Japanese Food in Singapore: 20 Restaurants Worth Your Money, Sorted by Budget

10/8/2026

Singapore has a claim few cities can make: some of the best Japanese food anywhere outside Japan. Fish arrives from Toyosu by air, Japanese chefs run kitchens across the island, and a Michelin-recognised tonkatsu shop sits inside a shopping mall on Orchard Road.

It also has some of the most overpriced Japanese food anywhere. The difference between those two categories is what this guide is for.

Twenty restaurants, sorted by what you’ll actually spend, with the caveats that reviews reveal and menus don’t.

Before you book: how pricing works here

Per person	What that buys
S$15–25	Ramen, tonkatsu sets, rice bowls
S$30–60	Izakaya, shabu-shabu, seafood bowls
S$80–150	Teppanyaki, sukiyaki, mid-tier omakase
S$200+	Full omakase counters

⚠️ The “++” problem Restaurant menus add 9% GST and a 10% service charge on top of listed prices. A menu marked “++” means a S$118 set actually costs about S$141. Budget at 1.2× the listed price. Ramen shops with vending machines and food courts usually quote inclusive prices — no surprise there.

A note for visitors from Japan: prices here run roughly 1.5–3× Tokyo equivalents. For everyone else, the useful comparison is that mid-tier Japanese in Singapore costs about what mid-tier Japanese costs in London or New York, and the quality is generally higher.

S$15–25: Ramen and tonkatsu

1. Hakata Ikkousha — Tanjong Pagar

4.6 stars (1,634 reviews) · S$15–22

A Hakata-style tonkotsu specialist where you choose your noodle firmness and broth saltiness. Reviewers repeatedly call it among the best tonkotsu in Singapore, and one notes the broth is rich without being as heavy as competitors.

The catch: there’s no air-conditioning. Multiple reviews mention how hot it gets in the evening — eating a bowl of boiling soup in Singapore’s climate without aircon is a real consideration.

📍 Apt/Blk 7, Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #01-104B
🕐 11:30–21:30 (Sun to 20:30)
📞 +65 6538 1880

2. Ramen Keisuke Tonkotsu King — Orchid Hotel

4.3 stars (1,417 reviews) · S$14–17

One of the most widespread Japanese ramen chains here, known for free-flow boiled eggs and beansprouts at every table.

This branch is smaller than the others and still takes orders on paper. One reviewer reported S$35.15 for two bowls including GST and service charge — so roughly S$16 a head in practice.

Note: no cash accepted. Card or digital payment only.

📍 1 Tras Link, #01-19 Orchid Hotel
🕐 Weekdays 11:30–14:30, 17:00–22:00; weekends 11:30–21:30
📞 +65 6636 0855

3. Brothers Ramen

4.5 stars (676 reviews) · S$14–20

Inside International Plaza. Serves Jiro-style ramen and tsukemen — a rarity here. One reviewer ordered the jiro tsukemen with extra noodles and described receiving “two mountains.”

Why it’s good value: ticket-machine prices include GST and there’s no service charge. You return your own tray. Expect to queue.

📍 10 Anson Rd, #01-20 International Plaza
🕐 11:30–14:30, 18:00–19:45 (closed Wed evening and Sunday)
⚠️ Short hours and closures — check before going

4. Kajiken

4.5 stars (698 reviews) · S$13–18

Specialists in abura soba and Taiwanese mazesoba — brothless mixed noodles. One reviewer has been coming for over eight years, which says something about consistency.

Downside: very limited indoor seating, mostly outdoor tables, crowded and warm at peak times.

📍 1 Tras Link, #01-03 Orchid Hotel
🕐 11:00–21:30 daily

5. Tonshou

4.5 stars (1,450 reviews) · S$25–40

Tonkatsu on Tras Street with free-flow miso soup and cabbage, refilled without being asked according to several reviews. The Hokkaido kurobuta pork draws the strongest praise.

📍 51 Tras St
🕐 11:00–21:30 daily
📞 +65 8813 8374

6. Tonkatsu Daiki

4.7 stars (438 reviews) · S$25–45

Michelin-recognised. Uses low-temperature cooking, leaving the pork slightly pink and very tender, with a thin, crisp crust.

Critical logistics: reviews report queue tickets are issued from 11:00, and that tickets can run out immediately after the 17:00 dinner opening. One reviewer waited over an hour. Arrive early or don’t bother.

📍 391 Orchard Rd, #05-33 Ngee Ann City
🕐 11:30–14:30, 17:30–20:30

7. Shin Katsu

4.6 stars (784 reviews) · S$25–40

Mangalica pork, kurobuta, and mille-feuille katsu. The ritual of grinding your own sesame into the sauce is part of the experience.

Be warned: multiple reviews describe being turned away despite visible empty tables because reservations are enforced strictly. You can book via QR code — do it before you arrive.

