Japanese restaurants in Singapore bring authentic flavours, from fresh sushi to steaming bowls of ramen.
Can’t get enough Japanese restaurants in Singapore? If you’re a devoted enthusiast who loves them all, this expertly curated guide will be your best friend. We’ve personally scoured Singapore for the best Japanese restaurants, assessed them for their ingredient quality, cooking techniques and overall ambience, and narrowed down the best of the best. Whether you’re after expertly prepared sushi or an authentic Japanese dining experience, bookmark this list for your next Japanese food fix! P.S. our guides also include the best ramen in Singapore and omakase restaurants in Singapore.
Our recommendations if you’re pressed for time:
- An authentic izakaya experience: Tora Tora Tora
- Japanese cuisine with a twist: Kinki
- Gastronomical omakase dining: Ki-Sho
- A satisfying meal without breaking the bank: The Sushi Bar
Best Japanese restaurants in Singapore
1. Sushi Sato
With chef Yuji Sato at the helm, rest assured that you’ll be in good hands. The chef boasts over 20 years of experience, having trained as a sushi-ya in the Tsukiji market, Tokyo. Thanks to his early years, he’s developed a relationship with suppliers in Japan, giving him access to some of the rarest produce they have to offer. Take a seat at the Hinoki counter and be mesmerised by the chef’s special menu where you get to enjoy fish sashimi-style, grilled, or over rice.
Best for: A quiet sanctuary within lush foliage
Must-try dishes: Chef special menu set
How much: From $168
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 12pm to 3pm & 6.30pm to 10.30pm
Address: 6B Dempsey Road, Singapore 247662
Visit Sushi Sato Sushi Sato Menu
2. Tora Tora Tora
You can thank the Japanese drinking game for inspiring the founders of Tora Tora Tora. Situated within the Tai Seng area, this resto specialises in fresh sashimi and sushi served alongside classic izakaya fare charcoal grilled to perfection. It also has a stunning collection of Japanese whiskies and sakes for you to choose from. Looking to host an intimate dinner? Book the private dining room, complete with a karaoke set to sing the night away.
Best for: Vibrant izakaya culture
Must-try dishes: 8-kind moriwase sashimi; king prawn tempura maki
How much: From $5
Opening hours: Daily, 11.30am to 2.30pm; Sunday to Thursday, 6pm to 11.30pm; Friday to Saturday, 6pm to 1am
Address: #11-19, Oxley Bizhub 2, 62 Ubi Road, Singapore 408734
Visit Tora Tora Tora Tora Tora Tora Menu
3. KOMA Singapore
Step into KOMA Singapore, and you’ll be whisked off to an immersive Japanese fine dining experience like no other. A nod to Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari Shrine, the 20m-long passageway of vermillion arches is first to greet you. As you make your way to the main dining room, spot a towering 2.5m-tall Japanese bell which takes centerstage over a traditional footbridge and a reflecting pool. Imbibers will be pleased to know that there’s a separate bar and lounge with an extensive collection of over 30 types of sake, 290 wines and an array of specialty cocktails.
Spellbinding interiors aside, the menu is also an alluring show-stopper. Take your pick from Instagrammable modern Japanese creations, made with fresh, seasonal produce and seafood from the Land of the Rising Sun. Savour light makis, nigiri and sashimi for a start, before feasting your heart out on signature delicacies. Our top picks include the snow-aged Niigata wagyu ribeye, Kaluga Queen Oscietra caviar served with traditional condiments, and king crab sumiyaki fresh from the robata grill.
