5 Japanese Izakayas In Singapore That “Take“ You to Japan Instantly
Oh, our love for izakaya (居酒屋) - a cosy ambience, the aroma of the sizzling meat, tasty authentic Japanese side dishes, endless waves of laughter and of course, the alcohol. What’s better than going to your favourite spot to grab a drink, settle in, and get comfortable after a long day or a hectic work week?
We compiled 5 traditional and modern Japanese pubs which will impress you with their wide range of authentic izakaya bites, donburi, sake, shochu and more. We hope you’ll find your ultimate izakaya experience and get “instantly transported” to the land of the rising sun!
Scroll or click on the respective listing to read more.
(1) Shunjuu Izakaya
(2) The Public Izakaya
(3) Uoharu
(4) SHINRAI
(5) Ka-EN Grill & Sushi Bar
(1) Shunjuu Izakaya
Shunjuu Izakaya Instagram
Experience picturesque riverside dining at Shunjuu Izakaya, Japanese bar & restaurant located at Robertson Quay. With more than 20 years history, award-winning* Shunjuu prides itself as one of the earliest restaurants to serve yakitori (grilled chicken), on top of a wide range of grilled meat delights such as yakiton (grilled pork), and over 60 assorted kushiyaki (grilled skewers).
Some of the must-try items from the charcoal grill include (bottom > top) Beef Shortrib ($19), Chicken Neck ($13), Chicken Wing ($8), Golden Mushroom rolled with Pork ($7), Kimchi rolled with Pork ($7), and Rice Cake rolled with Pork and Potato Bean ($10).
Chirashi Don
Lunch goers can go for a variety of wholesome rice bowls and noodles starting from $13++, such as the popular Chirashi Don ($25), Yakitori Set ($19++), Kushiyaki Set ($25++) as well as Mixed Grill Set ($25) which rounds up scallops, pork, chicken and beef in a set.
Fancy some after work drinks? Gather your buddies and cheers to over 60 sake labels from all over Japan, complemented with a selection of hot and cold bar snacks such as (L > R): Dried Baby Sardine ($13), Beef and Kimchi Hotpot ($21) and Amberjack with Truffle Oil ($29). Last but not least, check out their new dish- Yaki Mochi Mentai ($14) and enjoy the pulling the mochi cheese strings!
Bonus: Shunjuu Izakaya is offering free corkage on Mondays!
Shunjuu Izakaya
Location: 30 Robertson Quay, #01-15 Riverside View, Singapore 238251
Opening hours: [Lunch] 12:00pm - 3:00pm daily (L.O 2:00pm). [Dinner] Mon-Thu 6:00pm - 1:00pm (L.O 10:00pm), Fri-Sat 6:00pm - 11:30pm (L.O 11:00pm), Sun 5:30pm - 10:30pm (L.O 10:00pm)
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*Winner of Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award Winner, 2022, Singapore’s Top Restaurants, Wine & Dine, 2005-2020
(2) The Public Izakaya
The Public Izakaya at 100AM Mall
Located in the buzzing Tanjong Pagar area, The Public Izakaya has 2 outlets, each located at 100AM Mall and Enggor Street (The Public Izakaya 2) respectively. This casual offshoot of omakase pioneer, Hachi Group presents “a friendly traditional izakaya for the masses, serving traditional izakaya cuisine for the everyday salaryman.”
Omakase Oden Set (6pcs for $22)
At The Public Izakaya, diners can look forward to an extensive food menu featuring all-time favourites such as yakitori, oden, agemono (fried food), nimono (simmered dishes), all crafted using meticulously procured quality ingredients. On the beverages menu, there is an extensive list of sake, shochu and other Japanese beverages.
Some of their must-try dishes include (L > R): Negitoro Garlic Toast ($22), Torikawa “Gyoza” ($18), Tori no Sanzoku-age ($19), Buta Kakuni ($19), Jaga Mentaiko ($14) and Kani Tama Gratin ($14).
There is also an assortment of kushiyaki skewers for meat lovers and a chef’s selection of fresh sashimi- Sashimi Moriawase (from $34) for seafood enthusiasts.
Also, lunch goers working in the CBD area can indulge in their hearty Set Lunch Special (from $17.80++), featuring scrumptious rice bowls topped with yakitori, negitoro, char shu and more, complemented with 3 side dishes and miso soup. Top up $2.80 for your choice of beverage including soft drinks and teas.
Hanging out with your friends or celebrating a special occasion? There are various seating options including indoor, outdoor, tatami booths as well as a private dining room, all available at The Public Izakaya.
Fun fact: The owners regularly scour antique markets to add izakaya memorabilia to their extensive collection in the restaurant, creating a rustic and nostalgic atmosphere for Japanese izakaya fans.
The Public Izakaya
Location: 100 Tras Street, #01-08/09, 100AM Shopping Mall, Singapore 079027
The Public Izakaya 2
Location: 16 Enggor Street, #01-14/15/16, Altez, Singapore 079717
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(3) Uoharu
Popular Tokyo kaizen izakaya, Uoharu, recently unveiled its second overseas outpost in Downtown, Singapore. Uoharu Singapore’s design and decor are inspired by the original restaurant in Japan. Spot Japanese elements like wooden flooring and a lowered door which you will have to lower your head to enter, symbolic of a respectful bow to the chef in gratitude for his craft and food.