📍 84/86 Tanjong Pagar Rd
🕐 11:00–15:00, 17:00–21:30

8. Tonkatsu ENbiton

4.7 stars (980 reviews) · from S$17.50

Inside Suntec City. Free-flow rice, cabbage, and tonjiru pork soup make this the best value on this list for big appetites. A thick-cut set is limited to 30 portions daily.

📍 3 Temasek Blvd, B1-171
🕐 11:00–22:00 daily
📞 +65 6970 8837

S$30–60: Izakaya and seafood bowls

9. Shunjuu Izakaya

4.3 stars (761 reviews) · S$50–70

A long-running Robertson Quay izakaya. The tebasaki (chicken wings) and tsukune get the most consistent praise, and one reviewer singled out unusually thick-cut salmon sashimi. Pet-friendly, which is rare.

📍 30 Robertson Quay, #01-15 Riverside View
🕐 Tue–Sun 18:00–23:00, lunch Wed–Sun (closed Mon)
📞 +65 8427 8155

10. Kanpai 789

4.7 stars (3,614 reviews) · S$40–60

Riverside terrace seating with a beer price ladder — S$4 at 4pm, S$5 at 5pm. Weekend breakfast from 07:30. One reviewer mentioned otters swimming past during their meal, which is a genuinely Singaporean detail.

Note: indoor events make it very loud. Sit outside if you want to talk.

📍 86 Robertson Quay, #01-01
🕐 Mon–Fri 15:00–24:00, Sat–Sun 07:30–24:00
📞 +65 8738 7996

11. Izakaya Naniwa

4.8 stars (92 reviews) · S$60–90

A ten-seat izakaya in Cuppage Plaza where the owner sends photos of the day’s obanzai by WhatsApp before your reservation.

⚠️ Important: reviews confirm there are no prices on the menu. One reviewer states plainly that they wouldn’t recommend it to anyone price-conscious. There’s also a minimum drink requirement.

This is a Japanese regulars’ bar transplanted whole. Wonderful if that’s what you want; uncomfortable if it isn’t.

📍 5 Koek Rd, #03-13
🕐 Tue–Sat 18:30–24:00 (closed Sun–Mon)
📞 +65 9007 1889

12. Shinjuku Restaurant

4.3 stars (552 reviews) · S$30–50

Forty years in business. Reviews note that most diners are regulars and Japanese residents — the standard “if the Japanese eat there” heuristic applies. Queues form before opening.

Udon is the strength; the ramen selection is limited to one option, which disappointed one reviewer.

📍 5 Koek Rd, #01-01/02
🕐 11:45–14:30, 17:45–23:00 daily
📞 +65 6734 8436

13. Izakaya Nijumaru

4.1 stars (360 reviews) · S$30–50

Also in Cuppage Plaza. A rotating S$13 nett lunch set — genuinely cheap for this area. One reviewer had beautifully grilled mackerel.

Inconsistency warning: one review reports a 45-minute wait for a bowl of udon, and another describes overly attentive table service. Experiences vary.

📍 5 Koek Rd, #02-10/12
🕐 12:00–14:30, 18:00–21:30

14. Tsukiji Sushi TEN

4.8 stars (877 reviews) · S$40–70

Open until 3am on weekdays — rare in Singapore. Thick-cut sashimi and off-menu daily recommendations. One reviewer was offered a hamachi cheek that wasn’t listed anywhere.

📍 5 Koek Rd, #01-11
🕐 12:00–03:00 (Sun & Mon to midnight)
📞 +65 6022 1733

15. Tsukiji Kaisendon

4.6 stars (207 reviews) · S$20–40

Holland Village. Seafood bowls with eight or more varieties of sashimi, and one reviewer went as far as calling it better than equivalents in Japan. Ramen at S$9.90 is notably fair for the neighbourhood.

Note: small space — groups of three or more should expect a wait.

📍 211 Holland Ave, #02-03 Holland Road Shopping Centre
🕐 11:30–16:00, 17:30–21:30

16. Suki-Ya — Bugis+

4.6 stars (2,624 reviews) · S$30–45

All-you-can-eat shabu-shabu with free-flow drinks. One group reported 36 plates between four people. The obvious choice for a hungry group on a budget.

📍 201 Victoria St, #04-14/15 Bugis+
🕐 11:30–22:00 daily
📞 +65 6884 5778

S$80–150: Teppanyaki and sukiyaki

17. Sukiyaki Yotaro

4.7 stars (165 reviews) · S$80–150

A sukiyaki specialist in Tanjong Pagar where a chef cooks the meat to your preferred doneness at the table. Reviewers describe the lunch set as excellent value and the atmosphere as unusually warm.

📍 106 Tanjong Pagar Rd
🕐 Mon–Thu 17:30–23:00; lunch service Fri–Sun
📞 +65 9731 1136 · Reservations advised

18. Teppan Works

4.6 stars (596 reviews) · Lunch from S$40, dinner S$80+

The lunch mini-omakase is the move here: cold appetiser, warm appetiser, salad, main, okonomiyaki or yakisoba, and dessert — with a drink for S$1 more. Several reviewers call it a great deal.

