Finding the Best Izakaya Singapore Experience, One Shared Plate at a Time

Updated on: October 13, 2026

Over the past three years, I've probably eaten my way through at least thirty different Japanese bars and grills across Singapore. From hidden, smoke-filled basements in Cuppage Plaza to shiny, upscale new concepts with more modern ambiance in Tanjong Pagar, I've tried all of these in search of the perfect skewers. I am constantly hunting for the coldest draft beer and that unbeatable communal dining energy where guests can indulge and unwind.

There is something incredibly special about the izakaya culture here in Singapore. It is not about rushing through a massive, heavy main course in silence. Instead, it is all about shared plates during after work gatherings, the constant clinking of glasses in intimate settings, and conversations that stretch late into the evening. You get to taste a dozen different flavor profiles in a single sitting.

But let's be brutally honest, not all izakayas are created equal. Some nail the smoky yakitori but give you absolutely zero elbow room, while others offer beautiful plating but lack that chaotic, fun energy of lively nights.

To save you the expensive trial and error, I've narrowed down some of the places that stand out for different reasons. Here is where to start when searching for the best izakaya Singapore experience.

The Ultimate Izakaya Shortlist

1. Soup Curry by Ki-setsu: Hokkaido soup curry by day, Japanese small plates and drinks from 6pm | From S$5.80 for evening small plates
2. Toku Nori: Intimate, premium handrolls with fresh seafood, Wagyu and uni | Around S$40–S$70 per person
3. Nanbantei Japanese Restaurant: Established yakitori spot known for charcoal-grilled skewers, sashimi and classic Japanese sharing dishes | Around S$30–S$60 per person
4. Shukuu Izakaya: Cosy, grungy Tokyo-style atmosphere with charcoal-grilled skewers and wagyu steak don | Around S$25–S$40 per person
5. EN Dining: Polished Japanese dining with Okinawan specialties, sashimi and an extensive menu for groups | Around S$30–S$60 per person
6. Issho Izakaya: Modern CBD izakaya serving seafood, kushiyaki, rice bowls and fusion dishes | Around S$25–S$50 per person
7. Neon Pigeon: Bold, creative Japanese-inspired dishes and inventive cocktails in a lively setting | Around S$30–S$60 per person
8. Zenryoku Izakaya: Lively, crowded public izakaya for after-work drinks, grilled skewers, fried chicken and sake | Around S$25–S$45 per person
9. Izakaya Hikari: Friendly, traditional-style izakaya with yakitori, sashimi, donburi and comforting Japanese favourites | Around S$25–S$45 per person
10. Shunjuu Izakaya: Charcoal-grilled kushiyaki specialist with around 60 skewer options, including its signature tsukune | Skewers from S$5; lunch sets from S$13

1. Soup Curry by Ki-setsu: Fortune Centre Soup Curry with Izakaya After 6pm

Nearest MRT: Bencoolen MRT (3 to 5 min walk)
Price: From S$14.80 for soup curry; evening small plates from S$5.80

Soup Curry by Ki-setsu is an unusual addition to the Fortune Centre dining scene, especially once evening service begins. The izakaya-style menu brings together Japanese small plates, fried dishes and drinks, making it easy to settle in for a casual dinner rather than treating the place as somewhere to drop by for Japan's delicious soup curry alone.

The food is where the evening menu gets interesting. The Kani Cream Croquette comes with a crisp shell and warm, flowing kani filling, while whole Fukushima Mehikari is deep-fried with a delicate exterior and juicy centre. Chicken wings are available past 6pm, alongside lighter options such as the coriander salad with tangy yuzu dressing and Crisp Fries that can be seasoned with salt or curry spice. For drinks, Suntory The Premium Malt’s Pilsner is S$7.80 a glass, while highballs start from S$6.80.

Their Hokkaido soup curry is still worth knowing about, particularly if your table wants something more substantial alongside the smaller plates. Its lighter, broth-like style gives the menu a different centre of gravity from the usual Japanese bar fare, but you can just as easily make the evening about sharing croquettes, wings, fried fish, and a few drinks. That balance is what makes this one worth considering when looking for an izakaya experience in Singapore that feels a little different.

• Come here when you: Want Japanese small plates, drinks and something a little different from the usual izakaya menu.
• Give it a miss if: You are looking for an izakaya during lunch, or a traditional Japanese drinking bar with a large sake-focused menu.
• Street-smart move: Dinner reservations are currently offered at 6:30pm, so check availability before planning your visit around the izakaya menu. Come after 6pm for the full izakaya offering, then decide between sharing several small plates or adding a soup curry to the table.