As the pioneer of the food movement of utilising less-than-perfect produce from Toyosu Market, Uoharu Singapore continues to elevate these cosmetically imperfect but high quality ingredients through its extensive menu. Begin with hot and cold appetisers, drinking snacks, scrumptious a-la-carte dishes, robatayaki delights, then load up on rice & noodles, and finally round off your meal with desserts.
Highlights include (L > R): Bagna Cauda ($3.00)- classic izakaya salad dish using fresh seasonal produce from Japan. Pair your favourite drinks with drinking snacks such as Seared Miso Sashimi Tartare ($14.80)- lightly grilled aburi-style sashimi with hints of miso. You can also dip a spoonful of the sashimi in egg yolk served on the side before wrapping it with seaweed. From the robatayaki selection, recommended dishes include U.S Beef Short Rib with Bone ($32.80) and Squid with Squid Liver Sauce ($16.80).
From the drinks menu, diners can choose from more than 100 kinds of Japanese sake, beer, highball, lemon sour, cocktails, shochu and wines. Sake enthusiasts should try their Draft Sake, a specialty brew made with no preservatives. Its light and refined freshness is best enjoyed well-chilled!
By dinner time, diners can look forward to the nightly Katsu Warayaki Show- a fiery showcase of traditional straw-roasting and grilling that sizzles up dishes such as complimentary grilled bonito fish.
Set lunches (from $15.80) are also available from Mondays to Saturdays. Choose from bestsellers such as Premium Sashimi Boat Set ($46.80) and Uoharu Executive Set, served with complimentary hot or cold green tea.
Uoharu Kaizen Izakaya
Location: 2 Central Boulevard #01-16, Central Boulevard Towers, Singapore 018916
Opening hours: Mon-Sat [Lunch] 11:00am - 3:00pm (L.O 2:30pm), [Dinner] 5:30pm - 10:00pm (L.O 9:30pm) (Closed on Sun)
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(4) SHINRAI
Fancy enjoying sushi omakase in a vibrant retropop izakaya setting? Head to SHINRAI at Telok Ayer Street. This cool space plays on an unique sushi-izakaya concept serving up aburi and charcoal grilled specialties from only $6.80. Look forward to a flaming selection of appetisers, sushi, maki, skewers, mains and desserts.
At SHINRAI (Japanese translation of “trust”), you can place your faith in its splendid union of traditional Japanese cuisine with the modern culinary flair of the innovative chefs.
Start with delectable appetisers such as (L > R): Seafood Chawanmushi with Truffle Caviar ($9.80) and Salmon Carpaccio ($16.80). Flame grilled side dishes include Tsukune ($6.80), Tebasaki ($3.80), Hotate ($7.80) and Ebi with Mentaiko ($21.80)- the tiger prawns were huge and enveloped in housemade mentaiko sauce.
Next, choose from a variety of aburi sushi such as Hotate with Foie Gras Sushi ($23.80), SHINRAI Royal Maki ($23.80) and (left) SHINRAI Signature Maki ($21.80). Feeling extra hungry? Dig into the signature (right) Wagyu Foie Gras Don ($48.80), starring grilled premium A5 Kagoshima Wagyu beef alongside foie gras, onsen egg and truffle sauce over fluffy pearl rice.
SHINRAI also offers hearty weekday lunch sets starting from $16.80. There are a total of 10 options including chicken teriyaki, salmon mentaiko, bara chirashi and more. All lunch sets are served with miso soup, salad and tofu cheesecake, available every Monday to Friday from 11.30am - 2.30pm.
(5) Ka-EN Grill & Sushi Bar
Ka-EN Grill & Sushi Bar at Arcade @ The Capitol Kempinski is a refined Japanese grill & sushi bar in the heart of City Hall. With the recent launch of its new izakaya menu (available from 5pm daily), diners can look forward to a delightful spread of signature small plates priced between $5 and $15.80.
The exciting lineup of signatures include (L > R): Kani Koura ($15.80), Kawari Agedashi Tofu ($5), Shiro Ebi Karaage ($14) and Wagyu Suji Nikomi ($15), Creamy Potatoes with Tobiko ($6.80), Fried Cheese Dice ($10) and many more.
The Shiro Ebi Karaage is an excellent drinking snack, the deep fried Japanese glass shrimps were perfectly seasoned with Okinawa salt. The Wagyu Suji Nikomi is a comforting stew of A4/A5 Miyazaki Wagyu, complemented with carrot, white radish and konnyaku, also another great pairing dish with their collection of alcoholic beverages.
Sake Thursdays
Every Thursday, sake enthusiasts can indulge in a rotational sake flight of 3 sake (50ml each) at a promotional price of $15 (U.P $29). Additionally, there is a monthly free-flow sake tasting of 5 rotational and seasonal sake, specially curated by a sake expert. This exclusive experience is priced at $35 per person, includes 90 minutes of sake tasting and 2 chef’s izakaya dishes.
Daily Happy Hour
Double the fun and enjoy 50% off Japanese Oysters ($3 per pc, U.P $6 per pc) when you order any alcohol during their Daily Happy Hour from 5pm to 8pm. Get a pint of Suntory Kakubin Highball ($8 U.P $10), top up $1 for unique renditions such as Lime, Yuzu, Elderflower and more. Gather a group of friends and get a Sake Bottle of The Month (720ml) at $70, U.P $120++.
Don’t forget to check out their newly revamped al fresco area for a relaxing chill-out spot with your friends in the evening. There is also a quiet dining area decked in Japanese design elements on the second floor.
Summer Matsuri (until 20 August 2024)
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