Updated on: Aug 18, 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 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.
There is something incredibly special about the izakaya experience here in Singapore. It is not about rushing through a massive, heavy main course in silence. Instead, it is all about shared plates, the constant clinking of glasses, 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. To save you the expensive trial and error, I have narrowed down my absolute top seven spots. Here is where you should be booking your next group dinner.
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
Here is the important thing to know about Soup Curry by Ki-setsu: it is not a traditional izakaya throughout the day. The Fortune Centre restaurant starts with Hokkaido soup curry as its main identity, serving chicken or vegetable bowls with rice and seasonal vegetables. Only from 6pm onwards does a separate izakaya menu join the picture, adding Japanese small plates around the signature curry.
What fascinates me is how the two menus are connected rather than simply placed side by side. Curry spices turn up again in the edamame and one version of the Masa Chicken Wings, while kani cream croquettes, yuzu daikon carpaccio, cold tofu with homemade miso and chicken karaage bring in the familiar sharing rhythm of Japanese food after dark. You still have a proper soup curry if you are hungry, but friends can build the rest of dinner around small plates.
That makes this opening-soon concept an unusual addition to Singapore's izakaya scene. Instead of trying to reproduce all the izakaya favourites on an extensive menu, it keeps Hokkaido soup curry at the centre and lets dinner service expand outward from there. It should suit casual dinners where different people want different amounts of food without losing that easy-going izakaya spirit.
Come here when you: Want a full Hokkaido soup curry but your table also wants Japanese small plates to share
Give it a miss if: You are looking for an izakaya during lunch, as the evening menu begins only from 6pm
Street-smart move: Dinner reservations are currently offered at 6:30pm, so check availability before planning your visit around the izakaya menu.
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 the 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 sake adds another layer, turning the meal into something more considered. The 40-seat heritage shophouse setting keeps things cosy 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.
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
Shukuu Izakaya: Hidden Gem with Grungy Yakitori Charm
Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (5 min walk) / Tanjong Pagar (7 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.
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
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 the menu 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 works best 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.
Neon Pigeon: Modern Izakaya with Bold Flavours and Creative Cocktails
Tanjong Pagar (5 min walk)
~$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
Zenryoku Izakaya: Lively Public Izakaya with After Work Drinks and Classic Favourites
PUTIEN SingPost Centre knows exactly what it is and plays its role perfectly. It doesn't try to reinvent the culinary wheel but instead provides a highly dependable, polished, and comfortable environment for diners seeking authentic flavors.
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 on mondays and 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.
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 for yourself.
For those exploring different neighborhoods, the vibrant izakaya scene extends beyond the usual spots, with gems like Momoya offering authentic Kyushu flavors in the heart of Orchard Plaza food district.
Don't be afraid to order something you have never tried before, and always remember to pace your orders so the food arrives piping hot. Get out there, explore these fantastic kitchens, and discover your own personal favorites. Happy eating!
While you're out, take the opportunity to explore the vibrant scene of Maxwell Food, which offers an equally lively atmosphere and a variety.
