Yujin Izakaya, part of the growing Les Amis Group, is the brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Purdey and Freddie. It borrows inspiration from Japanese Izakayas and prides itself for their famed charcoal-grilled skewers, done in an authentic manner.

Following the government’s circuit breaker, Yujin Izakaya has unveiled a lunch set menu - largely catered to the working crowd and holds well for takeaways and deliveries. I knew I had to to try this new lunch menu out!

As I turned into Zion Road, the first thing that grabbed my attention was the wall of bright red Japanese lanterns. Walking into Yujin Izakaya, I was instantly impressed by the attention to detail when it came to the decorations of Yujin Izakaya’s exterior and outdoor bar area! There were little trinkets that screamed “Japan!” and pictures of scenes depicting Japanese Izakayas. 

I loved the vibe of the restaurant! There was a seating area that was cosy, but not cramped, and further in, there was a counter with bar seating that we so often associate with Japanese Izakayas. As I visited during lunch, Yujin Izakaya was unfortunately not serving their famous charcoal-grilled skewers made on-the-spot for patrons to see, but I could definitely imagine the place filled with diners looking to unwind with small bites and some drinks after a long day at work! 

The restaurant manager, Purdey, was so friendly and bubbly and made us feel right at home! She explained that they had rolled out a new lunch set menu and recommended that we try it. And so we did!

The Katsu Sando (beef sandwich) is part of their lunch add-on menu, but it’s available during both lunch and dinner. I was initially hesitant - beef on bread in a Japanese restaurant? But one bite and I totally understood what the hype was all about! The beef was deep fried (katsu-style!) till just the right stage. It was on the rarer side, which was perfect for the sandwich as it made the meat alot more tender and softer.

I personally am not a fan of typical beef steaks as the meat always tends to run a bit tougher than I would like, but I loved the Katsu Sando! A few chews and the entire thing melts in your mouth. The buttery sandwich added to the richness of the beef, while the slightly sour pommery mustard sauce gave a completely unexpected but welcome tangy kick! It was like nothing I had ever tasted before. Major love!

From Lunch Set A ($16.90++), I had the Kawaage (fried chicken skin) and Ebi Chahan (prawn garlic fried rice).

I never had fried chicken skin before (I’ve only had fried fish skin!) so I was intrigued by the concept. I initially imagined the Kawaage to resemble the oily, breaded chicken skins of KFC or Jollibee which I am not a fan of, but when I took the first bite, I heard a resounding crunch and looked up at my friend in complete surprise! The skin was so so so crispy and did not feel oily or heavy!

Unfortunately, I was driving that day, otherwise I would have ordered a pint of cold beer to have with the Kawaage. I was told by the friendly staff that Yujin Izakaya serves grilled chicken skin too! You can count on me returning during dinner to try it out!

The Ebi Chahan was a simple, but delicious bowl. The highlight of it would definitely have to be the large prawns that were cooked just right! They were incredibly fresh, and did not have the overly-springy texture of frozen prawns - I loved every bite! I did notice, however, that the fried rice tasted more peppery than garlicky. This was perfect for me as I was not a fan of the strong garlic taste, but my friend who loved garlic (and preferred her fried rice to contain bits of diced garlic, no less) felt that the dish was a tad underwhelming for her taste buds!

We ordered the Uzaku (vinegared Wakame seaweed, cucumber, and Unagi) and Buta Kakuni Don (pork belly don) from Lunch Set B ($22.90++).

We visited Yujin Izakaya on a sweltering hot day, so we were recommended the Uzaku, which was a refreshing dish of cold vinagered cucumber, wakame seaweed, and Unagi. It was delicious! I loved how the Unagi was just the right level of flavourful - enough to hold its own, but did not overpower the subtle sweetness of the seaweed and cucumber. It definitely whetted my appetite!

The Buta Kakuni Don was amazing! The pork belly is marinated so well and was loaded with the rich sauce that packs a punch right when it enters your mouth. The best part of the pork was the texture of it - perfectly tender yet chewy enough! Accompanied with the fluffy Japanese rice, it was a satisfying don, though I wish the rice could be drizzled with the same sauce that the pork belly was marinated in as the rice erred on the blander side. I later learnt from Purdey that the sauce drizzled on the rice was of the same stock used to marinade the pork, but adjusted to be less salty.

An additional note: the Buta Kakuni Don paired with the Uzaku was the perfect combination! The tangy and cold Uzaku helped cut through the fat of the pork belly, making the dish just a tad bit less sinful! A match made in heaven!

The best part about Yujin Izakaya, apart from the food, was the amazing service! Purdey was super friendly and thoughtful. She was cheery and happy to offer recommendations on the best things on the menu. Imagine coming to Yujin Izakaya after a tiring work day and being surrounded by such happy vibes! Purdey and her team really did make us feel like we were just hanging out at a good friend’s cosy crib. 

My personal take? Drop by during dinner for the drinks & small bites experience that we so fondly associate with Izakayas. But if you’re looking for an affordable location for a nice lunch with a friend, the lunch set is your best bet!

Yujin Izakaya

56 Zion Road, Singapore 247781

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday - 11.30am to 2.30pm & 5pm to 10pm

Tel: 6235 0429