Best yakiniku restaurants: Where to go for affordable meats and premium experiences with Japanese wagyu

When you're craving meat, there are few things that match up to the joy of a good yakiniku experience — well, other than a hefty steak dinner perhaps. Translating to "grilled meats", yakiniku is an essential part of Japanese cuisine that first plated its roots in Korean restaurants in Osaka and Tokyo during the 1950s.

Today, its popularity has seen plenty of such restaurants popping up around the world, and Singapore is no exception. From casual to lavish experiences, here is our list of Singapore's best yakiniku restaurants for juicy, unadulterated meat.

59 Hutong Yakiniku 

The collaboration between local dining start-up 59 and Taiwan’s Hutong Yakiniku brings a dining experience like no other. Fire up premium meats with beef cuts like A5 Wagyu and the prized Wagyu Chateaubriand (S$98++) against the picturesque backdrop of the Singapore River.

Don’t miss noteworthy specialities like the meticulously prepared AUS Wagyu Thin Cut Tongue (S$28++) for a burst of flavours or the twist on Taiwan’s braised pork rice in the Braised Wagyu Beef Rice (S$12++).

Complete your Taiwanese Yakiniku experience with crowd favourites like the delectable Raw Crab Roe in Crab Shells (S$18++). Need help with the grill? Authentic Taiwanese hospitality shines through with their friendly service crew assisting you with the grilling.

59 Hutong is located at 35 Boat Quay, Singapore 049824, p.+65 6235 3818. Open daily 12pm – 3.30pm, 5.30pm -11pm. Reserve here.

WakuWaku Yakiniku 

From the folks that brought us Fatboy’s comes Singapore’s first Halal-certified yakiniku restaurant in Kampong Glam – WakuWaku Yakiniku . Having worked with a Japanese chef to provide an authentic Japanese grill experience, savour a holistic experience with their Beef Platter (S$68++ for 500g) featuring five choice beef cuts.

The extensive menu includes a la carte offerings for the grill, like top blade Misuji (S$18++) and Hokkaido lamb Ajitsuki Jingiskan(S$12++). Complete your meal with their selection of vegetables, donburi, and noodles.

WakuWaku Yakiniku is located at 27 Bali Lane, Singapore 189863, p. +65 6291 6891. Open daily 5pm – 10pm.

YEN Social

Run by the same team behind the Michelin-recommended YEN Yakiniku, YEN Social features an extensive range of hand-selected meat cuts and dry-aged beef. Try as many cuts as possible with sharing platters that start from S$109 for 300g (good for 2-3pax), or indulge in succulent steaks like the Whisky Dry Aged Wagyu Ribeye (S$58++ for 100g).

Their communal dining setup is perfect for grilling juicy meats with family and friends. However, when it comes to retaining the complexity of Wagyu steaks, leave it to the chef to ensure every piece is cooked to perfection.

Yen Social is located at 7 Fraser St, Unit #01-25/26, Duo Galleria, Singapore 189356, p.+65 8669 6788. Open Tue- Sat 11.30am -2pm, 6pm -11pm. Mon and Sun 6pm- 11pm.

En Yakiniku

Indulge in the best of both worlds with premium meats like A4 and A5 Miyazaki beef in various cuts, complemented with a wide selection of Japanese sake.

The casual yakiniku joint brings chucks of joy with A4 Wagyu Ribeye (S$54.90++) and with a variety of cuts like Ichibo (rump cut; S$23.90++), Misuji (oyster blade; S$17.90++), and Sagari (hanging tender; S$19.90++). Snack on favourite Japanese appetisers like Amaebi Karaage (S$5.40++) while sipping whiskey citrus highball.

En Yakiniku is located at 112 Middle Rd, #01-00A Midland House, Singapore 188970, p.+65 6255 5744. Open Mon -Thu 11.30am -3pm, 6pm -10pm, Fri – Sat 11.30am -3pm, 5.30pm -10.30pm, Sun 11.30am -3pm, 5.30pm -10pm.

Japanese BBQ Tora

The cosy Japanese BBQ Tora makes for a hassle-free and pocket-friendly yakiniku experience with only 12 sets on its menu. A simple Beef Short Plate set, including rice, soup, salad or kimchi, starts from S$9.90++ for 100g, while a more lavish Wagyu Steak Set is priced from S$25.90++ for 150g.

Spruce up your meal with vegetables like mushroom, pumpkin, or lettuce, and finish with a tipple or two from their range of Japanese alcohol. Together with walls plastered with posters and Japanese tunes playing in the background, this spot is reminiscent of homely eateries in Japan. 

Japanese BBQ Tora is located at 321 Alexandra road, Mall, #01-01 Alexandra Central, Singapore 159971, p.+65 6261 6601. Open Mon – Fri 11.30am -3pm, 5pm-10pm, Sat -Sun 11.30am -10pm.

Yakiniku Like

With hip and bright interiors and eight outlets across the island, Yakiniku Like offers an affordable BBQ fix with individual, electric smokeless grills that will leave you smelling less like what you ate when you leave.

Be spoiled for choice with more than 15 different sets to choose from. A Pork and Chicken Set starts from S$10.90, while a Supreme Trio Set with A5 grade Miyazaki wagyu karubi and NZ prime rosu will set you back by S$28.90. The restaurant keeps things fresh with promotional menus, including meats with truffle sauce and desserts like s’mores.

Yakiniku Like is located at eight locations around Singapore. Please check website for full location details.

