Lucky Cat: Fusion cafe hidden in C.C. serves konjac sashimi & meatless unagi maki

I love meat. But while I’m not vegan or vegetarian, yummy meatless food intrigues me. That’s probably why I was eager to try Lucky Cat, a quaint cafe in Hougang Community Club serving an entirely vegetarian fusion menu. Using mushrooms and konjac, they mimic the taste and texture of meat to bring the experience to those who don’t eat it.

From the reviews, it seemed like a popular lunch spot among local residents. Lucky Cat also recently released a limited edition Christmas menu, available until 31 Dec, and I was curious to try it. 

What do you do when you want to try a new dish? Bring a companion! I pulled my mom along; she’s already had this place on her bucket list for a while anyway.

The cafe was peaceful and we found a seat easily. Since it was prior to the lunch rush hour, we didn’t have to deal with queuing with a hungry crowd, much to our relief.

If you’re a cat lover like me, the many cat ornaments and paintings on display are sure to make you smile. 

What I tried at Lucky Cat

The Konjac Salmon Sashimi (S$5) was an appetiser that made us scratch our heads.

Plus points for the convincingly fishy flavour – it didn’t taste like salmon per se, but there was a strong resemblance to raw fish. “Chemicals and R&D,” Mom commented, a little disapprovingly. 

The texture however was far from sashimi – spongy, and somehow, juicy. Not what I would’ve expected from konjac jelly. It wasn’t bad, though I found myself dipping it in soy sauce and wasabi for a better taste. 

Promotional items on the Christmas menu include Smoked Ham and Cheese Tempura Maki (S$13) and Iced Strawberry Matcha Latte (S$7.50). 

I ordered the Monkey Head Mushroom Bolognese Noodles (S$12) and went with Korean noodles as udon wasn’t available. As it was served, we were hit with the distinct aroma of Italian herbs – I could make out strong notes of thyme and oregano.

The marinara with its hint of peppery warmth was reminiscent of canned tomato soup, not at all in a bad way. It reminded me of home-cooked food – simple, yet comforting. I was delighted to find it chock full of chopped vegetables – celery, carrots and mushrooms. Stewed to softness, it had bits of what seemed like ham mixed in.

The soy ham was astonishingly realistic. Not only did it texturally feel like ham, but it also possessed the same smokey flavour. For a moment, I doubted if they had put in mock meat and approached the staff for confirmation. It is all in the R&D, I guess.

Having soaked up the soup they were sitting in, the thick, yellow noodles were soft rather than bouncy. It was quite filling, but appetising enough.

The monkey head mushroom chunks weren’t exactly like meat, but the texture from the combined strands did mimic it to a certain extent. Perhaps I’m not a picky eater but I found nothing to complain about, and took a liking to their chewiness.

The Tofunagi Maki (S$12) was easily our favourite.

It’s a maki roll filled with Japanese cucumber and enoki tempura, topped with Lucky Cat’s signature tofu unagi and sprinkled with white sesame seeds.

I did not expect this dish to blow my mind. The moment I placed a slice into my mouth, I instantly thought, “This can’t be tofu!” While the difference became more noticeable after several more chews, the initial impression was highly convincing. 

Perhaps it was all in the mayonnaise and kabayaki sauce, but the tofu and fishy seaweed skin felt like tender unagi at first bite. It was a flavourful combination with the fresh cucumber and crispy enoki mushroom tempura. For vegetarian sushi, it was incredibly creative, and I doubt even the biggest meat eater would pass this up.

There wasn’t any hint of the vinegar that typically comes with sushi rice. It was pleasant, as I’m not the biggest fan of the acidic taste. 

The Lucky Tendon (S$11) consisted of deep-fried mixed vegetables such as broccoli, shiitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms and cherry tomatoes. I had to watch out whilst biting the tomatoes – they exploded in my mouth, tangy and juicy. 

There were also tofu, vegetarian ebi and more monkey head mushrooms, placed over a layer of fluffy rice seasoned with sweet teriyaki sauce. 

The mock ebi was nothing like the actual thing. If anything, it just tasted like a piece of soy fish cake shaped into a shrimp.

Meanwhile, I was quite impressed by the large piece of enoki tempura included in our bowl. I loved every bite and found myself craving more of the mushroom’s mild sweetness and earthiness.

There was an initial light crunch to the tempura. However it soaked up the sauce, becoming slightly soggy. Shame, I would have liked it a little more crispy. Still, it did not feel sinful due to the light layer of batter, which was not overly greasy.

Final Thoughts

They say curiosity kills the cat, but I beg to differ! Vegetarian food may be meatless but it certainly isn’t tasteless. Lucky Cat’s Tofunagi certainly made a lasting impression.

While each main cost less than S$12, I wouldn’t consider it the most affordable. This is especially true if you add on a drink, side or dessert, which may bring the cost up to S$20 per person. 

It was a nice meal, but it is unlikely that I’d travel to Hougang (from the WEST!) for this again. Still, if I were to find myself in the vicinity, I’d consider dropping by for a taste of more. 

Expected damage: S$11 – S$17 per pax

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