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2025-05-07
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Ever since I heard about their chef Frankie Wong winning Young Chef Award in the 2025 Michelin Guide, I have planned to visit this French-Japanese restaurant, and so, on the Labour Day holiday, we come to Hart Avenue in TST, to experience why Ankoma has become such a hotspot for local foodies.The restaurant is not big, with only an 8-seat counter looking into the open kitchen, where the chefs are busy preparing the dishes. There is also a terrace offering a la carte. After settling down in front
Ever since I heard about their chef Frankie Wong winning Young Chef Award in the 2025 Michelin Guide, I have planned to visit this French-Japanese restaurant, and so, on the Labour Day holiday, we come to Hart Avenue in TST, to experience why Ankoma has become such a hotspot for local foodies.
The restaurant is not big, with only an 8-seat counter looking into the open kitchen, where the chefs are busy preparing the dishes. There is also a terrace offering a la carte. After settling down in front of the chef, I order a bottle of Planeta Chardonnay Sicilia Menfi DOC 2022 ($1,100), exhibiting ripe yellow fruit and toasted nuts, to go with the Dinner Tasting Menu ($1,488 each).
The first course is a tartlet featuring Amaebi, underneath the sweet shrimps the chef has added some green papaya, with also citrus zest on top to give acidity and freshness. The shell of the shrimps is toasted and grounded to powder, sprinkle on top for additional umami and flavours. This canape might look simple, but it imparts great flavours and gets us off with a wonderful start.
The second snack highlights Unagi, with the smoked eel put on top of a brioche French toast, sandwiched with a layer of creamy foie gras mousse. In contrast to the refreshing taste of the tartlet, this canape has a richer, more indulgent mouthfeel, having stronger flavours. The savoury of the foie gras matches well with the smokiness of the eel, plus the buttery brioche toast it is a delightful treat.
The third course features the seasonal Hyogo Samurai Gold Oyster, with a nice crisp texture and a clean saline taste. The chef has made some shaved ice from virgin Mojito, together with finely diced kiwi, and seasoned with a few drops of mint oil, to provide additional freshness to complement and highlight the flavours of the oyster even further. A creative, smart idea executed with good effect.
The fourth course features Hokkigai. The chef has lightly blanched the Hokkaido Surf Clam with sake to bring forward its sweetness, and having the Skirt immersed further in iced water to give a crunchy bite. Together with slices of Chitpolata sausages and mozuku, it is served in rataouille extraction and seasoned with coriander oil. The overall presentation is also very beautiful, winning us over on both visual and taste.
There are two choices on the fifth course, in which Ivy has picked Chawanmushi. The steamed egg has been added with snow crab meat, as well as some crab roes to increase flavours. On top there is a rich chicken consommé, with some yamacha-take mushroom, together with a drizzle of bannonegi spring onion oil for additional fragrance. This one is the more delicate option among the two.
I have chosen Pasta ($180 additional) instead. The angel hair is cooked in dashi to infuse the pasta with umami taste, before chilling them down for al dente texture. Added with white truffle paste and tsukudani wakame, as well as sturgeon caviar and hanaho flowers on top, when mixed the pasta becomes a true feast of flavours, with the various components reinforcing, and has the stronger taste of the two choices.
The sixth course features Amadai in uroko-yaki style, with the scales of the tilefish deep-dried to crispy and edible, while the flesh of the fish remains moist and tender. To go with the fish the chef has made a rich and creamy, very delicious clam sauce, full of umami flavours. Underneath the fish is local-style Stir-fried King offering additional savoury flavours and texture, and the two dill flowers on top is another source of fragrance.
The seventh course features Lobster, with the chef using butter to cover the Canadian lobster tail and aged for three days, before grilled on lava stone to mimic a charcoal grill effect, with a touch of lemon juice and peel to freshen up. The sauce is made from dried sakura-ebi and kabocha, drizzled with a few drops of homemade chilli oil to give a hint of spiciness. On the side are oden daikon and oxalis to balance the palate. Very flavourful.
There are three options on the eighth course, and we both have picked Pigeon. The Racan pigeon is roasted in yakitori style, with the breast filleted, together with the grilled viscera and thighs on skewers. The chef has used the bones of the pigeon to prepare a yakitori pigeon jus to match, and on the side are some raspberry and jam, giving acidity to balance the taste of the pigeon. Wonderfully delicious.
The ninth course is a pleasantly presented Petit Gateau. The soft cream cheese mousse on top wraps the mixed berries jelly inside and sitting on top of a spongy red velvet cake, with a crunchy almond sable crust at the bottom. A honey tuille that looks like twigs, with some small flowers, serves as further decoration, reminding us of cherry blossoms. The dessert is appropriate in sweetness and highly enjoyable.
The final course is Mignardise, showcasing a Passionfruit Chocolate, with the dark chocolate encasing some passionfruit puree. The acidity of the passionfruit gives a nice balance to the sweetness of the chocolate, and I would hope to have a cup of espresso together to maximize the overall experience. Consider the whole dining experience, this dinner is truly amazing and deserves a round of applause.
The service is good, with the staff friendly and attentive. The chefs are all busy and cannot afford the time to chat with the customers but have explained each course when served. The bill on the night is $4,728 and very reasonable in my opinion. Highly satisfied by the quality and quantity of the food, and seeing all the actions close up, I look forward to returning and try out their signature roasted three yellow chickens next time.
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