There is a very specific kind of hunger that leads to izakaya. Not full fine-dining hunger. Not “let’s just grab something fast” hunger. More like the kind where a table wants small plates, grilled skewers, hot food, cold food, rice, something seared, something fried, maybe some fresh seafood and enough variety to keep everyone interested for two hours without anyone pretending to be restrained.
That is where izakaya in Singapore still gets interesting, especially in a city that has long treated places like Cuppage Plaza as part of its unofficial Japanese dining education. A proper Japanese izakaya should feel a little busy, a little loose, and just dangerous enough to over-order in. The best ones do not just serve traditional izakaya cuisine. They understand the rhythm of it. Izakaya food consists of a variety of small, shareable plates served as they are ready, which is exactly why a good meal here should feel like it keeps unfolding instead of arriving all at once. One dish lands, then another, then suddenly the table is full of yakitori, sashimi, noodles, vegetables, rice, wagyu steak and the sort of good vibes that make restraint feel like a deeply unserious idea.
This list is not ranked. It is simply six izakaya restaurants we would actually recommend when the goal is good food, a proper izakaya experience and a perfect spot that feels worth sitting in.
Izakaya Hikari Is the Fortune Centre Hidden Gem That Still Feels Like a Proper Japanese Izakaya
Izakaya Hikari is tucked inside Fortune Centre, which already gives it an advantage. You do not walk in expecting theatre. You walk in hoping for a solid, friendly traditional izakaya that cares more about feeding people properly than dazzling them with mood lighting and imported attitude.
That is pretty much what it is.
This is one of the more comfortable entries into the world of izakayas in Singapore because nothing about it feels forced. The room is casual, the menu covers all the izakaya favourites you would want, and the food leans into comfort instead of trying too hard to impress. The move here is to keep the order clean. A few slices of sashimi, some gyoza, a bowl of miso soup, one grilled item, maybe a donburi if the table needs anchoring, or even something closer to japanese curry comfort if that is the kind of softer, steadier meal the table is craving. It is not trying to become the most stylish Japanese food room in the city. It is trying to be dependable, and that counts for a lot.
For first-timers, this is the kind of authentic izakaya experience that makes sense because it is not trying to sell you a concept. It is just giving diners what they came for. Must try dishes here are the straightforward ones, not the ones that sound like the kitchen is trying to prove a point.
Izakaya Hikari
Address: 190 Middle Road, Fortune Centre, #03-01, Singapore 188979
Opening Hours:
- Mon to Thu 12pm to 2.30pm; 5.30pm to 10.30pm
- Fri & Sat 5pm to 10.30pm
- Closed on Sun.
Price Range: $$
Shunjuu Izakaya for Japanese Food That Starts With the Grill and Stays There
If your ideal Japanese izakaya meal begins with charcoal-grilled delights and ends with the irresistible urge to order “just one more skewer,” Shunjuu Izakaya remains a top contender in Singapore’s izakaya scene. This classic izakaya restaurant focuses on the grill as its centerpiece, offering expertly prepared kushiyaki and yakitori that highlight the smoky, savory flavors that define authentic izakaya dining.
The smarter move here is to build the table around the kushiyaki instead of trying to be too clever. Negima and Tsukune are the kind of staples that remind you why yakitori works in the first place. Smoky, direct, and much better than they sound when someone tries to reduce them to “just grilled chicken.” If the table wants something cooler to balance all that heat, a Sashimi Moriawase makes sense. And if someone wants one fresh, reliable rice bowl in the mix, the Bara Chirashi is a better pick than going too heavy. It gives you enough fresh seafood, rice, and contrast to reset the palate without dragging the meal away from the grill.
What to skip? Anything that distracts too much from the room’s strongest lane. Shunjuu is not the place to get lost in filler. Trust the charcoal, order the chicken, add one or two seafood or sashimi plates, and let the table settle into rhythm.
Shunjuu Izakaya
Address: 30 Robertson Quay, #01-15 Riverside View, Singapore 238251
Opening Hours:
- Daily lunch 12pm to 2:30pm
- Dinner Mon to Thu 6pm to 11pm
- Dinner Fri to Sat 6pm to 11:30pm,
- Dinner Sun 5:30pm to 10:30pm.
Price Range: $$$
Issho Izakaya Is the CBD Pick When You Want Good Food Without Pretending to Be Casual
Issho Izakaya feels like the kind of place you end up at when the table wants something a little sharper than the usual after-office fallback, but not so polished that everyone starts sitting up straighter. It has that modern CBD energy, but the food still moves in the right izakaya rhythm. Shared plates, a bit of grill, a bit of freshness, something warm, something cool, and enough range to keep the table interested.
The seafood does a lot of the work here. Hotate Carpaccio is one of the cleaner ways to start, especially if the table wants something bright and not too heavy. The Aburi Hotate Mentai is richer and more obviously crowd-pleasing, but still balanced enough not to feel one-note. If someone wants a proper rice anchor, the Wagyu Don gives the meal a bit more weight without turning it into a full donburi detour. That combination makes sense here: scallops first, then something richer, then maybe one or two grilled or hot dishes to round things out.
Issho works best when the table leans into the stronger seafood plates and one solid rice or hot dish instead of trying to cover every category on the menu. This is not the place to scatter your appetite across too many forgettable extras. Keep it focused and it rewards you properly.
