Sio Pasta at Raffles City review: Handcrafted pasta with Japanese influences from $13.80

For your next pasta fix, bookmark the newly opened Sio Pasta at Raffles Place for hearty plates in Japanese-inspired flavours like salted kelp and white miso butter.

There’s a new stir in Singapore’s pasta scene, and it’s all thanks to the arrival of Sio Pasta at Raffles City. The name of this new restaurant in Singapore might ring a bell for some; it’s the casual offshoot of the Michelin-recognised restaurant, Sio Aoyama, hailing from Tokyo, Japan. As the brand’s first global venture, Sio Pasta takes classic Italian pasta up a notch with Japanese influences. Coupled with incredibly wallet-friendly prices, it’s no surprise it has piqued the interest of many (myself, included). I dropped by for a sneak peek ahead of tomorrow’s official opening to see if it will become Singapore’s next pasta hotspot.

Sio Pasta review: Details at a glance

Best for: Affordable Japanese-style housemade pasta with massive flavours
Must-try items: Baguette with fig butter; Japanese-style fried chicken with yuzu kosho mayonnaise; Japanese-style pasta with fried egg, cheese and salted kelp
How much: Starters from $4.80; pasta from $13.80; pizzas from $14.80; desserts from $3.80
Opening hours: Daily, 11am to 10pm
Address: Sio Pasta, #B1-16, Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179103

Massive flavours without the frills

If you’re used to restaurants that go OTT, Sio Pasta is a welcome change of pace. Chef-owner Shusaku Toba and his team bring the Sio brand’s signature flair to Singapore. Rather than complex flavours, it’s all about prioritising precision and balance.

The modest pasta selection echoes this philosophy. Spot familiar, comforting classics like garlic carbonara and white miso butter on the menu, all featuring handcrafted pasta made with 100% Italian semolina flour. Coupled with the use of quality ingredients and seasonal produce, each plate promises a harmonious and satisfying medley of flavours.

Choose from 11 pasta options, with a mix of Italian classics and Japanese-style renditions. There’s also a ‘Monthly Best’ dish, if you’re feeling adventurous. This month’s pick was The Best Mentaiko Pasta ($16.80). And with a name like that, I had to try it.

The pasta came served with a huge dollop of mentaiko, spring onions, shiso leaf and nori strips. Give it a good stir for rich, umami-laden flavours in every bite. I expected the dish to be overly cloying, but the minty shiso leaf and subtle heat from the mentaiko helped cut through the richness.

My second plate was a Japanese-style creation with fried egg, cheese and salted kelp ($13.80). Don’t be fooled by how simple the ingredients sound, ‘cos the savoury combination packed a serious punch. Mix in the runny egg yolk, cheese and salted kelp to get a creamy amalgamation of flavours.

Both dishes are heavier on the palate, so I’d recommend sharing them and trying a bit of everything.

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Starters and desserts that surprise

While the pasta plates are the supposed standouts at Sio Pasta, the starters and desserts are the real reason I’ll be back soon.

As a bread lover, the baguette instantly caught my eye. You have a choice of baguette with fig butter ($4.80) or mentaiko butter ($4.80), and the former was the clear winner for me. The fruity fig butter nailed the balance between sweet and savoury, with the right amount of decadence. Hand me a block of the fig butter and I’ll gladly polish it off with a fresh baguette.

Another unassuming but delectable dish was the Japanese-style fried chicken, available in plain or black garlic pepper. Priced from $4.80, the dish comes with a choice of sauce: classic teriyaki sauce, yuzu kosho mayonnaise, mentaiko mayonnaise, sweet chilli sauce or sriracha mayonnaise. I recommend the yuzu kosho mayonnaise for a zesty and slightly peppery complement to the crisp and juicy chicken.

Desserts are almost always non-negotiable for me, especially if the prices are as wallet-friendly as Sio Pasta’s selection. Simple yet well-executed, the Japanese-style pudding with fresh cream ($3.80) featured a silky base and a bittersweet syrup with hints of burnt sugar. One more of that, please!

With affordable pasta plates that wow and a convenient location in the CBD, Sio Pasta has the perfect recipe to draw snaking queues in Singapore. I’m already making a mental note to return for more Japanese-style pasta creations – and another round of that fig butter baguette and pudding that are still lingering in my mind.

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