2. Toku Nori: A Handroll-Led Dining Experience in Telok Ayer

Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (3 min walk)
Price: ~$40 to ~$70 per person

Toku Nori approaches the izakaya differently. Rather than building the meal around traditional izakaya cuisine, this intimate Telok Ayer spot puts handrolls at the centre, using crisp nori, Koshihikari rice and toppings such as scallop, yellowtail, salmon, Wagyu and uni. Sitting at the counter also means you can watch the skilled chefs assemble each roll as it is ordered, which makes this unforgettable dining experience feel wonderfully immediate.

The fun is in moving between textures and flavours of premium ingredients. The Engawa Handroll brings together flounder fin, shiro miso and roasted garlic, while the richer Wagyu & Uni Handroll combines beef, sea urchin and caviar. Beyond handrolls, dishes such as Buta Kakuni Skewers, Hamachi Crudo and Chicken Ribs give the table something to share, with seasonal specials adding variety through the year.

It's quieter than most izakayas, making it ideal for slower meals. The pairing of rolls with carefully selected premium sake adds another layer, turning the meal into something more considered. The 40-seat heritage shophouse setting keeps things cosy through its inviting atmosphere without making the experience feel overly formal.

• Come here when you: Want premium handrolls, fresh seafood and an intimate Japanese dinner
• Give it a miss if: You want large portions or the energy of a traditional izakaya
• Street-smart move: Sit at the counter if possible. Watching each handroll come together is part of the experience.

3. Nanbantei Japanese Restaurant: A Charcoal-Grilled Classic Among Izakayas in Singapore

Nearest MRT: Orchard (5 min walk)
Price: ~$30 to ~$60 per person

There is something reassuring about a restaurant that knows exactly what it wants to do. Nanbantei has been serving yakitori from Far East Plaza since 1983, keeping the focus on ingredients cooked over an open flame. Among newer izakayas in Singapore, it feels less interested in trends and more committed to the simple pleasure of food arriving hot from the grill. The moment you step in, the scent of binchotan charcoal hits you; clean, focused, almost precise. It's less chaotic than newer spots, more about craft than noise.

Their charcoal-grilled yakitori is grilled with careful attention. The tsukune, a grilled chicken skewer, arrives tender, lightly glazed, and slightly sweet, while pork belly carries a crisp edge with a soft, fatty centre. Each skewer feels deliberate, built around balance rather than excess. Alongside this, their fresh sashimi stands out, clean cuts of fresh seafood, firm in texture, with no unnecessary embellishment. Beyond yakitori, their menu covers plenty of classic izakaya fare, including Sashimi Moriawase, homemade gyoza, comforting oden and Jaga Mentai Cheese, a baked potato dish with fish roe and cheese.

What makes the authentic izakaya experience work is the extensive menu. You can move from skewers to sashimi, vegetables and seasonal specials without making dinner feel overly complicated. It is the sort of place where ordering another round of freshly grilled sticks feels like the natural next step.

• Come here when you: Want dependable yakitori, sashimi and traditional Japanese sharing dishes
• Give it a miss if: You prefer experimental flavours or chic, contemporary izakaya concepts
• Street-smart move: Order in waves, each skewer tastes better when it arrives fresh from the grill

4. Shukuu Izakaya: Hidden Gem with Grungy Yakitori Charm

Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (3 to 5 min walk)

Price: ~$25 to ~$40 per person

Shukuu Izakaya is the kind of hidden gem you don't fully appreciate until you're squeezed shoulder-to-shoulder with other diners, the air thick with smoke from the grill. Tucked along Stanley Street near Chinatown, this Japanese restaurant leans into a slightly grungy, back-alley Tokyo vibe; dim lights, narrow space, and a steady rhythm of skewers turning over charcoal. Among the many izakayas in Singapore, this one feels closest to a true public izakaya experience.

The grilled skewers are the backbone here. Chicken thigh yakitori arrives glossy and slightly charred, while pork belly releases a rich, fatty aroma that lingers in the air. Their wagyu steak don is one of the must try dishes, thin slices of wagyu laid over rice, finished with a soft egg that breaks into a silky sauce. Even the humble miso soup feels deliberate, warm and savoury, grounding the heavier dishes.

The lively atmosphere builds as the night goes on; friends sharing plates, glasses of beer and sake clinking, the occasional shout from the chefs at the counter. It's chaotic in the best way, a place built for long conversations and steady rounds of after work drinks.

The lively atmosphere builds as the night goes on; friends sharing plates, glasses of beer and sake clinking, the occasional shout from the chefs at the counter. It's chaotic in the best way, a place built for long conversations and steady rounds of after work drinks.

• Come here when you: Want a cosy, high-energy date night or small group gathering with good food
• Give it a miss if: You need space or prefer large portions
• Street-smart move: Sit at the counter, watching the chefs work the grill changes the whole experience

5. EN Japanese Dining Bar: Japanese Restaurant with Good Food and Buzzing Atmosphere

Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (directly connected to Capital Tower)
Price: ~S$30 to ~S$60 per person

Formerly known as EN Japanese Dining Bar, EN Dining has been part of Singapore’s Japanese dining landscape since 2001. Its current Capital Tower home feels more polished than the crowded image people often associate with an izakaya, but their extensive selection still encourages the same kind of exploration: start with sashimi, add a few cooked dishes, then see where the table goes.

