A Japanese food fanatic is back with savory pizza and pies made specially available for everyone.
Homegrown brand KOBEPI, pronounced “Kobe pie”, is now taking delivery orders for its halal-certified and Japanese-inspired gourmet pizzas and hearty pies from its bakery in Paya Lebar’s Aqueen Hotel.
Founded by L. Junji (JJ), the creator of the once popular Oishi Japanese Pizza restaurant, KOBEPI is on a mission to introduce more Japanese flavors to pizza as well as make meat pies a mainstay in the city-state.
When asked why he decided to cater to the halal crowd, JJ told Coconuts that making his food halal makes it more “unique” and that he’d “rather have something that everybody can eat.” This is especially important for corporate events, he says, as there are limited halal fast food options otherwise.
Explaining why his menu focuses on both pizza and pies, JJ explained, “Pizza is a pie reveal and pie is a pizza conceal.”
The food mainly features Japanese ingredients like Japanese curry, shiitake mushrooms, edamame, mentaiko and wasabi.
Their 10-inch pizzas are made with a medium thick crust, so not too fluffy or thin. They come in four flavors such as Grilled Teriyaki Chicken (S$19.80), Unagi & Leek, Mentaiko Seafood and Truffle Angus Beef (S$24.80 each). The dough also comes in matcha and charcoal variants.
Their sizable and filling pies are made with short crust and puff pastry along with layers of mozzarella and cheddar cheese.
Instead of throwing a bunch of ingredients together and stuffing them into the oven, all of the pies’ components are prepared and cooked separately before baking. Thus, upon first bite, you can see and taste each layer distinctively.
Their seven flavors of pies include crowd favorites like Teriyaki Chicken, Japanese Curry Chicken, Japanese Curry Beef, and Shitake Veggie (S$9.80 each); and premium selections such as Mentaiko Seafood, Wasabi Seafood and Truffle Shabu Beef (S$12.80 each).
Coconuts’ personal highlights would have to be the Mentaiko Seafood pie, which is filled with chunks of white snapper fish, shimeji mushrooms and cheesy goodness, and the Unagi & Leek pizza that comes with unagi, shiitake mushrooms and topped with bonito flakes and nori seaweed.
Sides include veggie croquettes and fried chicken wings battered in Japanese rice flour.
The pizza and pies are available for islandwide delivery and self-pickup. The cafe’s space has not been opened for dining yet except for private event bookings.
FIND IT
KOBEPI Café
Open for delivery, pickups and takeaways 11am to 7pm Monday to Saturday; closed Sunday
Level 2, Aqueen Hotel Paya Lebar, 33 Jalan Afifi
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