Japanese food is undoubtedly one of the most well-loved cuisines in Singapore.
Besides ramen, sashimi and sushi, there are also other styles such as hot-off-the-grill yakitori, teppanyaki, yakiniku and modern Japanese restaurants worthy to explore.
Plus, these Japanese restaurants now come with up to 45% OFF with ChopeDeals, for you to feast more while saving up.
If Ebi Almond Tempura, Yakiniku on crystal plate, Hotate Mentaiyaki and Gyu Katsu already sound enticing, read on to find out where to find these Japanese cuisines with unbeatable promo:
Bao Makers – Jiak Chuan
4 Jiak Chuan Road Singapore 089261
Opening Hours: 6pm – 9pm (Mon – Thurs), 6pm – 10pm (Fri – Sat), Closed Sun
Bao Makers – Westgate
3 Gateway Drive, Westgate #02-49, Singapore 608532
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 8:30pm (Mon – Thurs, Sun), 11:30am – 9:30pm (Fri – Sat)
Gourmet Baos In Flavours Of Chilli Crab, Blackened Chicken and Mala Beef
While Bao Makers is Singapore’s pioneer Bao (open-faced buns) concept restaurant, it actually serves more than just buns, and includes Japanese rice bowls and sushi rolls.
For lunch-goers craving for some Japanese rice bowls, expect a twist to the usual donburi with offerings of Ketchup Manis Chicken ($13.80), Teriyaki Beef Steak ($17.80).
The best-seller is the Salmon Mentaiko Rice Bowl ($14.80) served with house-made mentaiko sauce made of torched cod roe and onsen egg.
To end the meal on a sweet note, the perennial favourite dessert is the Cookie Bomb ($7.50), which offers an amalgamation between the hot and the cold, as well as different textures and flavours.
Get The Signature Baos
I guess you cannot come to Bao Makers without getting their iconic dish.
These are not just ordinary “Baos”, as they come in fillings such as the ever-popular Chilli Crab Bao ($4.50) – great for National Day celebrations, Salted Egg Chicken Bao ($4.30), Mala Beef Bao ($4.50), Salmon Mentaiko Bao ($4.30), and the Blackened Chicken Bao ($4.30).
Get the Crab Bao filled with generous portions of fresh crab meat drenched in Singapore-style chilli sauce.
This comes complete with crisp deep-fried bao with soft, fluffy texture, which may just remind you of chilli crab mantou. Instead of one, get the Bao Set ($13.80) complete with choice of any 3 Baos, Edamame, and Salad.
ChopeDeals: Save with 10% off $50 or $100 Cash Voucher or Up to 36% off Set Meals
Book a seat here: Bao Makers @ Jiak Chuan Road
Shima Restaurant
22 Scotts Road, Level 1 Goodwood Park Hotel, Singapore 228221
Opening Hours: 12pm – 2:30pm, 6pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Sun)
First Teppanyaki Restaurant in Singapore
Shima Restaurant at Goodwood Park Hotel has been around since 1980, serving up teppanyaki meals, alongside sashimi, shabu shabu and sukiyaki using premium ingredients flown straight from Japan.
This is where you can get transported to Japan, as experience Japan-trained chefs fire up food in front of your eyes along with tableside acrobatics.
Truly an experience as you hear the sizzling meats, and smell the buttery aromas.
Get The Teppanyaki Omakase
The omakase sets come in three pricings: $99++, $150++ and $250++ per diner.
The basic omakase comes with a Sesame Tofu and Uni Appetiser, Sashimi, Dobinmushi Soup, Minced Prawns with Vegetable Balls Agemono, Garlic Rice, Miso Soup and Fruit Desserts.
The $150++ Omakase Set comes with Hiroshima Oysters known for their succulence, King Prawns, Sashimi and Prawn & Vegetable Tempura, which makes it value-for-its-money.
Of course, the highlight would be the Prime Beef Tenderloin and Assorted Vegetables Teppanyaki main in which the meats are cooked à la minute before your eyes.
Another would be the Garlic Rice with Anakake Sauce for you to mop up the juices from the meats.
