Benten Cafe: Teppanyaki Soba!

Some time back I was meeting up with some friends at Jurong Point for lunch, and we settled for Benten Cafe at the old block (Its so big now that they called it the new and old wings). I had walked past it on previous occasions and always wanted to try its teppanyaki Soba.



They had an open kitchen and dining concept with bright and colourful decor, as well as tall chairs and tables that reminded me of bar dining. We opted for the more conventional seats as we preferred something more comfortable to lean back on.


Soup of the day, Cream of Mushroom

Above average, although there were no signs of mushrooms, its better than your typical Campbell cans/powder.


Salmon Pasta in Mushroom Cream Sauce

My friend ordered this and it was quite to his liking. It looked a bit too watery for me but the portion was rather enough for lunch with hearty portion of salmon.



Teppanyaki Soba with Teriyaki Chicken (Top), Teppanyaki Soba with Grilled Salmon (Bottom)

These two are essentially the same base with different toppings. I had the teriyaki chicken and to be honest, I was quite disappointed with it. The chicken texture was rather hard and while the surface was brushed with teriyaki sauce, it could have been more marinated and tasteful within.

The soba was also overcooked and slightly soggy, didn't have that al dente and springy texture I was hoping for. But again, plus point for its portion as it had generous amount of chicken chop and sufficient noodles for a lunch.

I couldn't exactly remember how much was the bill, but their set lunch ranged from $10.50 to $13.50, comes with a soft drink, choice of salad or soup and a main course. YOu could also top up $2 for a scoop of ice cream. Price and quantity wise, Benten Cafe is okay for a gathering session, but I do hope they will improve on their quality soon!