Best for: An immersive Japanese fine dining experience with spectacular decor
Must-try dishes: Snow-aged Niigata wagyu ribeye; Kaluga Queen Oscietra caviar; king crab sumiyaki
How much: Signature two-course lunch sets from $58++
Opening hours: Daily, 11.30am to 2.30pm; Sunday to Thursday, 5pm to 10pm; Friday, Saturday and eve of public holidays, 5pm to 11pm
Address: #B1-67, The Shoppes, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956
Visit KOMA Singapore KOMA Singapore Menu
4. Sushidan
Looking for omakase dining in Singapore without splashing out a fortune? Welcome to Sushidan’s first Singapore outpost, where omakase sets start from an affordable $19.90. Founded by storied Japanese chef Hiroyuki Sato, this Tokyo-born-and-bred brand specialises in Edomae-style sushi made with fresh seafood from Toyosu Market and salmon air-flown daily from Norway.
We recommend the premium omakase set at $29.90, which consists of six pieces of sushi, a handroll, chawanmushi, miso soup and three mini-dons. Get a counter seat, so you can watch the skilled chefs expertly preparing your sushi in real-time. If you’re still hankering for more, look towards the a la carte selection of sushi, sashimi and handrolls from $1.99.
Best for: A satisfying omakase menu without the splurge
Must-try dishes: Engawa nigiri; negitoro takuan handroll; chawanmushi
How much: A la carte sushi from $1.99 per piece; handrolls from $3.99; omakase sets from $19.90
Opening hours: Daily, 11am to 10pm
Address: #B1-44C, Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179103
5. Wakuda
Chef Tetsuya is considered one of Australia’s finest chefs, and now helms Wakuda at Marina Bay Sands. You can expect great things from the great mind that brought us the one-Michelin-starred restaurant, Waku Ghin. Wakuda aims to capture the nuances of traditional and modern Japan, offering an unconventional experience. A must-try dish is the cold soba with botan shrimp and fresh caviar. Simply delish.
Best for: A blend of traditional and modern Japan
Must-try dishes: Cold soba with Botan shrimp and caviar; classic Saikyo yaki; charcoal grilled ohmi wagyu
How much: Appetisers from $15; other dishes from $10
Opening hours: Daily, 11.30am to 12am
Address: Lobby, Tower 2, Marina Bay Sands, 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956
6. Mare Hachikyo
Craving a taste of Hokkaido? Mare Hachikyo, a beloved seafood institution from Sapporo, has opened its first international outpost right here in Singapore. This omakase-style restaurant in Singapore brings in fresh ingredients from Hokkaido every two days, with a rotating menu that changes every six weeks, so there’s always something new to savour.
We tried the signature omakase, and the overflowing ikura bowl near the end stole the show. It’s rich, seasonal, and the closest you’ll get to Hokkaido without hopping on a plane.
Best for: An authentic taste of Hokkaido
Must-try items: Seasonal omakase menu (refreshes every six weeks)
How much: Dinner at $228++; set lunch from $68++
Opening hours: Monday to Saturdays, 12.30pm to 3pm & 7pm to 10pm
Address: #01-07, Palais Renaissance, 390 Orchard Road, Singapore 238871
7. Misaki
If you want to impress your business counterparts, Misaki is the place to be. With its stylish modern interior and devoted chefs, this intimate restaurant serves a plethora of exquisite sushi sets. Indulge in signature dishes with the omakase menu which is an expertly curated feast for the eyes and palate alike.
Best for: Exquisite sushi sets
Must-try dishes: Sushi teishoku; bara chirashi teishoku; gyudon teishoku
How much: Lunch menu from $28; dinner menu from $47
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 11.30am to 3pm & 6pm to 10pm; Saturday, 6pm to 10pm
Address: #01-01, Tower 3, Marina Bay Financial Centre, 12 Marina Boulevard, Singapore 018982
8. Ganko Sushi
Who says indulgence has to break the bank? Let Ganko Sushi show you otherwise with its wallet-friendly monthly omakase sets. Hailing from Osaka with over 101 outlets globally, this acclaimed Japanese restaurant group’s Singapore outpost is conveniently set in the heart of town. Come by for the omakase sets that boast exceptional quality and freshness, with seasonal ingredients air-flown from Japan thrice weekly. Priced from $98 per pax, the 14-course menu includes seasonal sushi, sashimi, tempura, meat courses and desserts.
