When it comes to buffet spreads, some like it displayed extravagantly; some like their food revolving around them on a conveyor belt. While Sakae Sushi dishes out their tea-time buffet on colourful plates brought to patrons via the conveyor belt system, Hanabi adopts a more personal approach through their ala carte Japanese buffet menu. Served fresh to the table, food seems to taste better piping hot and in smaller portions.

• The Vibe
  Located at the first level of Odeon Towers, Hanabi Restaurant distinguishes itself from the grey slates of the building's walls with its glass-paneled enclosure. Shallow water surrounds Hanabi like a moat around a castle that is accessible only by a wooden bridge-like structure. Within Hanabi, dark wood furniture and suspended flower lanterns reflect a cosy, family-style setting.

• The Food
  The ala carte buffet menu ($29++ lunch; $33++ dinner) features over a hundred items neatly categorized - sashimi, sushi, temaki, makimono, teppanyaki, agemono, rice as well as noodle types. Although Hanabi can hardly boast of top grade Japanese food offered in higher-end sushi bars and authentic Japanese restaurants, it does however, appeal to the local palate in terms of variety and quantity.

  Random picks off the menu have more popular dishes brought to the table including a sashimi platter, spider Karachi, moyashi itame (bean sprouts), yakiniku, ebi tempura and kushi mori (skewer platter). Quality of the food is a little questionable though, for its sashimi platter of salmon, maguro, octopus and cuttlefish meat lack the firm texture of extremely fresh fish and was served in too thick slices.

  The sushi selections were well made and palatable, though rolled a little too large to fit into a bite. The spider Karachi, sushi of soft shell crab with spicy sauce, had a unique taste, which combined a creamy and spicy sauce together with crunchy crab. An equivalent to Thousand Island salad dressing, its spicy sauce is titillating to the palate.

  Teppanyaki items featured the yakiniku (thin beef slices) as well as the moyashi itame (bean sprouts). Sweet marinate enhanced the taste of simple ingredients and made the dishes more enticing; the bean sprouts were sweet and flavoursome although the dish of beef served had more fat than meat in it.

  Kushi mori (skewer platter) makes a delightful snack over an afternoon chat with friends. Shishamo, chicken or mushrooms on skewers are served with sweet teriyaki sauce. The chicken is a safe bet – its crispy skin reveals a tender interior, which invites multiple helpings, though the shishamo and mushrooms were disappointing. While the mushrooms were too dry and bland, the shishamo was tough and could hardly be chewed upon. Other dishes like the rice and noodles, as well as other menu items, look more promising.

• The Service
  Befitting of a family-style restaurant, service at Hanabi is warm, quick and efficient. Refills of green tea as well as clearing of empty plates are done smoothly and quickly whilst food is served to tables fresh from the kitchen. Hanabi staff put patrons at ease and allows them to thoroughly enjoy their meal.

The SD Food Advisor's take on Hanabi Restaurant & Sake Bar
An unpretentious restaurant with a casual laid-back setting, Hanabi will be ideal for an average-priced Japanese buffet. With a wide menu range, this restaurant certainly appeals to most Singaporeans who delight in Japanese cuisine but are not too picky over the quality of food. $29++ may be a little too expensive compared to other similar outlets, but be assured that their buffet prices remain the same both weekdays as well as weekends.