5 Best Japanese Restaurants In Chinatown – Top Picks

1. Nomiya Izakaya & Sake Bar

Nomiya Izakaya & Sake Bar captures the essence of a traditional Japanese gastropub, making it a standout among Japanese restaurants near Chinatown. With its warm, intimate ambience, soft lighting, and rustic wooden interiors, they transport diners straight to Tokyo’s backstreets, where after-work gatherings over good food and sake are a way of life. The menu is a carefully curated mix of classic and contemporary Japanese cuisine, ensuring there’s something for everyone. 

A great izakaya isn’t complete without a stellar drinks menu, and Nomiya delivers with a well-curated selection of Japanese sake, shochu, and highballs. They offer a variety of premium sake bottles, perfect for pairing with the food. For those who prefer something lighter, the bar serves refreshing fruit-infused cocktails and classic Japanese beers. For anyone searching for Japanese food in Chinatown, Nomiya Izakaya & Sake Bar is the place to be.

Business Reviews:

1. Food was served hot and it made the food extremely delicious! I think the cold udon can be more firm as it was little soft, it was a great idea to have mini baguette to dip into the burnt butter with charred ebi because the burnt butter has an umami taste from the ebi and topping with fried garlic was yum! As we requested for an indoor seating, it can get abit loud and difficult to hear yourself. So if you prefer a quieter place, you may consider an outdoor seating instead. Anyway, my friends & I enjoyed the food and the excellent service from the staff! Thank you!!

2. Constantly brilliant every time I’ve dined there . Great service , amazing food & awesome experience . Thank you for making my birthday special 🥰

3. Had dinner here last night with my family and everything was delicious. Never really had saki before, so the waitress helped us choose the perfect one. Even my kids enjoyed the food. High recommend.

2. Shinrai

Shinrai is a fusion of two cuisines: omakase-inspired meals and sushi-izakaya. Shinrai was founded with the intention of introducing a larger audience to the core of their high-end omakase dining experience. Sushi Yujo, their first omakase business, discovered a niche market, but they wanted to make this fine dining experience more affordable without sacrificing quality. Their team’s firsthand experiences with real izakaya culture while travelling in Japan further enhanced the concept and gave Shinrai real, unforgettable experiences.

If you’re searching for the best Japanese restaurant in Chinatown, look no further than Shinrai. Whether you’re craving comforting ramen, fresh sushi, or a delightful izakaya-style meal, they offer a dining experience that’s second to none. Come and indulge in authentic Japanese food in Chinatown, prepared with passion and precision. Book your table today and experience the true flavours of Japan at Shinrai!

Business Reviews:

1. Excellent environment, friendly service, great menu choices and really decent food and at affordable prices!

2. Nice relaxed ambience with cozy high table for dinner. Food was delicious and portions were just right.

3. A quaint and cosy outlet in the heart of city to hang with buddies after a hard day at work. The menu is highly versatile and service crew very hospitable. The complimentary dessert is an icing on the cake.

3. Toku Nori Handroll Bar

Inspired by Japanese speakeasies in New York City, Toku Nori, a restaurant in the upper floors of a heritage shophouse in the trendy Telok Ayer district, is reinventing handrolls with their own unique twist. Toku (特) means special in Japanese. They provide a variety of delicious handrolls, izakaya, and sake for a memorable dining experience. Designed with a modern yet inviting ambience, Toku Nori provides the perfect setting for a relaxed meal. Whether dining solo, catching up with friends, or enjoying a casual date night, their sleek and intimate bar-style seating ensures a unique and interactive dining experience.

Business Reviews:

1. Super nice handroll / izakaya restaurant. We loved every dish, but would highlight ENGAWA (handroll) and HAMACHI (marinated sashimi). A must in Singapore for foodies. The place is also very nice with a perfect bar for couples. And last but not least, great staff with even Spanish speakers 😁

2. I highly recommend this restaurant, all the food was very very nice, without exemption, but I would recommend the ENGAWA handroll. Service incredible nice, special mention to Eldra and John (Juan). If you are in Singapur, u should come for dinner!!!

3. Amazing experience! Lovely staff paired with delicious food – highly recommend! John and Aeldra made me feel welcomed and at home!

4. Nanbantei Japanese Restaurant

An authentic taste of the Japanese-original yakitori culture may be found at Nanbantei. They were among the first JAPANESE YAKITORI restaurants in Singapore and may be the oldest. They opened their first location in 1983, nestled away on the fifth floor of Far East Plaza. In 2016, they opened a second location in Chinatown Point. They provide a variety of bento packages in addition to a large assortment of a la carte skewered meats, fish, and veggies. Each juicy mouthful of these expertly seasoned and tenderly roasted over charcoal demonstrates their noticeable quality difference.

As one of the most celebrated Japanese restaurants near Chinatown, they bring a unique dining experience that perfectly blends traditional flavours with a cosy, intimate setting. Beyond their signature yakitori, Nanbantei offers an extensive menu that showcases the best of Japanese cuisine. From fresh sashimi and sushi to comforting donburi bowls and teppanyaki, every dish is crafted with high-quality ingredients and meticulous attention to detail.

Business Reviews:

1. Had the best yakitori dinner. Since it was Valentine’s Day, we ordered the double course set, which consists of a salmon sashimi, 10 sticks of yakitori (ours are made up of shitake mushrooms, chicken with leek, pork with asparagus, pork with cherry tomatoes and meatballs), niku tofu hot pot, grilled saba, garlic fried rice and Japanese red bean dessert with dango. We also added an extra butter asari and cold Onihimogawa udon. Everything is so good. I can’t pinpoint any part of the meal that is not up to standard. Great service too. Can’t wait to be back again.

2. Amazing yakitori experience, their asparagus maki is the best! Service also pretty good.

3. We patronise Nanbantei’s other outlet at Far East Plaza quite frequently – they’ve been around for such a long time. However, Nanbantei at Chinatown Point is a much bigger space with tables more spread out & a more family orientated layout. Food is good in both places. Set lunches are very affordable (set lunches are also available during early dinner time). Would definitely be back.

5. Aburi-EN

Aburi-EN provides a range of excellent donburi (rice bowls) at reasonable costs in a welcoming and cosy setting. In addition to using premium imported pork and A4/A5 Miyazaki Wagyu, which has received Japan’s “National Wagyu Award” four times in a row, Aburi-EN takes pride in its handcrafted, umami-packed meat sauce. With a wide variety of Japanese cocktails, highballs, shochu, and sake to go with the variety of grilled meats, Aburi-EN offers you the best of Japanese drinking culture. 

At Aburi-EN, diners can enjoy a thoughtfully curated menu that showcases Japanese food in Chinatown at its finest. Their signature dishes include mouth-watering Wagyu bowls, succulent pork donburi, and perfectly grilled seafood—all prepared with meticulous care to highlight the natural umami of the ingredients. Experience the finest flame-seared delicacies and immerse in the rich flavours of Japan today.

Business Reviews:

1. Service is very good, service staff Yan was very helpful and recommended the Japanese Wagyu beef was very nice, it really melted in the mouth! Hubby ordered the Iberico pork was nice too! The yuzu sorbet & black sesame ice cream were heavenly! Overall very pleasant experience and will be back again. Thank you!

2. Overall, the food was great! and the customer service by Yan was really nice! She treated us as distinguished guest despite our age.

3. I really recommend the spicy chicken 🙂 generous portions of chicken and worth the price. staff was also really nice!! 😀