What gives EN its character is the mix of familiar Japanese favourites and Okinawan food. There is fresh sashimi alongside Jimami Tofu, Goya Champuru and Kubu Irichi, while dishes such as grilled pork cheek, mentaiko tamagoyaki and steamed clams make easy additions for sharing. The result is an extensive menu that works equally well for casual dinners and special occasions.

The drink list complements this approach. Japanese spirits, including sake and shochu, are curated to match the lighter dishes, making it easy to build a full meal without feeling overwhelmed. With seafood, meat, Okinawan dishes and smaller plates all available, EN is a popular choice when everyone orders a little differently and shares across the table.

• Come here when you: Want Japanese and Okinawan dishes with enough variety for a group
• Give it a miss if: You're chasing a loud, bustling public izakaya vibe
• Street-smart move: Explore the Okinawan dishes alongside the familiar sashimi and grilled favourites; that is where EN becomes more distinctive.

6. Issho Izakaya: Modern CBD Dining with Fresh Seafood and Grilled Dishes

Nearest MRT: Downtown MRT (short walk to Marina One)
Price: Roughly S$25 to S$50 per person

Issho Izakaya at Marina One takes a more contemporary approach to the format. Instead of relying only on familiar izakaya favourites, the menu moves between sashimi, kushiyaki, rice bowls, pasta, fried dishes and sharing plates. The range makes it particularly welcoming for groups where everyone arrives with a different craving.

Seafood features prominently. The Bara Chirashi brings diced sashimi over rice, while the Kani Mentaiko Pasta adds Japanese snow crab to a richer, creamier dish. Snow crab fried rice, sashimi and other seafood-led plates sit alongside a wide selection of cooked dishes.

The grilled dishes add another layer to the meal. Kushiyaki provides the familiar skewer format, while other hot dishes and fried options create enough contrast to keep the table varied. Richer plates, including salmon carpaccio finished with truffle oil, show how Issho moves beyond the most traditional interpretation of izakaya cooking.

What makes the concept work is flexibility. A meal can begin with something lighter, move into a few grilled items, then finish with a larger rice or noodle dish shared across the table. It is a more modern expression of casual dining, while still keeping the communal style and cozy atmosphere associated with Japanese izakaya restaurants.

• Come here when you: Need a broad selection of izakaya dishes for a group with different cravings
• Give it a miss if: You specifically want a tiny, old-school neighbourhood izakaya
• Street-smart move: Mix seafood, grilled dishes and one larger rice or noodle plate instead of ordering too heavily from a single section.

7. Neon Pigeon: Modern Izakaya with Bold Flavours and Creative Cocktails

Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (3–5 min walk)
Price: ~$30 to ~$60 per person
Neon Pigeon shifts the energy completely. It's one of the more modern takes on an izakaya in Singapore, that goes beyond serving traditional izakaya cuisine. The first thing you notice is the sound, music slightly louder, conversations overlapping, and a bar that's always in motion.

The food reflects that energy. Their wagyu tsukune is rich and juicy, while dishes like foie gras duck gyoza push the boundaries of what you expect from izakaya favourites. The fresh sashimi often comes elevated, sometimes topped with caviar, adding texture and contrast. Every dish feels designed to stand out.

Their cocktail program is just as strong. Drinks like the Enzoni Negroni bring in Japanese elements without losing balance, making this a place where alcohol is just as important as the food. It's vibrant, slightly chaotic, and undeniably fun.

• Come here when you: Want bold dishes and cocktails with friends
• Give it a miss if: You prefer traditional, quieter izakayas
• Street-smart move: Pair cocktails with heavier dishes like wagyu or foie gras for balance

8. Zenryoku Izakaya: Lively Public Izakaya with After Work Drinks and Classic Favourites

Nearest MRT: Upper Thomson (5 min walk)
Price: ~$25 to ~$45 per person

Zenryoku Izakaya captures the spirit of a true public izakaya. The moment you step in, the noise hits you; laughter, shouting, glasses clinking. It's loud, packed, and full of energy, especially weekday evenings when people gather for after work drinks.

The food is hearty and straightforward. Grilled skewers come slightly charred, with bold seasoning, while fried chicken arrives crisp and satisfying. Their sashimi platters are generous, and dishes like oden simmer quietly in the background, offering something warm and comforting between bites.

It's not about precision here, it's about atmosphere. The combination of beer, sake, and a steady flow of dishes makes it easy to lose track of time. Conversations stretch longer, plates keep coming, and the night unfolds naturally.