Issho Izakaya
Address: Marina One The Heart, #01-14, Singapore
Opening Hours:
- Mon to Fri 11am to 2:30pm; 4:30pm to 10:30pm
- Sat 11am to 10pm
- Closed on Sun
Price Range: $$$
The Public Izakaya Is Loud, Broad, and Still One of the Better Izakaya Experience Plays in Town
Some izakayas are built for careful ordering. The Public Izakaya is built for appetite and after work drinks.
This is the sort of place where the menu is broad, the room has lively energy, and the table should absolutely not pretend it is only there for “a few bites.” If you come with enough friends, it works even better. There is something very satisfying about a loud table, a spread of appetisers, crisp fried things, skewers and one or two heavier dishes that make the whole meal feel anchored.
The obvious call here is Jaga Mentaiko, a carb-heavy comfort dish that never disappoints. The Aburi Wagyu is also worth trying, especially if the table wants a richer beef dish to balance the usual skewers and fried items. It adds weight and breaks the spread’s predictability. After that, focus on stronger hot dishes and grilled items before getting tempted by less necessary options. Even here, discipline matters. Classics like Buta Kakuni remain part of the menu but first-timers should stick to broadly shareable house favourites.
That is really the charm of The Public Izakaya. It understands abundance and the izakaya spirit of sharing. It is not subtle. It is not trying to be rarefied. It is trying to feed a table well and keep the mood moving, and for group dinners, that makes it one of the more reliable best izakaya Singapore has to offer.
The Public Izakaya
Address: 100 Tras Street, #01-09, 100AM Mall, Singapore 079027
Opening Hours:
- Mon to Fri 11:30am to 2pm; 5.30pm to 12am
- Sat 5pm to 12am
- Sun 5pm to 10pm
Price Range: $$-$$$
Neon Pigeon Is Not Traditional, but It Is Still One of the More Fun Japanese Restaurants in Singapore
Neon Pigeon is not traditional, and pretending otherwise would be silly. But it is still one of the more fun Japanese restaurants to include in this conversation because it understands how to make the modern remix version of an izakaya actually worth the table.
This is the place for people who do not mind the format being bent a little. Less strict traditional izakaya cuisine, more personality. The room has energy, the food is playful without becoming stupid, and some of the must try dishes are popular for a reason. Tokyo Hummus is one of them. It sounds like the kind of thing that should be trying too hard, but it actually works. The same goes for KFC Bao, which could have been pure gimmick and instead ends up being exactly the sort of thing people order again.
After that, go back toward the things that keep the izakaya part of the room intact. Some sashimi, something from the grill, and enough balance to stop the table from becoming one long parade of novelty. If you are looking for a more polished date night izakaya with a bit more swagger than soul, Neon Pigeon makes sense. It is not the old-school answer. It is the city answer.
Neon Pigeon
Address: 36 Carpenter Street, #01-01, Singapore 059915
Opening Hours:
- Daily 5.30pm to 12am.
Price Range: $$$
Toku Nori Is for Diners Who Want Fresh Seafood First and the Izakaya Mood Second
Toku Nori sits at the more polished end of the spectrum, and that is exactly why it works for certain people. If your idea of a good izakaya table starts not with yakitori but with fresh seafood, handrolls, and cleaner flavours, this is your lane.
This is not the room for maximum chaos. It is the room for a quieter kind of pleasure. The handrolls are still the obvious place to start, especially those built around scallops, salmon, and other seafood that can actually carry the format instead of hiding behind seasoning. That is where the place feels most confident. If the table wants something a little more indulgent, the seared foie gras handroll is the one that makes the point quickly. Rich, soft, and unapologetically over the top, but still controlled enough not to feel like a stunt.
There are more extravagant options if the table wants to flex. Wagyu, richer add-ons, all of that is available. Fine. But the better version of the meal usually lies in restraint. Let the fish speak. Let the handrolls do the work. This is the more polished, more seafood-led answer to the izakaya question, and for the right table, especially one looking for a cleaner date night feel, it works very well.
Toku Nori
Address: 200A Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068638
Opening Hours:
- Daily lunch 12pm to 2:30pm; dinner 5:3pm to 11pm
Price Range: $$-$$$
Best Izakayas in Singapore Really Depends on What Kind of Japanese Izakaya Mood You Want
There is no single best izakaya Singapore can claim without sounding silly. Izakaya Hikari is a hidden gem for lunch and dinner, perfect for friends craving classic izakaya fare. Shunjuu Izakaya appeals to grill lovers with fresh seasonal produce and dishes like wagyu beef. Issho Izakaya offers a sleek CBD setting with skilled chefs and extensive menu featuring authentic Japanese flavors.
The Public Izakaya suits bigger groups, delivering a lively tapas bar vibe. Neon Pigeon creatively remixes izakaya classics, while Toku Nori caters to seafood-first diners seeking an izakaya-adjacent experience rather than a silent sushi counter. Many izakayas also live or die by their seafood, whether that means sashimi, sushi or something straight off the grill, so freshness matters more here than people sometimes pretend.
So no, this is not a ranking. It is a shortlist. Start with the mood you want, then check the opening hours before you leave the house, because hunger is annoying enough without discovering your chosen izakaya opens later than your patience does.
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