We dropped by SABAR at 100 AM, a Japanese izakaya known for its obsession with one fish – saba. This place takes its mackerel seriously. You can almost smell the smoky aroma of grilled fish the moment you step in, and that’s when you know you’ve come to the right place.

We ordered the SABAR Set ($48) where you pick three dishes from the menu, served with two bowls of rice and miso soup. Naturally, we went for the signature grilled toro-saba, the must-have dish here. The skin was crisp and glistening with oil, while the flesh flaked apart perfectly – rich, buttery, and full of that smoky depth you only get from good saba. Easily the star of the meal.

To go with it, we added the grilled squid and grilled miso pork. The squid was tender with just the right chew, served simply with lemon and a dab of mayo. The miso pork surprised us. It was juicy, lightly charred on the edges, carrying that savoury-sweet balance that makes you reach for another bite of rice without thinking.

We also shared their premium kaisen don, a colourful bowl of fresh sashimi cubes, tamago, cucumber, and tobiko. It even comes with a separate plate of sashimi, which made the meal feel like a mini feast. No wonder this set is popular with the office crowd looking for a satisfying lunch that still feels special.

Interestingly, this place hasn’t had much media coverage, but it truly deserves more attention. The quality, consistency, and value speak for themselves.

Here’s a fun fact: the number 38 in Japanese reads as sa-ba (3 = san → sa, 8 = hachi → ba), which literally means mackerel! That’s why SABAR celebrates “SABA Days” every March and August with special promotions and menus. So keep an eye out for their 3/8 deals but even without them, this spot is well worth a visit for a quality and value-for-money Japanese meal.

SABAR Singapore
100 Tras St
100 AM, #03-14
Singapore 079027