• Come here when you: Want a lively gathering with friends and plenty of good food
• Give it a miss if: You prefer quiet, spacious dining
• Street-smart move: Arrive early, this spot fills up fast, especially on busy nights.

9. Izakaya Hikari: A Friendly Traditional Izakaya and Authentic Japanese Dining Experience

Nearest MRT: Bencoolen MRT (3 to 5 min walk)
Price: Roughly S$25 to S$45 per person

Located in Fortune Centre, Izakaya Hikari is a compact spot that fits more closely with the familiar idea of a friendly traditional izakaya. The menu stretches from sashimi and rice bowls to fried snacks, skewers and comforting hot dishes, making it easy to build a meal around several smaller plates rather than one main course.

The grill is a good place to start. There are assorted yakitori skewers, chicken thigh, chicken wings and chicken meatballs, alongside bacon-wrapped asparagus skewers and other grilled items. I like this style of eating because the meal naturally changes as the table fills: one minute you are sharing skewers, the next someone has ordered sashimi or another plate from the kitchen.

The rice dishes add more substance. The Salmon Mentaiko Donburi brings together salmon and creamy mentaiko flavours, while the Bara Chirashi Don offers diced sashimi over sushi rice. There is also miso soup, oden and plenty of familiar comfort food from Japanese culture for anyone who wants something warm between the grilled and chilled dishes.

Nothing here needs to be overcomplicated, and that is part of the appeal. Izakaya Hikari feels like a small izakaya where an authentic Japanese dining experience comes from variety, sharing, and familiar flavours rather than elaborate presentation.

• Come here when you: Want skewers, sashimi, donburi and a broad range of classic izakaya dishes
• Give it a miss if: You are after a sleek, highly conceptual Japanese restaurant
• Street-smart move: Order the grilled food in stages so the skewers reach the table hot instead of cooling while you work through everything else.

10. Shunjuu Izakaya: Signature Dishes, Golden Mushroom Skewers and Rich Flavours

Nearest MRT: Fort Canning MRT (about 10 min walk)
Price: Skewers generally from S$5 to S$25; lunch sets from S$13

Established in 2003 at Robertson Quay, Shunjuu Izakaya has had plenty of time to settle into what it does best: skewers, charcoal and lots of choice. The kitchen works with Binchotan charcoal, and with around 60 kushiyaki options covering chicken, pork, beef, seafood and vegetables, this is the sort of menu where ordering “just a few skewers” can get out of hand very quickly.

The golden mushroom rolled with pork is an easy place to start. The mushrooms stay juicy inside while the pork picks up that smoky edge from the grill. There is asparagus wrapped in pork too, along with chicken wings, chicken neck, short rib, Japanese eggplant and shiitake. Even something as simple as avocado with soy sauce gives the table a useful break between the heavier grilled meats.

Then there is the Tokusei Tsukune, one of the restaurant’s signature dishes. The chicken meatball comes with raw egg yolk, ready for dipping, which adds another layer of richness to the smoky, savoury meat. Shunjuu’s tare plays a big part too. Built up over the years, the sauce brings the rich flavours that make it very easy to keep reaching for another skewer.

That is really the best way to eat here. Instead of trying to turn the meal into starters and mains, pick a mix of meat and vegetables, share everything and add more as the table clears. With the Robertson Quay setting and the steady movement around the grill, there is a lively vibe, but the food never feels like an afterthought.

• Come here when you: Want a broad kushiyaki selection with plenty of meat and vegetable options
• Give it a miss if: You prefer a sleek, highly modern Japanese dining concept
• Street-smart move: Mix richer skewers with mushrooms and vegetables so the meal does not become too meat-heavy too quickly.

Finding the Best Experience on Shared Plates

Whether you are hunting for the perfect smoky chicken skewer or a highly refined bowl of Wagyu don, the best izakaya Singapore has to offer is out there waiting for you. I highly encourage you to grab a few friends, book a table at one of these spots, and experience the joy of shared plates and bar bites for yourself.

For those exploring different neighbourhoods, the izakaya trail also extends into the Orchard Plaza food district, where compact Japanese restaurants and specialist counters continue that sense of discovery. While you're out, take the opportunity to explore the vibrant scene of Maxwell Food, which offers an equally lively atmosphere and a variety.

Whether the priority is authentic Japanese flavors, fresh sashimi, smoky skewers, seasonal produce, comforting hot dishes or something more creative, the best approach is to order across the menu. Mix chilled and grilled dishes, add a few fried snacks, share everything and leave enough room for something unfamiliar. Don't be afraid to order something you have never tried before, and pace the meal so the grilled items arrive hot.

More importantly, remember that to stay, drink, & place a little more of your favourite order is part of the experience, so dont't hesitate to indulge yourself. Happy eating!