal]

Of my multiple visits to Sakae to enjoy the buffet, I must admit that that was one of the most memorable times. Not only because I celebrated victory in a challenge, but because on hindsight, that was one of the incidents that got me hooked to Sakae – Great food, reasonable prices, and above all, unforgettable memories.

Coming back to the present, I no longer eat the Sakae buffet. Partly because the vagaries of work have resulted in the inability to relish a buffet between the hours of 3 to 6 pm, and even with the 1 hour lunch buffet, there just isn’t enough time! But more importantly, it’s probably the subconscious deterrent of the ‘long ago but seems like yesterday’ food stuffing experience.

And so, these days, meals at Sakae usually comprise my favourite dishes, a-la-carte style. Guess which outlet the following photos were taken at?

To warm the palate

And....Here it comes!

Inari sushi - also otherwise a must have for every Sakae visit

Tako Yaki - Delicious little balls with little bits of octopus that jump out as you bite

And so he attempts, with just a hint of trepidation (ok, I was kidding about the octopus jumping out)

Salmon Salmon Salmon! Raw, with avocado, and skin

We do the food justice.

Yours truly - with the green tea to wash it all down

My numbers of visits to Sakae seem to have grown proportionately to the increasing number of Sakae outlets that have been sprouting around the island over the past few years. And even on my periodic trips up north across the border to Malaysia, with the gastronomy of food, I’m not sure if I should be somewhat embarrassed to say that we often end up at Sakae Malaysia – eating twice as much. But hey, the adventure up north always adds that additional positive element, especially after savouring the good ol’ taste of home.

And so, here’s a toast to wonderful travels around the world; to places like Indonesia, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam. Bask in the sights and sounds, embrace the culture, taste the local delicacies. But be sure to check out a Sakae outlet – you may just find a local delicacy – ‘Sakae’ style.

So what makes them stand out?

At Sakae,

They eat the sushi too.