SINGAPORE. Singapore Changi Airport has opened a Japanese gourmet food hall featuring six restaurant brands.
Called SORA, the 7,760sq ft space is located in Terminal 2, in the public area on Level 3. It can seat about 300 diners and becomes the largest restaurant across the airport’s four terminals, operator ANA Trading said.
SORA translates to ‘sky’ in Japanese, and the food hall offers ramen, sashimi, okonomiyaki, desserts and beverages.
The opening marks the first time ANA Trading, a subsidiary of Japanese airline All Nippon Airways, will operate a food hall outside of Japan. SORA’s design takes inspiration from airline lounges but also pays tribute to Japanese craftsmanship and art history.
ANA Trading said the opening was part of its strategy to expand its reach in South East Asia.
Of the six restaurants in SORA, two are new-to-market brands. Tsuruhashi Fugetsu is making its overseas debut. It serves savoury pancakes called okonomiyaki. They 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.
Japoli Kitchen serves Italian dishes infused with Japanese touches. It uses fresh pasta and flour imported from Japan.
The remaining four restaurants are Menya Takeichi, Kuro Maguro, Tendon Kohaku and Tokyo Sundubu.
Menya Takeichi is a chicken ramen chain and the Changi opening is the brand’s 100th worldwide. Kuro Maguro offers meshi (rice dishes) with kaisen (seafood) and torobutsu (tuna) that are flown in daily from Japan.
Tendon Kohaku specialises in Edomae-style tendon, in which Hokkaido rice is adorned with tempura drizzled in tendon sauce.
Tokyo Sundubu serves Korean stew rich in collagen and is claimed to be Japan’s largest restaurant chain. Its menu features hand-made tofu, vegetables and ingredients such as chicken, beef, asari (sake-steamed) clams and shrimps.
In addition to the restaurants, SORA Bar offers a selection of desserts and beverages. These include Hokkaido milk ice cream, sake and cocktails such as Singapore Sling and Mojito.
Those ordering from any of the outlets can sit in a shared seating area in the middle of the food hall, with booth and Japanese tatami (mat) options available. Diners are given the option to immerse themselves in Japanese culture by taking off their shoes before eating, just as they would do before entering a zashiki or tatami room.
Tables are fitted with charging points for mobile electronic devices while an interactive ‘Kid’s Corner’ features a playground and television screen.
ANA Trading said it was exploring collaborations with Japanese technology companies to improve the passenger experience still further. For example, virtual reality content “would allow guests to enjoy the magnificent scenery of Japan landscape while dining at the food hall,” according to Project Director, Retail Business Development Kazuhiro Nakao.
Changi Airport Group Vice President of Landside Concessions James Fong said od SORA: “Combining two concessions into one provides a much larger space for the tenant to present their unique dining concept and food offerings through a restaurants-within-a restaurant setting.
“We are pleased that ANA Trading has chosen Changi Airport as the world’s first airport outside Japan to launch SORA, bringing together the best of Japanese cuisine, ambience and service.”
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