The balcony was already half full when I arrived, a little past five on a weekday.
Below me, Orchard Road did its usual thing, shoppers weaving through the heat, buses sighing at the lights, the whole restless current of the street. Up on the fourth floor of Orchard Central, though, things moved slower. A plate of oysters glistened on the next table. Somewhere behind me, a cocktail shaker rattled.
I’d come for the truffle beef bowl everyone talks about. But I stayed a while longer than planned, and that, I think, tells you something about the place.
First Impressions and Atmosphere at Tanuki Raw Orchard Central
Tanuki Raw Orchard Central is located at 181 Orchard Road, nestled on the fourth floor of the bustling Orchard Central mall in Singapore. The restaurant is known for its lively atmosphere, Japanese-fusion dishes and popular happy-hour promotions.
Tanuki Raw isn’t trying to be a quiet, reverent Japanese restaurant, and it doesn’t pretend otherwise. Step inside and you find a sleek bar-and-dining room, low lighting, dark surfaces, the hum of people who came to eat and drink in equal measure. Step out onto the balcony and the mood loosens further, open air, the city spread out below, the kind of seat you settle into rather than perch on.
The two spaces feel like different evenings entirely. Indoors is cooler and steadier, better for conversation and safe from a sudden downpour. The balcony is the atmospheric choice, especially for drinks, though Singapore’s heat means you’ll want to time it right. I sat outside on a day the weather behaved, and by half past six the tables around me had filled with an after-work crowd, groups leaning in, a couple sharing a bowl, the noise rising in that easy, social way.
If you want to hang out with friends over a delicious meal and drinks, Tanuki Raw offers a nice balance of energy and comfort. The casual vibe makes it a great spot to enjoy a meal or simply hang with a glass of your favorite drink, whether you’re dining in or opting for takeaway.
What I Ordered: Lobster Salad and Salmon Bao Highlights
This is a fusion kitchen, and it leans into that without apology. Truffle, foie gras, butter, sauces, playful combinations. I ordered around its reputation, plus the oysters that draw so many people here in the first place.
Lobster Salad & Salmon Bao
One standout appetizer from the menu was the Lobster Salad & Salmon Bao (around S$16.90), a dish that perfectly captures Tanuki Raw’s creative approach. The lobster salad is chopped finely and seasoned with a piquant black pepper that gives it a subtle kick, while the mentaiko sauce adds a creamy, slightly spicy note that complements the fresh seafood beautifully. The lobster salad and mentaiko salmon chunks are stuffed inside soft and crispy fried leaf buns, making each bite a delicious combination of textures and flavors.
Foie Gras Truffle Yakiniku Don
The Foie Gras Truffle Yakiniku Don (around S$28.90) is the dish Tanuki Raw is known for, and I understood the appeal within a few bites.
It arrives as a bowl of US Black Angus short rib over the restaurant’s seasoned mixed rice, crowned with a lobe of foie gras and an onsen egg. Break the egg, let the yolk run through the rice, and the whole thing turns rich and glossy. The beef was tender with a little chew, savory and generous, and the foie gras was the ingredient that pushed the bowl somewhere more indulgent. That seasoned rice does real work too, more flavorful than plain white rice, and I can see why regulars come back for it.
The truffle, though, was gentler than I expected. It hovered rather than announced itself. I’d order this again, but I’d go in knowing it’s a comforting, hearty bowl more than a fragrant showpiece.
Four-Master Chirashi Don
The Four-Master Chirashi Don (around S$27.90) was the fresher counterpoint, and the one I kept returning to.
This don is topped with thick, fresh sashimi cuts including silky salmon and briny ikura that pop with flavor. The sashimi is fresh and served in a generous portion, the perfect foil to the richer foie gras bowl. Underneath sat that same seasoned grain rice, dressed with something savory (furikake, I think), which lifted it above the usual plain base. It’s a bowl that tastes considered rather than assembled.
My one reservation was size. It looked modest when it landed, and while it satisfied me, a larger appetite would want a side alongside it. Still, for freshness and that rice, I’d happily order it on a return visit.
Happy-Hour Oysters: A Fresh and Affordable Treat
The happy-hour oysters are S$3 each from 3pm to 7pm daily, with a current limit of six oysters per drink. They’re the reason a lot of people first walk in, and they hold up
They were cold and fresh, cleanly briny, the sort of thing that pairs naturally with a late-afternoon drink and the view. I had mine plain and then with a little truffle soy, which added a savory depth without smothering the oyster itself. At three dollars during the promotion, they’re genuinely good value in a part of town where value can be hard to find.
