13 best yakiniku restaurants in Singapore for a grilling good time [Dec 2024 update]
Did you know that yakiniku, which is literally translated to “grilled meat” in Japanese, is conventionally believed to have been brought to Japan by Korean immigrants who settled in Osaka?
Despite adopting the same grilling style as Korean BBQ, yakiniku focuses more on premium cuts of meat, such as A5 Wagyu and Kobe beef, to create a divine meal that’s centred around the natural flavours of the meat.
There’s just something about the sizzling sounds of meat that’s utterly satisfying, and if you’re starting to get hungry, we’ve got you covered. From wallet-friendly casual options to fancy Japanese restaurants, here are our top 13 picks for the best yakiniku restaurants in Singapore.
1. Yakiniku Like
If you ever thought that yakiniku (or BBQ in general) could only be eaten with a group of friends, Yakiniku Like is here to prove you wrong.
This no-fuss yakiniku chain from Japan specialises in solo dining, with individual electric smoker grills which allow customers to dine alone. By the sides are tables with shared grills for two, which cater to larger groups of diners.
More importantly, its fast food concept means that yakiniku is now affordable, with solo sets starting from S$9.80! You can find Yakiniku Like at several malls in Singapore, such as PLQ Mall, Suntec City, VivoCity, AMK Hub and Junction 8.
Those on a budget can try Yakiniku Like’s cheaper set option— Pork & Chicken Set (S$13.90 for 100g). It comes with pork belly and chicken thigh, and is accompanied by rice, soup, kimchi or salad. Note that Yakiniku Like offers free upsize for its rice.
One of its best-sellers is its Karubi & Harami Set (S$20.90). Karubi is beef short plate while harami is skirt steak, and both cuts are well known for its tender and flavourful marbling.
For those who love marinated cuts of meat, Yakiniku Like also offers Sukiyaki Karubi Set (from S$16.80) and Garlic Butter Karubi Set (from S$16.80).
For a list of outlets, opening hours and contact numbers, refer here.
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2. YAKINIQUEST
How obsessed are you about yakiniku? Not as much as the founders of YAKINIQUEST, I’m guessing.
In a bid to eat through the very best of Japan’s yakiniku eateries, Suguru Ishida and his wife, Tomoko, have dined at over 2,000 yakiniku restaurants in Japan over the span of 15 years. You can call it their gastronomic quest for the best yakiniku ever— thus its name.
YAKINIQUEST first opened in Boat Quay in 2015 and in 2022, it shifted to its latest location in Mandarin Gallery.
YAKINIQUEST specialises in yakiniku omakase, so all you have to do is pick your choice of menu and leave the rest up to its skilled staff, who will grill your yakiniku to perfection.
For an up-scale yakiniku restaurant, it’s surprising to note that YAKINIQUEST’s menus start from very reasonable prices. For example, its Lunch Omakase “Chic” (S$88++), which includes a starter and salad, 6 different cuts of beef, cold noodles, and a dessert. Even its Lunch Omakase “Appetite” is priced at S$128++, considering you’re given 7 types of beef, such as its signature “yakisuki” and Wagyu aburi sushi.
There are 2 dinner menus: Dinner Omakase “Classic” (S$138++) and Dinner Omakase “Quest” (S$188++), both of which serve Wagyu appetisers, its signature niku somen, and premium cuts of Wagyu.
333A Orchard Road, Mandarin Gallery, #04-08/09/10, Singapore 238897
+65 6223 4129
Daily: 12pm – 3pm & 6pm – 10.30pm
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3. Wa-En Wagyu Yakiniku
Hailing from Hong Kong, Wa-En Wagyu Yakiniku first opened in Jewel Changi Airport in Nov 2022. This famed yakiniku restaurant has over 20 years of experience grilling Wagyu meat in Hong Kong, and has even earned itself a spot in Hong Kong’s Michelin Guide in 2016 and 2017.
