It feels like coming home. Like how the aromatic smell of mum's cooking greets you at your doorstep, faint whiffs of Kareben's fare welcome with love and warmth of home-made Japanese curry. Introducing a new concept of express Japanese dining in Singapore , sisters Sandra and Kristine have brought back with them an equivalent of a small eatery commonly found along the streets of Japan .

• The Vibe
  Burrowed away in the slightly unkempt area of Bali Lane , Kareben peeks out from within its cascading noren curtains. Warm orange lighting illuminates its doorway, as if to express a warm gesture of welcome. Stepping inside, its humble exterior reveals a cosy interior of custom made Japanese-styled wooden tables and stools. Paper lamps, Japanese paintings and accessories add a subtle touch of comfort, making one feel immediately at ease upon entry.

• The Food
  The restaurant's name is a dead giveaway to its specialty dishes. Apart from dishing out their unique recipe for authentic Japanese curry, the sisters also cater bento takeaways to nearby areas should lunch breaks become impossible.

  Kareben's curry is done Osaka-style, a sweeter and lighter alternative to Tokyo 's curry which is heavy on the palate and spicier to the tastebuds. Kitchen manager Kristine has created her own fruit-based Japanese curry as a complement to fried items in an attempt to balance their oily aftertaste with a tropical alternative.

  A simple menu presents specialty Japanese curry dishes like Kare Ebi Rice – Prawn Tempura ($9.90), Kare Chix Karaage – Chicken Cubes ($7.90) and KareBen Deluxe Set ($13.90), for which one has the liberty of choosing amongst pork, chicken, prawn or simply settling for all. For a taste of everything, it is recommended that guests try the deluxe set of prawns, chicken, pork and potato croquet all thrown in together, doused with a generous serving of Japanese curry.

  Be blown away upon the first mouthful of kare rice. Sticky Japanese grains that are cooked dry enough to absorb the accompanying curry flavour, they are soft to chew and slide down the throat like butter. The curry, with hints of tropical and sweet fruit, oozes a tangy yet spicy flavour on the tastebuds. Taken together with premium cuts of meat that retain their light and crispy exterior despite being soaked in curry, it is simple yet pure gastronomical bliss.

  To top off the menu of home-made goodness, indulge further in home-made desserts unique to Kareben. The Macha Tiramisu ($4.80) is a favourite house-specialty featuring layers of green tea, light cream and cocoa powder with a substantial hint of cognac. Its blend of unsweetened green tea with cognac renders this a green tea lovers' delight. Order quickly though, for this dessert sells out like hotcakes. There is also Japanese Gelato in the flavours of sesame, green tea and sweet potato, fragrant in their taste, soothing to the throat and healthier in their ingredients.

• The Service
  One thoroughly feels at home dining under the kind hospitality of Sandra and Kristine, the owners of this restaurant. It is easy to feel the homely gesture intended by Kareben with such warmth extended to their guests by the sisters. Embracing the concept of “family”, it is not difficult to attain a sense of belonging to the restaurant.

The SD Food Advisor's take on Kareben
Kareben offers a cosy setting for a quiet afternoon to relax, or simply a quick lunch with colleagues. With low prices for good quality food, it is a bonus to discover that this restaurant does not charge GST nor service charges, making daily lunches of Japanese curry an extremely feasible and affordable choice. Furthermore, the restaurant's healthy selection of Itoen pure fruit juices and green tea promotes healthy meals of home-cooked delights one may discover in any Japanese family.