Dinner costs roughly double for a comparable experience. Come at lunch.

📍 42 Tras St
🕐 12:00–14:30, 17:30–24:00
📞 +65 9834 0466

19. Benihana — Millenia Walk

4.7 stars (3,482 reviews) · S$78–118++

The safest choice for entertaining clients. Chef performance at the table, and nothing raw required — which matters when hosting guests unfamiliar with Japanese food.

Reviews cite a Japanese A4 wagyu set at S$118++ and a chicken set at S$78++. Remember the “++”: those land at roughly S$141 and S$93.

📍 9 Raffles Blvd, #01-41/42 Millenia Walk
🕐 11:30–15:00, 18:00–22:00
📞 +65 6263 9154

S$140–250: Omakase

20. AN Omakase

4.7 stars (629 reviews) · S$138–218

Keong Saik Road. One reviewer captures the appeal precisely: comparable to Michelin-starred sushi counters in Singapore, at a far more approachable price. Dinner runs S$218; a bento-format omakase is S$138.

📍 33 Keong Saik Rd
🕐 12:00–15:00, 18:00–22:30 daily
📞 +65 9053 2226

If your budget goes further

Sushi Katori (4.9 stars, 114 reviews) Tanjong Pagar. All fish flown in directly from Toyosu market. Uses two distinct rice preparations — white vinegar shari and three-year-aged red vinegar akazu. 📍 21 Tanjong Pagar Rd, #01-03 · 📞 +65 8804 5348

Omakase @ Stevens (4.9 stars, 139 reviews) One Michelin star. Japanese-French, 16 counter seats, and a chef who has won a Michelin Young Chef award. 📍 30 Stevens Rd, #01-03 · 📞 +65 6735 8282 · Closed Sunday

Hikaru Omakase (4.9 stars, 171 reviews) Katong. A S$118 lunch course and a menu that changes quarterly with the seasons. The value-focused entry point into serious omakase. 📍 30 E Coast Rd, #01-04 Katong V · 📞 +65 8836 6188

Where to go, by neighbourhood

Area	Character	Restaurants above
Tanjong Pagar	The densest concentration — Singapore’s Japanese quarter	Ikkousha, Keisuke, Kajiken, Brothers, Tonshou, Shin Katsu, Yotaro, Teppan Works
Robertson Quay	Riverside, expat-heavy, relaxed	Shunjuu, Kanpai 789
Cuppage Plaza	Small owner-run bars stacked over several floors	Naniwa, Shinjuku, Nijumaru, Sushi TEN
Orchard	Convenient, mall-based	Tonkatsu Daiki
Holland Village	Quieter, residential	Tsukiji Kaisendon
Marina / CBD	Business dining	Benihana, Tonkatsu ENbiton

💡 About Cuppage Plaza It’s an ageing commercial building near Somerset MRT, and it does not look promising from outside. Inside is the closest thing Singapore has to a Japanese drinking alley — floor after floor of small, owner-operated izakaya. Worth exploring if you want something other than a polished mall restaurant.

Two supermarkets worth knowing

If restaurant prices wear you down, the Japanese supermarkets here are unusually good.

DON DON DONKI Multiple locations; the Orchard Central branch is open 24 hours. Reviews consistently mention that sashimi and sushi get discounted in the evening. 📍 181 Orchard Road, Orchard Central, B2 (and others)

Meidi-Ya Inside Millenia Walk. One reviewer states the sashimi freshness beats some Japanese restaurants and compares it to Tsukiji market. Also stocks shabu-shabu cuts. 📍 9 Raffles Blvd, #02-26 · 🕐 10:30–21:00

Practical notes

Reservations. Chope and SevenRooms are standard. Friday and Saturday nights are effectively reservation-only at most places on this list.

Lunch is dramatically cheaper. The gap widens as you go upmarket — Teppan Works is S$40 at lunch and S$80+ at dinner for a comparable meal.

Check what “Wagyu” means. Australian Wagyu is common; Japanese A5 is usually a separate, higher-priced menu item. The origin is normally stated — read it.

Carry both cards and cash. Ramen Keisuke doesn’t take cash; hawker centres often require it.

Quick picks

If you want	Go to
Cheap and filling	Tonkatsu ENbiton, Brothers Ramen
Serious ramen	Hakata Ikkousha
Drinks with a group	Kanpai 789, Shunjuu
Something genuinely local-Japanese	Cuppage Plaza (Naniwa, Nijumaru)
To impress a client	Benihana, Teppan Works
A special occasion	AN Omakase, Omakase @ Stevens
Omakase without the damage	Hikaru Omakase at lunch

Singapore’s Japanese food is excellent if you accept what it costs. What doesn’t exist here is cheap-and-excellent — that combination is what hawker centres are for. Decide your budget first, then pick the restaurant. It’s the approach least likely to end in disappointment.

Information current as of July 2026. Ratings, prices, and hours change — verify before visiting. Google ratings cited were accurate at time of writing.