Wa-En Wagyu Yakiniku specialises in a particular type of A4 and A5 Wagyu that’s flown in from Miyazaki, Japan. Also known as Miyazakigyu, this exquisite Wagyu is known for its snowflake marbling. It’s also been used as the winning prize in Japanese sumo competitions!
The one platter you must try is its Luxury Wagyu Beef Platter (S$158). It comes with 4 types of Wagyu: Miyazaki Wagyu sirloin, Miyazaki Wagyu ribeye, deluxe Miyazaki marbled Wagyu karubi and premium Australian thick-cut Wagyu beef tongue.
You can also choose to order its Miyazaki Wagyu à la carte, such as Australian Wagyu Karubi in Grilling Sauce (S$23) or Premium Miyazaki Wagyu Chuck Roll (S$35). For a more value-for-money option, go for its Wa-En Premium Course Set (S$88 per pax), which will entitle you to 13 items, including 6 types of meat.
78 Airport Boulevard, Jewel Changi Airport, #01-224, Singapore 819666
+65 6246 7488
Daily: 11am – 10pm
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4. Yakinikutei Ao-Chan
Hidden within Concorde Hotel along Orchard Road is Yakinikutei Ao-Chan. This quaint Japanese restaurant is well-loved by many thanks to its authentic vibes, as well as its delicious, high quality yakiniku. I loved its cosy booth seats, which made me feel like I was in Japan again.
Not to mention, it has great lunch sets starting from S$28.80++ per pax, which allow you to satisfy your yakiniku cravings without breaking the bank.
Whether or not you’re in the mood to order à la carte cuts of meat, such as its Akami Ox Tongue (S$12.80), Wagyu Stick Karubi (S$28) or Japanese Pork Belly (S$15.80), or go for its all-encompassing Prime Beef Course (S$45.80), a meal at Yakinikutei Ao-Chan promises to be utterly satisfying.
Don’t belittle its hidden location, because Yakinikutei Ao-Chan is said to always be full! So be sure to make a reservation prior to going down to avoid being disappointed.
100 Orchard Road, Concorde Hotel, #02-22/26, Singapore 238840
+65 6735 6457
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm & 6pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 4pm – 10.30pm
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5. The Hitsuji Club
Walk along Circular Road and you’ll find The Hitsuji Club thanks to its noticeable noren, which sports its name in Japanese.
As its name suggests (hitsuji means lamb/mutton in Japanese), The Hitsuji Club specialises in lamb. In fact, it’s the first Jingisukan (Japanese grilled mutton dish) specialty restaurant in Singapore, with lamb directly from Hokkaido.
While we’re used to thin cuts of marbled A5 Wagyu with typical yakiniku restaurants, The Hitsuji Club is where you head to if you’re craving thicker, meatier cuts, such as its Premium Lamb Chops (S$24), which you can grill directly on the hotplate to the doneness of your choice.
There are also other types of lamb, such as the Special Fillet (S$23), Special Loin (S$23) and Sauce on Jingiskan (S$24). If you’re dining in a larger group, I advise that you order the Premium Jingiskan with Lamb Chop Set (S$70), as it comes with 3 types of lamb, mushrooms and vegetables.
65 Circular Road, Singapore 049419
+65 6221 3789
Mon & Sat: 6pm – 10.30pm
Tye to Fri: 11.45am – 2pm & 6pm – 10.30pm
Closed on Sun
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6. Waa Cow! Yakiniku
Remember Waa Cow!, the well-loved restaurant that sells flame-torched Wagyu beef bowls? They’ve created a new dining concept, Waa Cow! Yakiniku, which specialises in grill-it-yourself yakiniku.
Frankly, given their expertise in Wagyu, this came to us as no surprise when they officially opened at myVillage at Serangoon Gardens on 1 Sep 2022.
From Karubi (S$10.40) to Gyutan (S$20.90), Waa Cow! Yakiniku offers a carefully curated selection of meat that’ll satiate you. There are also combos such as Trio Meats (S$11.90), which has karubi, pork collar and chicken.