ChopeDeals: Save with 10% off $100 or $200 Cash Voucher
Book a seat here: Shima Restaurant
Bincho @ Hua Bee
78 Moh Guan Terrace #01-19, Singapore 162078
Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 12am (Tue – Sun), Closed Mon
Bincho @ Min Jiang
7A/B Dempsey Road, Singapore 249684
Opening Hours: 6pm – 12am (Tues – Fri), 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 12am (Sat – Sun), Closed Mon
Inspired By Yakitori-ya (Traditional Small Grilling Stalls) In Osaka
If you have difficulty finding this place, the hole-in-the-wall Bincho is found at Hua Bee located at the charming Tiong Bahru.
Here’s the thing: diners have to enter via the ‘secret’ backdoor near the car park. There is another outlet at Min Jiang Dempsey.
Helmed by Chef Asai, the menu boasts fresh produce flown directly from Japan cooked over binchō-tan charcoal, all for a more authentic Japanese yakitori experience.
Keeping true to the original yakitori-ya inspired concept, tori (chicken) is extensively featured on the signature dishes list, though you can also find beef, pork, lamb and seafood items.
The Tsukune with Egg Yolk ($18) is my to-go-for dish; while there are other recommended items of Mentai Wings ($15), Bincho Style Grilled Octopus ($55), Deep Fried Chicken Breast with Japanese Crackers Topped with Uni ($45), Deep Fried Rockfish with Summer Vegetable Ankake Sauce ($52), and Grilled Miso Lamb ($40).
Get The Bincho Set
If you want to indulge, bring a partner for the Bincho Set for 2 ($240++) for a fuller yakitori experience.
The set includes a spread of Appetiser, Assorted Sashimi Platter, Yakitori Platter, Bincho-style Grilled Beef Tongue with Vegetables, Mentai Wings, Grilled Octopus & Hokkaido Pork Belly, Grilled Wagyu Beef with Vegetables, Tsukune Don, and Dessert.
Who says you cannot get full on yakitori?
ChopeDeals: Save with 10% off $100 or $200 Cash Voucher
Book a seat here: Bincho @ Hua Bee
Book a seat here: Bincho @ Min Jiang
Kyoaji Dining
111 Somerset Road #02-05/06, Singapore 238164
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 10:30pm (Sat – Sun)
Hidden Japanese Find In The Heart Of Town
Located on the 2nd level of TripleOne Somerset, this is considered a hidden find if you are on the lookout for casual Japanese dining at Orchard Road.
“Kyoaji” represents “taste from Kyoto”, and its Executive Chef John Phua used to be from Fukuichi Japanese Dining – known for family-style dining at mid-range prices.
If you are in town during noon time, Kyoaji Dining’s lunch sets come priced at $18 – $35, and some of the more popular offerings include Bara Chirashi Don, Gyuniku Don, Sashimi Sushi Gozen, Tori Sashimi Gozen and Shake Tempura Gozen.
Get The Ebi Almond Tempura
There are some creative items on the menu which may tantalise your tastebuds, such as Crab Meat Bean Curd ($6.00), Flounder Fish with Truffle Oil ($48.00), Caterpillar Maki ($23.00), Toumorokoshi Kakiage ($15.00) of deep-fried corn tempura.
The one dish that I enjoyed since Fukuichi days is the Ebi Almond Tempura ($15.00). This is a plate of sweet fresh prawn covered with batter and almond, then deep-fried till crisp. Enjoy that added crunch from the sliced nuts.
ChopeDeals: Save with 10% off $50 Cash Voucher
Book a seat here: Kyoaji Dining
Mitsu Sushi Bar
21 Duxton Road, Singapore 089487
Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm (Mon – Sun)
“One Fish, Three Ways” Omakase Meal
Situated along the hip Duxton Road, Mitsu Sushi Bar specialises in a variety of premium Japanese cuisines and beverages.
The restaurant features a 12-seater counter on Level 1 where diners can enjoy direct interaction with the chefs; while Level 2 consists of table seating and Japanese-style private rooms with tatami.
Passionate in delivering high quality Japanese cuisine, Mitsu Sushi Bar ships in fresh seafood and produce in small batches five times a week from three of Japan’s most well-known markets, Tsukiji, Kyushu and Hokkaido.
