Sora Boru

From fresh sashimi and soba noodles, to donburi meals and curry rice — Most of the dishes are priced under $12.90, so you can enjoy Japanese fare without paying through the nose. Best part is, it won’t cost you more than $20 for a wholesome set meal complete with chawanmushi, miso soup and a drink.

Sora Boru, a brand new Japanese dining concept newly opened on 13 March 2019 at 313@Somerset focuses its efforts on one-bowl meals, but the menu also includes sides and small sharing dishes like crispy salmon skin, chicken karaage and breaded ebi — all well worth your attention.

There are no fads or flamboyance here, just decent quality food with good pricing and value. Dining experience wise, the casual eatery is self-service and akin to a fast food restaurant concept, whereby customers can place their orders and make payment over the counter or self-ordering kiosk, then pick up the food when their order receipt number shows up on the digital screen above the collection point.

Sora Boru menu offers 9 varieties of DonBoru (rice bowls), 6 selection of Soba Noodles, 7 CurryBoru (curry rice bowls), over 15 choices of Side dishes and an option to design your own Chirashiboru (Sashimi bowls) through a simple 6-step customisation process.

Most of the mains here are available in regular portion and mini size start from as low as $4.90 each, which is ideal for the young ones and petite appetites. The fun-sized mini bowls also give customers an opportunity to try more dishes on the menu.

Recommended for the beef lovers — Sora Boru glorified beef donburi comes in two options; namely, Volcano Beef Don and Snow Beef Don, each bowl at $7.50 for mini size and $11.90 for regular.

Constructed with steamed rice base, the donburi comes with a choice of stewed cabbage or seasoned beansprouts, stacked high with flame-grilled beef slices and finished with either spicy lava sauce in the Volcano Beef Don, or grated parmesan with sweet-savoury sauce made from whipping cream in the Snow Beef Don.

Die-hard Chirashi loving fans can try their hand at the customisable ChirashiBoru by choosing the Size (Mini $6.50, Regular $11.90, Large $16.90) and Base (Sushi Rice, Mixed Greens), followed by the type of Seafood (Salmon, Scallops, Tuna Octopus, Swordfish), Toppings (over 11 selection like Tobiko, Kani, Tamagoyaki, etc), Dressing (Shoyu, Sesame, Spicy) and Garnish (Tempura Crumbs, Spring Onion, Roasted Sesame Seeds).

Those who prefer their chirashi lightly torched can opt for the Bara Chirashi Ebimayo Aburi Don (Mini $9.50, Regular $16.90) which consists an assortment of half-grilled fish such as salmon, tuna and swordfish, tamagoyaki, cucumber and flame-seared shrimp roe mayonnaise.

P1600249 — **Bara Chirashi Ebimayo Aburi Don**

If you like the humble dish of curry rice, Sora Boru serves up a gratifying version of Japanese-style curry rice (CurryBoru) complemented with deep-fried meat or seafood, such as Chicken Katsu and Breaded Ebi (Mini $6.50, Regular $10.90).

For the hearty eaters, fuel up with more protein in combo options like Breaded Ebi with Shabu Beef (Regular $12.90) or Breaded Salmon with Shabu Beef (Regular $11.90), both come in only regular size.

The CurryBoru can be enjoyed in three varying heat level (spiciness) — level 0 with no heat, while level 1 to 2 tends to have a little more kick.

P1600253 — **Mini Chicken Katsu CurryBoru Level 2**

P1600251 — **Breaded Ebi with Shabu Beef CurryBoru**

Sora Boru also offers a range of Soba noodle dishes served chilled or hot, along with tasty accompaniments such as Ebi Vegetables Tempura (Mini $7.50, Regular $12.90) and Chicken Karaage (Mini $6.50, Regular $11.90).

P1600260 — **Soba with Chicken Karaage**

The DonBuru and CurryBoru, although more than enough for a meal in itself, accompanying side dishes are always welcome as they are reasonable and good. Think Edamame ($3.90), Yasai Corn Tempura ($5.50), Chicken Karaage with Egg Mayo Dip ($6.50), Chicken Gyoza ($8.50) or Crispy Salmon Skin with Egg Mayo Dip ($8.50).

Add-on $2.90 to any main for Chawanmushi and one Miso Soup or Drink, or $3.90 for all three items.

P1600243 — **Crispy Salmon Skin with Egg Mayo Dip**

Additional notes: Sora Boru does not take in any reservations and accepts only cash and nets payment.

Sora Boru concept is developed by K Food Holdings, who is the mastermind behind popular Korean franchises — Chir Chir Fusion Chicken Factory, Masizzim, Nipong Naepong and NY Night Market in Singapore. The group also manages its own Japanese restaurant brand — Kogane Yama.