Akanoya Robatayaki

Akanoya specialises in robatayaki. For the uninitiated, robatayaki is a technique in Japanese cuisine; customers sit around an open counter where fresh ingredients are displayed, and they can just point to order. The chefs will then grill the ingredients like seafood, meat, and vegetables over charcoal, and serve it to the customers using a long wooden paddle. 1 Tanglin Road #01-01 Orchard Parade Hotel Tel: +65 6732 1866

Chikuwa Tei

Even though the Nazi chef has left, Chikuwa Tei is still a place where I will go back again when I am craving for Japanese food. The offerings are generally good, and the prices for the bento set and ala carte menu are very reasonable.

9 Mohamed Sultan Road #01-01 Tel: +65 6738 9395

En Japanese Dining Bar

I will cut to the chase and tell you to go En Japanese Dining Bar at River Valley for their 50% promotion off Sushi and Sashimi from 6pm 8pm daily.

Do note that the food promotion of 50% discount off Sushi & Sashimi is only available at their Mohamed Sultan branch (River Valley road). For those who cannot make it for the early bird discount from 6pm to 8pm, you can go there for supper as the Mohamaed Sultan branch opens till late night 3am on Friday and Saturday. 207 River Valley Road #01-57 UE Square Singapore Tel: +65 6735 2212

Fukuichi Japanese Dining

Nestled in the quiet Triple One Somerset, Fukuichi Japanese Dining serves decent Japanese food at pocketfriendly prices. If I am meeting my friends in Orchard Road, I will definitely go to Fukuichi, it is my newest go-to place when craving for Japanese food.

111 Somerset Road TripleOne Somerset Tel: +65 6271 5586 Daily: 11.30am 3pm, 5.30pm 12am

HAN Restaurant

HAN Restaurant at Odeon Towers is a kushikatsu speciality restaurant that serves Japanese skewers kaisekistyle. During lunch, they have a lunch set of seven sticks for $75, while omakase at dinner starts from $120.

I know you cannot really go wrong with deep-fried stuff, but trust me, the offerings at HAN restaurant are not your typical greasy and sinful food. How should I put it? Every stick that we had was fresh, flavourful, and most importantly, not oily to the extent that you will feel sick after eating it. In fact, we still wanted more after we had seven to eight sticks.

A meal at HAN Restaurant is not cheap, but if you like Japanese food (deep-fried stuff in particular) and want something different from the usual kaiseki restaurants, heres the place to go.

331 North Bridge Road #01-04 Odeon Towers Tel: +65 6336 2466 Daily: 12pm 3pm, 6pm 11pm

Hide Yamamoto
At Hide Yamamoto, diners can enjoy four different menus namely: sushi, robatayaki, ramen and teppanyaki. The Japanese Restaurant is located on the second floor of the Marina Bay Sands Hotel and Casino, and it is the brainchild of renowned Chef Hide Yamaamoto. Theres only one word to describe our meal, and overall experience at Hide Yamamoto: exquisite. While prices are steep, Id recommend Hide Yamamoto restaurant at Marina Bay Sands if you like teppanyaki.

8 Bayfront Avenue 02-05 Casino Side Level 2, Marina Bay Sands Tel: +65 6688 7098 Daily: 12.00 15.00 Mon to Wed: 18.00 23.00 Thu to Sun: 18.00 03.00

Hinoki Japanese Restaurant

It is a good place to bring your clients for a business luncheon if you are working in the area. At night, it is perfect as a place for a quiet dinner. If you dont want to splurge, go for the bentos they are slightly more affordable, prices range from $32 to $38.

22 Cross Street #01-50/53 China Square Central South Bridge Court Tel: +65 6536 7746

IKOI Japanese Restaurant Japanese Buffet

401 Havelock Road #01-01 Hotel Miramar Singapore Tel: +65 6887 3788 // Japanese ala carte buffet Weekday Japanese ala carte Buffet $33++ Weekend Japanese ala carte Buffet $33++ * Reservations highly recommended

Ippudo Mandarin Gallery

For me, there is no doubt that Ippudo at Mandarin Gallery is one of the best ramen restaurants in Singapore. The question is, are you willing to queue up for it?