This is to ensure optimum freshness and the best selection of fish.
Specializing in a “one fish, three ways” Omakase meal, diners can choose a whole fish from the daily menu, in which the Chef will prepare it in three ways served throughout the Omakase course.
Get The Mitsu Course
This Mitsu Course is available during dinner time ($68++, min order of 2 pax) in which you can experience a 7-course meal.
Start with the appetiser and 5 pieces of sashimi, then move on to Grilled Scallop with Crab Miso and Deep-fried Flat Fish.
The main course would be the highlight of assorted Fresh Sushi, along with King Crab with Vegetables Paper Pot Soup. End with a sweet treat of Warabi Mochi.
For sake, shochu and highball lovers, here’s a piece of good news: top-up $39++ for 2 hours of free flow drinks.
ChopeDeals: Save with up to 45% off $50 or $100 Cash Voucher
Book a seat here: Mitsu Sushi Bar
Niku Katsumata 肉勝又
47 Duxton Road, Singapore 089511
Opening Hours: 12pm – 2pm, 5:30pm – 11pm (Mon – Fri), 5:30pm – 11pm (Sat – Sun)
Japanese Yakiniku Specialty Restaurant
Niku Katsumata is the go-to Japanese restaurant for Japanese yakiniku – experience grilled quality beef that is both juicy and tender.
As the beef used is premium, minimal garnishing or seasoning is required so that diners can savour the original flavours and juices of the meat.
Do you know that the beef is also grilled on a crystal plate?
By using the crystal plate, heat is kept low and evenly spread out. This retains the natural flavours of the meats and keeps them tender at the same time
Get The Katsumata Course
This is a satisfying 7-dishes course ($98) starting with Simmered Wagyu Beef Tendon and Assorted Homemade Kimchi and Marinated Vegetables.
After the sashimi and salad courses, the stars of the meal are the three types of premium meat – Assorted A4 Wagyu Beef, Kurobuta Pork Loin, and A4 Wagyu Beef Fillet.
End the course with an A4 Wagyu Beef Curry or Chicken Noodle “Torisoba” and dessert of the day.
ChopeDeals: Save with up to 30% off $50 or $100 Cash Voucher
Book a seat here: Niku Katsumata 肉勝又
Shukuu Izakaya
8 Stanley Street, Singapore 068727
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2pm, 5:30pm – 11:30pm (Mon – Fri), 6pm – 11:30pm (Sat), Closed Sun
Japanese Bites and Creative Plates at Stanley Street
Shukuu Izakaya is an open-secret among CBD workers, known for its chic vibes, reasonably-priced sake, and Japanese fare especially its seafood dishes.
The place to let your hair down after work.
The popular seafood dishes include the Kani Gratin ($8) made of crab gratin with mentaiko; Aburi Shimesba ($14) – torched vinegared mackerel; and Maguro Yukke ($13) which is bluefin tuna sashimi tossed in sesame oil served with a quail egg.
For something more substantial, go for their Mini Donburi ($10 – $12), which consists of sushi rice topped with sliced beef, spicy salmon cubs, whitebait and raw quail egg, minced tuna belly, or premium salmon roe.
Get The Hotate Mentaiyaki
The highlight is the Hokkaido Scallops with Mentaiko and Cheese ($18) – seared juicy Hokkaido scallops at the bottom, contrasted with creamy mix of mentaiko and cheese topped with ikura.
Ingredients are sourced from leading Japanese suppliers and air-flown in fresh from Japan.
ChopeDeals: Save with 10% off $50 or $100 Cash Voucher
Book a seat here: Shukuu Izakaya
Teppan Kappou Kenji
99 Tanjong Pagar Road #01-01, Singapore 088520
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm Last Order 2pm, 6pm – 10:30pm Last Order 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Kappo-Style Dining and Sizzling Teppanyaki
Chef Kenji Okumura hails from Ichinomiya, and has honed his skills in Kaiseki dining at the well-known Nadaman Japanese Restaurant in Nagoya Tokyu Hotel.
This is where you can experience an intimate dining experience, with the chefs working behind the bar.
While “teppan” is in its name, the restaurant serves more than just teppanyaki, offering a complete Japanese dining experience with fresh sashimi, sushi, sukiyaki and hotpot.
