SORA, Japanese Gourmet Food Hall opens in Terminal 2 - Largest Restaurant in Changi Airport

Changi Airport's largest restaurant, SORA, is now open in Terminal 2. The 7,760 sqft (approx. 721 sqm) space is home to a Japanese Gourmet Food Hall and it houses six Japanese restaurant brands with a seating capacity of about 300 diners. SORA, which translates into 'sky' in Japanese, marks the first time that ANA Trading - the trading arm of Japanese airline company, All Nippon Airways – is operating a food hall outside of Japan.

Japanese Gourmet Food Hall | Photo Credit: Sora

Of the six restaurants in SORA, two of them are new-to-market brands: Tsuruhashi Fugetsu and Japoli Kitchen. Making its overseas debut in Singapore, Tsuruhashi Fugetsu is a renowned okonomiyaki chain that hails from Osaka. Available from $13 onwards, its signature Japanese savoury pancakes are made with fresh cabbage, yakisoba (fried noodles) and an assortment of battered meat and seafood, before being grilled a la minute and slathered in Worcestershire sauce and mayonnaise and topped with bonito flakes. Diners who enjoy fusion cuisine will feel right at home at Japoli Kitchen, which offers Italian dishes infused with Japanese touches from $10.80. Menu highlights include Bolognese Pasta and Porcini Risotto. Its range of freshly-made pizzas, which includes Pizza Margherita and Mentaiko Pizza. The brand uses fresh pasta and flour specially imported from Japan. 

Special Rich Shoyu Ramen | Photo Credit: Menya Takeichi

Rounding up the dining offerings at SORA are other Japanese restaurants such as Menya Takeichi, which is lauded as Tokyo‟s top chicken ramen chain and its collagen-rich Chicken Paitan broth ramen dishes are available from $13.90. This is the brand‟s 100th outlet worldwide; Kuro Maguro, which is started by the number one Japanese fish wholesaler, is offering meshi (rice dishes) with kaisen (seafood) and torobutsu (tuna) that are air-flown daily from Japan. Prices start from $18.

Photo Credit: Tendon Kohaku

Those who love tendon will make a beeline at Tendon Kohaku, which specialises in Edomae-style tendon, in which Hokkaido rice is adorned with crisp tempura that are drizzled in tendon sauce. Its first outlet in Eat at Seven, Suntec has drawn long queues everyday since it opened. Prices start from $16.60. Adding a touch of Korea flavours to the culinary delights is Tokyo Sundubu, Japanese‟s largest restaurant chain that serves the hearty Korean stew rich in collagen. Sundubu Jjigae is a treasure trove of hand-made tofu, vegetables and ingredients such as chicken, beef, asari (sake-steamed) clams and shrimps, available from $15.  

Get tipple-happy at SORA Bar, which offers desserts and beverages to wash the nosh down. On the menu are desserts such as Hokkaido milk ice cream, sake and cocktails such as Singapore Sling and Mojito. Diners can order food from any of the restaurants and bar and sit at the shared seating area in the middle of the food hall. Modelled after airline lounges, Japan Gourmet Hall SORA boasts comfy booth and tatami seating options. For tatami seating, diners can immerse in Japanese dining etiquette by taking off their shoes before dining – just like what they would do before entering a zashiki or tatami room. The seating options also come with nifty features such as tables fitted with charging points for mobile electronic devices and an interactive Kid‟s Corner complete with a playground and a television screen.  

Photo Credit: Tokyo Sundubu

SORA‟s contemporary chic interiors are heavily steeped in Japanese influences. The décor boasts intricate exquisite Japanese craftsmanship such as the Kumiki (Japanese woodcraft) and kumiko (lattice-like timbre trellis) that embellish the counter tables. Adorning the walls are murals of bonsai and pine trees that are hand-painted in a style reminiscent of the time-honoured Japanese art history. SORA is located at Singapore Changi Airport Terminal 2, 60 Airport Boulevard #036-058/059, opens from 10.30am to 11pm daily.