Favourable towards Japanese cuisine, yet not up to eating raw fish, and would rather munch on some meatier options? If you didn’t already know, Japanese cuisine has a wide variety of delicious alternatives, including tasty servings of Yakiniku beef!
Grilled meats aren’t an unfamiliar concept in Singapore (for instance; Korean barbecue restaurants along Telok Ayer street attract a buzzing line of guests) — and this Japanese-style of perfectly grilled meat, bears a distinct way to cook it and eat it.
Conventionally believed to have been brought to Japan by Korean immigrants who settled in Osaka and adapted to local tastebuds — the Yakiniku cuisine offers divine dishes for diners with meaty appetites. Yakiniku eateries tend to use pricier meats like Wagyu and Kobe beef, as the cuisine’s central focus is to draw out the natural flavour of the meat, and many cuts of beef do not come marinated or pre-seasoned.
Satisfy hankerings for quality, mouth-watering grilled meat, by checking out Expat Choice’s following selection of top Yakiniku restaurants in town! Image Credit: Magosaburo Facebook Page
Yen Social
Well, the same masterminds behind Yen Yakiniku come to you with this concept by the name of Yen Social, and perfectly grilled meat loaves hand picked by them happen to be their specialty. We’re talking delectable dishes like the ox tongue and the wagyu intercostal cubes or the dry aged wagyu ribeye soaked in whiskey if you’re in the mood for something fancy. Either that or you can noodle away with the signature Wagyu Beef Noodle. Long, slender and succulent noodles come swimming in a rich and flavourful beef broth paired up with chunks of beef tendon and daikon. Image Credit: Yen Social Facebook Page
a. 7 Fraser Street, #01-25/26 DUO Galleria Singapore, Singapore 189356
w. www.theyengroup.com.sg/
Yakiniku Like Singapore
If you like Singapore, you should definitely pay a visit to Yakiniku Like Singapore. Situated at three locations across the city, this place is a perfect fit for you if you’re a lone wolf. There are a bunch of options you can choose from. Call for the Gyu Tan, the Wagyu Steak (you can never go wrong with this one), or the Prime Karubi if you prefer the boneless option. Having trouble deciding? Don’t worry. You can just order the Like Set for a myriad of options. This one comes with a beef short plate, skirt steak, and the beef tongue which works like a dream on a barbecue grill. Add soup, rice, one side dish, and rich and creamy sauces to that and you’ve got yourself a more than satisfactory meal. Image Credit: Yakiniku Like Singapore Facebook Page
a. 10 Paya Lebar Road, #B1-28, Singapore, 409057
w. http://yakinikulike.oddle.me/
Yakiniku- Go
Go to Yakiniku- Go if you prefer a pork free meal. It’s got beautiful cuts of the beef short plate and beef tongue, and the modest price range will make you order for more without feeling guilty. Oh, and did we mention the flavors bursting out of the piquant sauces. Choose one out of the Negi Shio Tare and the Spicy Yakiniku Tare and you’ll be left licking your fingers unabashedly. I don’t think anyone can get tired of steak but if you find yourself craving something else, then they also have a few seafood options you can fall back on. Think Seafood Hoiru Yaki which comes with squids, prawns, and scallops, or the Salmon Batayaki. Image Credit: Yakiniku- Go Facebook Page
a. 33 Sengkang West Ave, The Seletar Mall, #01-49/53, Singapore, 797653
w. https://order.yakinikugo.com.sg/en_SG
Japanese BBQ Tora
Did someone say 150 grams of premium, rich, meaty goodness at a price lower than $20? Now we’re talking. We all know the go to option with steak to be the Wagyu. Well, Japanese BBQ Tora comes to you with not only a Wagyu Steak Set for a more than reasonable price, but there is a wide range of other options to choose from. Think different Karubi sets or an assortment of meats with the Triple Set which comprises pork, beef and chicken. Nothing like a beer to wash all this chunk with. Christmas sure has come early, hasn’t it? Image Credit: Japanese BBQ Tora Facebook Page
a. 321 Alexandra road #01-01 Alexandra Central Mall Singapore, Singapore 159971