They aren’t large. If you’re expecting something plump and dramatic, adjust your expectations. But eaten for what they are, a fresh, affordable bite to open the meal, they do their job well.
Where Tanuki Raw Fell Short: Portion Sizes and Consistency
Let me be honest, because the setting can make you generous.
The recurring issue here isn’t quality so much as consistency, and portions. The bowls, both the beef and the chirashi, run smaller than the photographs and the premium toppings suggest. For a regular eater they’re fine. For a big appetite, you’ll likely need a side or a set upgrade to leave properly full, and that nudges the bill up.
The truffle aroma, as I mentioned, was subtler than the menu’s billing implies. I’ve read enough echoing that same note to think it’s not just my nose. And richer dishes here can be hit or miss depending on your tolerance for fat and heavier sauces. The short rib leaned tender for me, but chewiness is a complaint that comes up, and the foie gras bowl can arrive light on sauce.
None of this ruined the meal. But it’s worth knowing that Tanuki Raw’s strengths (bold flavor, convenience, energy) come with a few uneven edges.
Service and the Pace of the Room at Tanuki Raw Orchard Central
I visited on a weekday, arriving a little after five, before the evening rush had fully built. At that hour the service was warm and easy. My server explained the happy-hour terms clearly, pointed me toward the signature bowls, and checked in without hovering.
The food arrived at a reasonable pace, the oysters first, the bowls following without much of a wait. But I could feel the room filling as I ate, and this is where I’d offer a caution. Tanuki Raw combines dining and drinking, so when oysters, cocktails, and food orders all land at once during peak hours, service can stretch. Some diner reviews have also mentioned slower service, particularly when the restaurant is busy.
My advice is simple. Come earlier. Before six on a weekday, the team has room to breathe, and the meal feels relaxed rather than rushed.
Price, Portions, and Practical Tips for Dining at Tanuki Raw Orchard Central
Here’s what’s useful to know before you go.
Good to know before visiting:
Average spend: Around S$30 to S$45 per person for a main and drink, with the total increasing if you add oysters, sides or cocktails.
Address: 181 Orchard Road, Orchard Central, #04-01, Singapore 238896
Nearest MRT: Somerset MRT, roughly a two-minute walk through Orchard Central
Parking: Orchard Central has an on-site car park (weekday and weekend rates differ)
Opening hours: Daily, 11:30am to 9:30pm. Tanuki Raw currently lists happy hour from 3pm to 7pm daily.
Reservations: Available online and recommended for happy hour, evenings and weekends. Walk-ins are also welcome
Best time to visit: Weekday lunch just after opening, mid-afternoon before happy hour, or early dinner before 6pm
If the weather’s kind, the balcony is the seat to request. If it’s hot or threatening rain, take the indoor room and don’t feel you’ve missed out.
Final Verdict: Enjoy Tanuki Raw’s Delicious Japanese-Fusion Experience
Tanuki Raw makes sense once you stop measuring it against a purist sushi counter and take it for what it is: an accessible, energetic Japanese-fusion spot with a genuinely good view. It trades refinement for flavor and atmosphere, and for the most part, that trade lands.
Food: 4/5
Service: 3.5/5
Atmosphere: 4.5/5
Would I return? Yes, though I’d time it. An early weekday visit, a seat on the balcony, oysters to start and a bowl to follow. What would I order again? The Chirashi Don for its freshness and that seasoned rice, the Foie Gras Truffle Yakiniku Don when I want something richer, and the S$3 oysters whenever the happy hour’s running.
Who’s it best for? Casual dates, groups after food and drinks, shoppers near Somerset, and anyone who likes their Japanese food playful rather than traditional. Who might not enjoy it? Diners chasing an omakase-style experience, big appetites expecting oversized bowls, and anyone who dislikes truffle, rich sauces, or a room that gets loud. This isn’t a quiet, formal meal, and it never claims to be.
Is it worth the price? For an accessible Orchard Road meal, yes, especially during happy hour. Just go in knowing the portions are modest and the truffle whispers rather than shouts. Set your expectations there and it’s an easy, satisfying place to spend an afternoon that slides into evening.
I left fuller than I’d planned, and later than I’d meant to, which is usually the sign of a place that got the mood right.
If this review resonated with you, you can find more Chirashi Don dining stories over at Food Reporter SG.