Those pressed for time can go for the affordable weekday lunch sets. With prices from $30, the sets offer a variety of well-loved Japanese dishes and accompaniments. Go for the unagi don set (tender grilled eel glazed with a rich, savoury sauce and served over fluffy rice), or the sashimi tempura set to enjoy the best of both worlds. The sushi platter (available in 10 or 12-piece sets) also caught our eye, featuring premium ingredients like bluefin tuna and Hokkaido jumbo scallop.
Best for: Omakase dining that won’t break the bank
Must-try items: Monthly omakase menu; unagi don set; sashimi tempura set
How much: Omakase set from $98; weekday lunch set from $30
Opening hours: Daily, 11.30am to 2.30pm & 6pm to 9.30pm
Address: Ganko Sushi, #01-01, 9 Penang Road, Singapore 238459
9. Sabar
After moving out from Japan Food Town in Wisma Atria, Sabar has a new home in Tanjong Pagar. Specialising in mackerel dishes, the joint offers sushi packed with its signature fish in different styles, such as grilled and flame-seared.
Best for: Authentic izakaya-style dishes
Must-try dishes: Grilled toro saba set; salmon belly; grilled pork belly
How much: Enquires for price
Opening hours: Daily, 11.30am to 3.30pm & 5.30pm to 9.30pm
Address: #03-14, 100AM, 100 Tras Street, Singapore 079027
10. Sushi Jin
Joining other great Japanese restaurants under the Les Amis Group, Sushi Jin focuses on the freshest ingredients air-flown from Tokyo – sugoi! Noteworthy dishes include the bara chirashi don and wagyu don. Otherwise, try the chef’s premium omakase dinner with seasonal cooked dishes and assorted sushi.
Best for: Fresh ingredients air-flown from Tokyo
Must-try dishes: Bara chirashi don; Jin wagyu don; premium omakase menu
How much: Lunch course from $98; omakase from $138
Opening hours: Daily, 11.30am to 3pm & 6pm to 10pm
Address: #01-11, Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road, Singapore 228208
Visit Sushi Jin Sushi Jin Menu
11. Tomi Sushi
First opened in 1954 at Niigata, the establishment ventured out of Japan in 2010, bringing its brand of Japanese food to Singapore. If you adore sashimi, you’ll be pleased to know that they’re thickly sliced and uber fresh here. Feeling hungry? Try the Tokujyo Chirashi. It comes with a treasure trove of oceanic delights, including maguro chutoro, served atop a bed of Niigata Koshihikari rice.
Best for: A gem hailing from Niigata
Must-try dishes: Tokujyo chirashi; sushi gozen
How much: Sushi rolls from $4; other dishes from $9
Opening hours: Varies from location
Address: Multiple locations including Millenia Walk and East Coast Road
Visit Tomi Sushi Tomi Sushi Menu
12. Standing Sushi Bar
Reasonably priced sashimi and drinks? Best. Combo. Ever. Standing Sushi Bar serves up some pretty attractive promotions that’ll make you come back again and again. For example, on Mondays and Thursdays, you can get salmon sashimi for $3.90, beer for $6 and a glass of sake for $3.
Best for: Eating your fill of salmon sashimi
Must-try dishes: Salmon sashimi; lobster maki; seafood chirashi donburi
How much: Omakase menu from $48; set meal from $19.90; a la carte dishes from $7
Opening hours: Varies from location
Address: #01-04, Odeon Towers, 331 North Bridge Road, Singapore 188720
Visit Standing Sushi Bar Standing Sushi Bar Menu
13. Ki-Sho
Step into this kappo-style omakase restaurant nestled in a heritage black-and-white bungalow for an unforgettable dining experience. While you can’t choose your sushi, you can rest assured you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the exquisite creations that make up your six- to nine-course meal. Always trust the chef!