s. www.facebook.com/japanese.bbq.tora/
Hey! Yakiniku
HEY! Did you know that Hey! Yakiniku has waived off GST and service charges on all meals from now on? As if we needed another reason to pay a visit to this gorgeous eatery at Bugis Junction. No matter what you do, don’t forget to call for the signature Hey Set which comes at an extremely affordable price of around $16. Three beautiful beef cuts come in this one ready to be devoured. All you gotta do is fire up your smokeless grill, get a dash of those sauces that come with them and wash them down with some miso seaweed soup. I’m already salivating. Image Credit: Hey! Yakiniku Facebook Page
a. 80 Middle Rd, #01-92/96 Bugis Junction, Singapore 188966
Yakiniquest
The name of this restaurant hallmarks the quest of Suguru Ishida, the managing director of Yakiniquest — who accomplished having eaten at over 150 yakiniku eateries a year in Japan for 15 years! Set your own quest for a lip-smacking destination at Boat Quay, and look forward to an exciting Omakase Yakiniku experience with the finest Wagyu beef prepared on the grill before you! Over here, we’d recommend dining on a whole selection of meats on the Wagyu Foodie Omakase — which features Wagyu and Uni Sashimi, six cuts of grilled Wagyu, and a cold noodle side or beef curry rice. Video Credit: BEEF YAKINIKU DINING YAKINIQUEST
a. 48 Boat Quay, Singapore 049837
Syohachi Yakiniku
Make the most of delightful food-stuffing at Syohachi Yakiniku — the first overseas outlet planted in Guoco Tower, from a Hong Kong chain. Armed with an original Japanese A5 wagyu yakiniku concept, prepare to immerse your stomach in endless meaty pleasures at this farm-to-table restaurant. Popular for its use of Sendai Wagyu beef from an award-winning ranch in Japan, along with its all-you-can-eat mode of dining — the restaurant has been gaining a steady fan base since its launch in November 2020. Image Credit: Syohachi Yakiniku SG Facebook Page
a. 5 Wallich Street, #01-13, Guoco Tower, Singapore 078883
Yakiniku Yazawa
Diners on the hunt for top-quality meats will find Yakiniku Yazawa to be a trustworthy treasure. The restaurant takes great pride in their beef, which team specialists meticulously hand-pick (part by part) from all over Japan — taking great care to follow strict standards and utmost quality control in the purchasing process. The Robertson Quay mainstay sources some of the most premium Japanese Kuroge Wagyu — featuring choice cuts like the Misuji, Chateaubriand and Ribeye. Relish eating to your meaty heart’s content with fresh, delicious, melt-in-your-mouth servings at this spot! Image Credit: Yazawameat.com
Magosaburo
Throughout the customised selections from skilled chefs, expect to receive an exquisite Japanese dining experience at Magosaburo — where guests take pleasure in their choice of beef in BBQ, Sukiyaki or Shabu-Shabu. Belonging to a Japanese chain from the Kumamoto prefecture, hungry diners can feast on excellent grade meats like Ohmi and Kobe beef with lovely marbling which renders itself to tender, juicy meat once off the grill. Serving a fine-combed selection of top notch quality Wagyu (primarily sourced from Japan), combined with a novel, contemporary restaurant ambience — this eatery caters to the satisfaction of its customers by offering the enjoyable chance of sensational dining in style! Image Credit: Magosaburo Facebook Page
a. 391, #05 - 31 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238872
Yen Yakiniku
If in the mood to witness the cooking with your own eyes, set the map location for Yen Yakiniku. Nestled in a quaint shophouse in Ann Siang Hill, a multi-sensory meal awaits those who wish to taste meats in its full glory — as the restaurant’s experienced chefs will be grilling meats upon order right in front of its diners! Indulge on premium, succulent cuts like the Wagyu Rib Eye, Ox Tongue, Wagyu Oyster Blade and Thick Cut — or dive down under by exploring their seafood selection which includes the delectable Hokkaido Scallops. Image Credit: Yen Yakiniku Facebook Page
a. 15 Ann Siang Rd, Singapore 069695
