For those whom have been following us for a while, perhaps the mention of Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant may have rang some bells — yes, these folks have been in operation at Jalan Jurong Kechil for quite a while, but have recently opened a second outlet at E!Avenue within Downtown East. It does seem that the section that it is located is rather new to Downtown East; this block seemingly being an extension across where The Basil Inn is beside the spot that overlooks Wild Wild Wet. Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant should be relatively easy to spot, considering how the restaurant features a wooden facade that is undoubtedly Japanese — all that with red lanterns hanging from the awning styled in the likes of a Japanese roof. The Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant outlet at Downtown East is split into two (2) sections — indoor and outdoor seating; the indoor seating being an air-conditioned space where all seats surrounds a counter where patrons can observe the chefs preparing the Okonomiyaki right in front of them with the grill positioned at the table itself. In retrospect, the outdoor dining space comprises of booths with traditional Japanese-style seating, while the remaining tables are all regular dining tables that is configured to seat patrons visiting their establishment in pairs or in groups of four (4) pax. The food menu at Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant at its Downtown East outlet is segmented into Okonomiyaki, Teppan-Grilled, Mentai, Appetisers, Sides and Rice / Noodles, while beverages are split into Japanese Beers, Sake, House Cocktails, Japanese Wines, Other Liqueurs and Non-Alcoholic Drinks categories.

It is worth noting that Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant’s menu consists of two subsections for the Okonomiyaki offerings — the Ajiya’s Combo and the Veggie Delight; both allows patrons to flexibly create their very own Okonomiyaki with their choice of three (3) ingredients from the list that they have provided. Patrons seated indoors with the grills right in front of them can choose to make their very own Okonomiyaki, or have the Okonomiyaki prepared by the chef. Either way, the Okonomiyaki will arrive to the table without the sauces and bonito flakes; patrons can opt for the service staff to help them out with the garnishes, or choose to do it on their own as well. We went for the Ajiya’s Combo and opted for one item each from the three (3) categories of ingredients listed — the Scallop, Chicken Ham and Kimchi which are namely from the Seafood, Meat & Dairy and Vegetable section accordingly. The Okonomiyaki at Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant is sized in a way that is good as a main dish for a single pax or to be shared around multiple pax at the table. Coming with a drizzle of Okonomiyaki sauce, mayonnaise and topped off with bonito flakes, the Okonomiyaki is well-made with a crusty and crisp surface from being grilled; the Okonomiyaki can also be sliced easily with the batter holding everything up firm so that the elements do not fall apart. Despite the elements that we have opted for in our order, the Okonomiyaki does taste like a typical Okonomiyaki for the most part — perhaps due to the heavy drizzle of Okonomiyaki sauce and mayonnaise that gives a savoury-sweet note that is slightly vinegary with a dash of creaminess to it; the addition of Bonito flakes giving a factor of umami-ness at the same time.

During our visit, we had also given the Century Egg Kami Tofu from the Appetisers section of the menu a go. As the namesake of the dish suggests, the Century Egg Kami Tofu comes with elements such as silken tofu, Japanese surimi crabmeat, and century egg sauce. Much like a typical century egg tofu dish, one think that we note about the tofu here is how “crumbly” and “curdled” the texture of the tofu seems to be; smooth but not quite as what we had expected considering the other century egg tofu that we had come across at other Japanese dining establishments around the island. The century egg sauce helps to add a umami note and a creamy mouthfeel, gelling the tofu with other elements such as Ebiko that provides a popping sensation; all that whilst chopped up pieces of century egg adds further enhancing the flavours of the dish further. We had tried the Potato Cheese Mentai from the Mentai section of the menu; Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant describes the item as being “sliced potatoes topped with mozzarella cheese & mentai sauce and baked”. This does seem to be pretty much a crowd pleaser; the sliced potatoes carry a soft but firm bite — the potatoes providing a little bit of an earthy note that acts a vehicle for the Mentaiko sauce that is drizzled atop of it. The Mentaiko sauce here carries a good balance of being umami and creamy; having gone through the flame torch to come with a slight hint of smokiness.

Meanwhile, the Shio Koji Tori Karaage is mentioned to be a dish that features “fried chicken bites”, “marinated with fermented salt and rice”. These do seem to be a very good accompaniment to the range of alcohol which Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant has to offer; the chicken being especially tender and juicy with a very light zing at the end whilst carrying a slight hint of saltishness within. Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant was an establishment that had impressed us when we had first visited their founding location at Jalan Jurong Kechil; it is definitely surprising to hear about these folks making expansion plans especially given how they have been pretty stable with just having one location for quite a number of years — the move to open a second outlet in the East does come with a little bit of surprise. Nonetheless, Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant provides a fun experience especially for those who manage to get one of the indoor seats at their Downtown East outlet — there is definitely a theatrical experience for those whom opt for the chef to prepare the Okonomiyaki order for them, whilst those whom prefer the hands-on experience can always choose to do it themselves. They had also not forgotten about adding the theatrical experience for those seated outdoors, with the servers still being able to assist to apply all sauces / garnishes to the Okonomiyaki to provide a partial experience to ensure that they are not missing out entirely. With a loyal following and being an established name providing patrons with a unique dining experience few establishments are able to provide in Singapore, Ajiya Okonomiyaki Restaurant is likely an establishment that would be popular with residents in the East given how Upper Bukit Timah is a tad far out; also an opportunity for Easties that had not heard about them to give them a try given the more convenient location for them now.