Best for: Kappo-style omakase
Must-try dishes: Omakase set menu
How much: From $160
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 12pm to 3pm & 6.30pm to 10.30pm
Address: 29 Scotts Road, Singapore 228224
14. Akira Back
Award-winning chef Akira Back made his Singapore debut with the opening of JW Marriott Singapore South Beach. The menu features modern Japanese cuisine with a Korean flair while emphasising seasonal produce. Look forward to innovative handrolls like the Perfect Storm, which is shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, salmon belly aburi, and chipotle mayo rolled into bite-sized perfection.
Best for: Mod-Japanese and Korean fusion
Must-try dishes: Perfect Storm signature roll; AB signature wagyu tacos; AB tuna pizza
How much: Dishes from $8
Opening hours: Daily, 12pm to 2.30pm & 6pm to 10.30pm
Address: Level B1M, JW Marriott Singapore South Beach, 30 Beach Road, Singapore 189763
Visit Akira Back Akira Back Menu
15. Shinji by Kanesaka
When it comes to decadent Japanese food in Singapore, there aren’t many that come quite as elegant as Shinji by Kanesaka. It’s run by chef Shinji Kanesaka, who holds two Michelin stars. His much-revered establishment serves fuss-free yet formidable menus that boast fresh sushi and sashimi in nine-, 12-, or 15-piece sets.
The space even features a sushi counter carved from the trunk of a 220-year-old hinoki tree. Not to mention, exquisite omakase sets that can shake things up with all sorts of gastronomical curveballs!
Best for: An ode to Japanese culinary traditions
Must-try dishes: Sushi edomae; chef’s omakase special
How much: Lunch menu from $150; dinner menu from $250; chef’s omakase special from $350
Opening hours: Daily, 12pm to 3pm & 6pm to 10.30pm
Address: Multiple locations including The St. Regis Singapore and Carlton Hotel Singapore
Visit Shinji by Kanesaka Shinji by Kanesaka Menu
16. Shiraishi
Shiraishi takes pride in serving edomae-styled sushi. Seafood caught in the waters of Tokyo is prepared fresh with the addition of soy sauce, vinegar and wasabi. The menu rotates seasonally, so you can expect only the freshest catches to be featured here.
Best for: Indulging in edomae-style sushi
Must-try dishes: Edomae sushi set
How much: Lunch set from $60; chef’s recommendation menu from $250
Opening hours: Daily, 12pm to 10.30pm
Address: #03-01/02, The Ritz- Carlton, Millenia Singapore, 7 Raffles Avenue, Singapore 039799
17. Kinki
Mention sushi restaurants and you’ll think of zen-looking places with an air of formality. Kinki shatters stereotypes with its lavish use of graffiti art and red lanterns strung around the restaurant. Dine at this rebellious establishment in the CBD and enjoy the views at one of the swankiest rooftop bars in Singapore.
Unconventional sushi selections include AC/DC Dynamite, sushi made fresh and deep-fried seafood with Sriracha soy sauce, and Dragon Chaser, made with seared foie gras and eel and fried breaded prawn.
Best for: Bold fusion cuisine that wows
Must-try dishes: AC/DC Dynamite roll; Dragon Chaser roll
How much: Set lunch from $32; dishes from $5
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 12pm to 3pm & 6pm to 10.30pm
Address: #02-02, Customs House, 70 Collyer Quay, Singapore 049323
18. Shoukouwa Restaurant
Why Shoukouwa? For starters, it’s the only two-Michelin-starred sushi spot in Singapore. This fine dining establishment quickly beat other Japanese stalwart restaurants in its opening year to snag those coveted stars in Singapore’s inaugural Michelin Guide. Its omakase menu stands out for featuring ingredients fresh from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market. So expect to splash some cash on this remarkable dining experience.