Ingredients are carefully sourced from different parts of Japan, such as Unagi from Shimanto and plump Oysters from Iseshima.
Get The Gyu Katsu
As part of their Agemono menu, the Gyu Katsu ($22) features panko-breaded beef cutlets deep-fried till golden.
The result are pieces which are crispy on the outside, while remaining pinkish and juicy on the inside.
ChopeDeals: Save with up to 35% off $30 Cash Voucher
Book a seat here: Teppan Kappou Kenji
Unagiya Ichinoji (Robertson Quay)
30 Robertson Quay #01-05 Riverside Village Residences, Singapore 238251
Opening Hours 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
Unagi Speciality Dishes at Robertson Quay
Unagiya Ichinoji is a concept by Miyagawa Honten – one of Tokyo’s most well-known unagi restaurants awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand, with more than 125 years of history.
Its ‘formula’ is said to be attributed to the chefs’ grilling techniques, temperature control of the charcoal grill and special inhouse tare (sweet basting sauce) whose recipe has been passed down for four generations.
The menu is beyond just unagi, and offers sashimi (salmon, tuna, yellow tail), salads, sashimi donburi (such as Kaisen Bara Chirashi Don, Salmon & Ikura Don), sushi, and hot plate food (Grilled Wagyu Beef, Grilled Salmon Teriyaki, Teppan Fried Noodles).
Get The Hitsumabushi
The Hitsumabushi ($32.80) is the signature grill unagi dish from Miyagawa Honten. There is also an XL version, suitable for 3 diners, priced at $84.80.
Instead of just one, there are now two special homemade unagi sauces. The Japanese unagi sauce is made with a higher shoyu content, and hence has a saltier and more robust note.
There is another unagi sauce which is specially tailored for locals, and has a sweeter note.
ChopeDeals: Save with 10% off $50 or $100 Cash Voucher
Book a seat here: Unagiya Ichinoji (Robertson Quay)
CHICHI
92 Amoy Street #01-01, Singapore 069911
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 6pm – 10pm (Tues – Thurs)
11:30am – 2:30pm, 6pm – 10:30pm (Fri – Sat), 5:30pm – 10pm (Sun)
Modern Asian-Japanese Cuisine with Ang Kar Prawns and Truffle Gyoza
CHICHI Dining is a modern Asian fusion cuisine restaurant in a minimalist setting, recently established along Amoy Street where you can never get enough of food choices.
Explore their re-orchestrated Japanese-inspired dishes, delivered with tweaks and unexpected ingredients.
Their menu spans across a la carte small bites, rice and noodles, meats, seafood, veggies, desserts and set meals.
Expect Crispy Buttermilk Chicken Karaage ($14), Smoked Chestnut & Truffle Gyoza ($13), Fried Brown Rice ($16), Iberico Pork Collar ($18), Braised Beef Short Ribs ($25), Ang Kar Prawns ($23) and Spring Chicken ($18).
Get The Crab XO Fried Rice
The top chef-recommended item is this wok-fried dish of Crab XO Fried Rice ($20), cooked with Japanese pearl rice tossed in egg, sugar peas, nori (seaweed), and a special XO sauce made in-house.
The highlight of this dish is the soft and delicate topping of sweet lump crab meat, contrasted and complemented with smoky salty tobiko.
Here’s what I like about this dish: the chunks of sweet fresh crabmeat and the ‘wok-hei’.
ChopeDeals: Save with 10% off $50 Cash Voucher or $100 Cash Voucher
Book a seat here: CHICHI
Here’s how you can enjoy massive savings with ChopeDeals in 4 simple steps:
Step 1 – Choose: Choose an offer from a list of curated restaurants available on the Chope app or ChopeDeals website
Step 2 – Get Deal: Purchase the discounted voucher and receive it via the Chope app (‘My Vouchers’) or your email.
Step 3 – Dine: Inform the staff that you will be using your voucher prior to ordering.
Step 4 – Redeem: Present your voucher during payment to offset the bill and enjoy your savings.
Save up to 45% OFF all Japanese deals here.
* This entry is brought to you in partnership with ChopeDeals.