Hey! Yakiniku

Another wallet-friendly restaurant that promises a smokeless grill experience serves ten different set menus sans service charge and GST. Inviting diners to ‘meat’ and bond, the most popular options here include their signature Hey! Set (S$18.90 for 150g) — comprising beef tongue, short plate, and skirt steak and the Australian Wagyu Ribeye Set (S$31.90 for 120g). All sets come with rice, soup, and your choice of salad.

Hey! Yakiniku is located at #01-92/96 Bugis Junction, 80 Middle Rd, Singapore 188966, p. +65 6980 5678. Open daily 11am-10pm.

Yakiniku-GO Plus

A notch up from its sister concept, Yakiniku-GO Plus brings the yakiniku affordability to higher quality beef cuts. While you can still get their signature Yakinuku-Go Set (S$19.80++) with beef short plate, tongue, and half a ribeye steak, what you want to go for is the Supreme Beef Platter (S$32.80++), with 160g of Wagyu A5 Miyazaki Brisket, beef short plate and beef thick tongue.

The outlet also offers the Pork Dragon Karubi Tsubozuke (S$15.80++) on the a la carte menu, which sees diamond-cut pork belly marinated in garlic sauce. Make it a set with an additional S$4 for rice, soup, salad, or kimchi. 

Yakiniku-GO Plus is located at 3 Temasek Boulevard 01-353/354 Suntec City Mall, Tower 5 West Wing, Singapore 038983, p.+65 6250 2633. Open Mon – Fri 11.30am -10pm, Sat -Sun 11am -10pm.

Yakiniku Warrior

Bringing yakiniku to the heartlands, Yakiniku Warriors redefines Japanese BBQ with its no-frills and super wallet-friendly experience. Although it is set in a coffee shop, you’ll still get your choice of quality meats in the Premium Karubi Set (S$15) or the Wagyu Steak Set (S$18), while affordable sets run from S$6 for the Chicken Set. 

A quick look at their social media accounts, and you’ll see that this little stall also fires up huge Tomahawks; make sure to put in your pre-orders to feast on this beauty.

Yakiniku Warrior is located at 121 Geylang East Central, # 01-90, Singapore 380121. Open Mon -Tue, Thu – Fri 12pm -2.30pm, 3.30pm -10pm, Wed 12pm -2pm, 4.30pm -10pm, Sat -Sun 3pm -10pm. 

Hitsuji Club

The very first Jingiskan speciality restaurant in Singapore, Hitsuji Club, fires up the essence of Genghis Khan in Hokkaido style. The meat of choice here is lamb; choose from Lamb Chop (S$12++) to Special Loin (S$23++) or even the signature Sauce on JingiskanTsubozuke (S$24++), which sees marinated lamb served alongside a heap of vegetables.

Believing lamb as the healthier alternative to meat, you can indulge guilt-free in this speciality Japanese yakiniku. And if that’s not enough, you can always top up your meal with assorted vegetables.

Hitsuji Club is located at 65 Circular Rd, #01-01, Singapore 049419, p.+65 6221 3789. Open Mon – Sat 6pm -10.30pm. Closed Sun. 

Yakiniquest

The name Yakiniquest stems from co-founder Suguru Ishida, who once ate at more than 150 yakiniku joints a year in Japan for 15 years. Safe to say, his taste in grilled meats is top of the game. Embark on your own quest with a healthy bevy of beef cuts and offals sourced from a network of premium quality Wagyu farmers from all over Japan.

There are five Omakase courses starting from S$88++ for lunch but go straight for the Dinner Omakase Quest (S$188++). It boasts seven supreme cuts of wagyu, wagyu appetiser with uni, and their signature niku somen, which is really raw wagyu sliced into thin “noodles”.

Yakiniquest is located at 333A Orchard Rd Mandarin Gallery, #04-08/09/10, Singapore 238897, p.+65 6223 4129. Open daily 12pm -3pm, 6pm-10.30pm.

Yakinikutei Ao-Chan

This hidden yakiniku place may be tucked right at the corner of the Concorde Hotel, but its authentic Japanese vibes and premium meats with beautiful marbling keep customers coming back.

Reservations are highly recommended, but if you score a seat here walking in, you’ll be treated to the extensive range of gyutan, harami and beef offal, to pork belly, Totoro and premium Iberico cut.

To try a good range of selections, go for the Prime Beef course (S$45.80++), which includes five different cuts like Belly Tender Prime, Belly with Rib and Ox Tongue Prime, Oxtail soup, rice, and vegetable salad. Other standout dishes include the Uk Bibimba (S$16.80++), which resembles marinated beef tartare with egg yolk and vegetables.

Yakinikutei Ao-Chan is located at 100 Orchard Rd, #02-22/26 Concorde Hotel, Singapore 238840, p.+65 6735 6457. Open Mon – Fri 12pm -2.30pm, 6pm -10.30pm, Sat- Sun 4pm -10.30pm.

Yakiniku Jan Jan

A hidden gem nestled in Cuppage Terrace, plenty of regulars flock back to Yakiniku Jan Jan for its famed two-hour all-you-can-eat sessions. Priced from S$68++ per pax on weekdays, the most premium option at S$108++ per pax on weekends includes four additional cuts of wagyu.

Not up for free-flowing meat? A la carte options are also available. Accompanying this meat-lovers ball is their tempting drinks deal — unlimited pours of Asahi draft beer, highballs, and umeshu for S$30++ per pax.

Yukiniku Jan Jan is located at 43 Cuppage Rd, Singapore 229463, p. +65 6908 9968. Open daily Sun- Thu 5.30pm-11pm, Fri- Sat 5.30pm-2am.

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This article was first published in City Nomads.