Best for: Dining at a two Michelin-starred gem
Must-try dishes: Chef’s dinner omakase menu
How much: Lunch menu from $380; dinner menu from $520
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 12.30pm to 10.30pm
Address: #02-02A, One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Road, Singapore 049213
19. The Ramen House
Don’t be fooled by this moniker. The ramen may be good, but the sushi is just as satisfying. Plus, it’s perfect for late-night cravings because this supper spot in Singapore stays open till the wee hours. Our faves are the torched beef sushi, tuna sashimi and unagi maki. Wash it all down with a chilled can of Sapporo.
Best for: A late-night hangout spot
Must-try dishes: Aburi beef sushi; tuna sashimi; unagi maki
How much: Appetiser from $5.90; food from $6.90
Opening hours: Daily, 5pm to 6am
Address: 6 Short Street, Singapore 188213
Visit The Ramen House The Ramen House Menu
20. The Sushi Bar
There’s always a line to get into this no-frills joint, but we’d gladly wait patiently for a taste of its masterful menu. Go for the rice bowls topped with sea urchin, torched salmon, or even fatty tuna. Or get rolls stuffed with soft shell crab or eel to share. Plus, everything’s pretty wallet-friendly, which we love.
Best for: Satisfying Japanese fare without the frills
Must-try dishes: Kaisen chirashi don; salmon aburi roll; softshell crab temaki
How much: From $5.50
Opening hours: Varies by locations
Address: Multiple locations including Far East Plaza and Ngee Ann City
Visit The Sushi Bar The Sushi Bar Menu
21. Ikoi Japanese Restaurant
Do all-you-can-eat Japanese buffets make your heart flutter? Then Ikoi should be your go-to restaurant in Singapore. Expect the likes of sashimi, sushi, tempura and yakitori. It’s one of our top picks when we need a full-on feast, but be warned: you need to book early to avoid disappointment.
Best for: An all-you-can-eat feast
Must-try dishes: Swordfish sashimi; yakitori; shishamo
How much: Enquire for price
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11.30am to 2.30pm; 6pm to 10.45pm
Address: #01-01, Hotel Miramar, 401 Havelock Road, Singapore 169631
Visit Ikoi Japanese Restaurant
Get a taste of the Land of the Rising Sun at these excellent Japanese restaurants in Singapore!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between omakase and kaiseki?
Omakase translates to ‘I’ll leave it to you’, which refers to an interactive and dynamic dining experience where the chef selects the freshest seasonal ingredients for a multi-course meal. Meanwhile, kaiseki is a traditional multi-course meal with a fixed sequence that tells a seasonal story. While omakase is often chef-led and more reactive to guests’ preferences, kaiseki is a more formal, structured experience that is consistent for all guests.
How can I tell if a Japanese restaurant in Singapore is authentic?
A key indicator of authenticity is the frequency of air-flown ingredients, with most top-tier Singaporean restaurants flying produce from Toyosu Market at least twice a week. Pro tip: check if the restaurant mentions seasonal specials, or uses real wasabi grated from a root, rather than the bright green paste!
Can Japanese restaurants in Singapore accommodate vegetarians or vegans?
While traditional Japanese cuisine relies heavily on dashi (aka fish stock), many modern spots in Singapore now offer dedicated vegetarian menus or plant-forward alternatives. For omakase experiences, we recommend informing the restaurant upon booking or at least 48 hours in advance.
How early should I book a Japanese restaurant in Singapore?
For popular omakase spots or Michelin-starred restaurants, we recommend placing a reservation at least two to four weeks in advance. Many high-end restaurants use booking platforms like Chope or Quandoo, where slots are released at midnight on the first of the month. If you are looking for a walk-in, your best bet is to arrive before the 6pm dinner rush.
What is the difference between sake, shochu and Japanese whisky?
These are the three main Japanese spirits. Sake is a brewed rice wine that is best paired with raw fish to enhance umami; shochu is a distilled spirit (typically made from sweet potato, barley or rice) that is punchier than sake and often enjoyed on the rocks at casual izakaya; and Japanese whisky is known for its smoothness and most commonly enjoyed as a highball to cleanse the palate.