333A Orchard Road #04-02/03/04 Mandarin Gallery Tel: +65 6235 2797

Izakaya Nijumaru

Izakaya Nijumaru is a great hidden gem with good Japanese food at very affordable prices. If you are meeting your friends in town and trying to decide what to eat in Orchard, you may want to drop by Izakaya Nijumaru at Cuppage Plaza for a drink and some Japanese food.

5 Koek Road #02-10 Cuppage Plaza Singapore Tel: +65 6235 6693

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Restaurant

With so many restaurants lined along the two sides of Lorong Mambong, its easy to miss out Gyu -Kaku Japanese BBQ restaurant if you are new to Holland Village. How many times have I walked past it when I was in the area? Plenty. I cant believe that it took me until now to try the Japanese restaurant, but boy am I glad that I finally went there for dinner recently.

Gyu Kaku Japanese BBQ restaurant is not cheap. But it serves good quality meat, and I like the fact that you wont smell like BBQ after a meal. I will definitely come back when I am craving for wagyu beef.

29 Lorong Mambong Holland Village Tel: +65 6466 4001

Hill Top Japanese Teppanyaki

Hill Top Japanese Restaurant has been around for many years and it has always been known as one of the famous teppanyaki restaurants in Singapore. Take a drive west and enjoy a scrumptious teppanyaki feast.

2 Jurong Hill Jurong Bird Park Tel: +65 6266 3522 Daily: 11.30am 11.30pm

Keisuke Tokyo

While I am not a fan of Keisuke Tokyo, it is one of the more popular ramen places in Singapore, so if you havent been there before, do drop by for a visit when you are in the area.

9 Raffles Boulevard #P3-02 Parco Marina Bay Millenia Walk Tel: +65 6337 7919

Koh Grill & Sushi Bar

My friends are probably hatching a plot to murder me as I type this, but Im going to risk it and tell you guys anyway Koh Grill & Sushi, a small Japanese eatery in Wisma Atria Food Republic, is an amazing place for good Japanese Food at very reasonable prices.

435 Orchard Road #04-21 Wisma Atria Singapore Tel: +65 9180 3805

Mikuni Japanese Restaurant

If you are looking for Robatayaki, Mikuni Japanese Restaurant at Fairmont is another place to check out. Rest assured that you are in the good hands of the chefs there. Just sit back and enjoy a wonderful meal.

80 Bras Basah Road Level 3 Fairmont Singapore Tel: +65 6431 6156

Ootoya Japanese Restaurant

Ootoya at Orchard Central has good Japanese food at decent prices, but Im not sure if Ill be coming back. Dont get me wrong, it has nothing to do with the service, or food, or prices Im just too lazy to queue up.

181 Orchard Road #08-12 Orchard Central Singapore Tel: +65 6884 8901

Rakuzen Japanese Restaurant

There are many Japanese restaurants in town, but to find one that has good Japanese food at reasonable prices? Thats no mean feat. So imagine my happiness when I chanced upon Rakuzen Japanese Restaurant at Millenia Walk.

The food at Rakuzen is of a good standard, and coupled with the fact that it is wallet-friendly, I would certainly go back when I want Japanese food.

9 Raffles Boulevard #01-14/19 Millenia Walk Tel: +65 6333 1171

Satsuma Shochu Dining Bar

Satsuma Shochu Dining Bar is a Shochu speciality izakaya at The Gallery Hotel that is known for serving yummy charcoal-grill skewers.

If you are searching for a great after work spot for food and drinks with friends, check out Satsuma at Robertson Quay. It is certainly a place I can see myself frequently whenever I feel like having Japanese food.

1 Nanson Road #01-10/#02-10 The Gallery Hotel Tel: +65 6235 3565