To complete your yakiniku experience, order Waa Cow! Yakiniku’s Signature All Dips Platter. For S$3.90, you’ll get to enjoy a tasting flight of 5 sauces: mentaiko sauce, truffle sauce, spicy miso and leek relish, sweet sukiyaki with onsen egg, and wasabi mayo.
1 Maju Avenue, myVillage, #02-10/11, Singapore 556679
+65 9836 0693
Mon to Fri: 12pm – 3pm & 4.30pm – 9pm
Sat & Sun: 12pm – 9pm
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7. Hey! Yakiniku
The next time you’re at Bugis Junction, walk along the road-facing shops on the first floor to find Hey! Yakiniku, a casual yakiniku joint that serves wallet-friendly grilled meats.
Hey! Yakiniku offers a total of 9 yakiniku set menus, all of which come with rice, soup, kimchi or salad and spicy bean sprouts. Pick from a wide range of cuts, such as the popular Karubi Set (S$18.90 for 200g) or Sukiyaki Karubi Set (S$19.90 for 200g). You can also try its combination sets, like the Duo Cut Set (S$23.90 for 200g) which comes with beef short plate and skirt steak.
More importantly, Hey! Yakiniku prides itself on a smokeless yakiniku experience that won’t leave you saturated with the heavy scent of oil and barbecued meats after your meal. Not to mention, they also don’t charge GST or service charge, which makes their already affordable meals even more worth it!
80 Middle Road, Bugis Junction, #01-92/96, Singapore 188966
Daily: 11am – 10pm
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8. Yakiniku Warrior
Whoever said that yakiniku could only be served in fancy restaurants has never seen Yakiniku Warrior, aka Singapore’s first coffeeshop-style yakiniku joint.
Expect a no-frills yet satisfying experience when you’re here at its Geylang East Central coffeeshop, and while there might not be air-conditioning or fancy seats, its affordable prices more than make up for it.
In a manner that’s almost similar to mookata, Yakiniku Warrior serves up incredibly affordable yakiniku.
To get the most bang for your buck, go for its Karubi Set (S$7), which features 100g of U.S. beef short plate. Alternatively, go for its Grade A Premium Karubi Set (S$15), which uses luscious melt-in-your-mouth U.S. short ribs.
Other are also available in the form of Wagyu Steak (S$18 for 120g) and Harami & Karubi (S$9 for 100g).
121 Geylang East Central, #01-90, Singapore 380121
Mon, Tue, Thu & Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm & 3.30pm – 10pm
Thu & Fri: 12pm – 2.30pm & 3.30pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun: 3pm – 10pm
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9. Yuiitsu Yakiniku & Butchery
Feast on all the grilled meats your heart desires at Yuiitsu Yakiniku & Butchery. This restaurant offers 2 kinds of yakiniku buffet options. The Deluxe Set (S$59.80 per pax) allows you to indulge in unlimited premium beef, pork, lamb, seafood and other choices in their grill selection, as well as starters, items from the Fried & Grill Bar, mushimono, don and noodle dishes.
The Premium Set (S$79.80 per pax), on the other hand, offers additional Japanese A5 Wagyu beef to zhng up your dining experience even more.
Some of the free-flow meats and seafood to grab for your grill include USA Karubi, Australian Gyutan, Pork Belly, Lamb Chop, Squid with Garlic Soya and Half Shell Scallop with Garlic Butter Sauce. As for the pre-cooked options, you won’t want to miss out on the Kake Udon, Snow Crab Leg and Tori Karedon, just to name a few.
15 Jalan Riang, Singapore 358987
+65 8930 8351
Tue to Sun: 12pm – 10.30pm
Closed on Mon
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10. Wano Niku Yakiniku
Wano Niku Yakiniku may be a hawker stall, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that their food quality is subpar. You can find this stall in either Tanjong Pagar or Ang Mo Kio, with affordable yakiniku options to keep your stomach and wallet feeling full.
The meat is imported directly from Japan, and they even offer A4 Japanese Wagyu and Hokkaido pork.
The Megamori Set (S$120) includes 800g of premium meat, including striploin steak, kainomi, harami, karubi and original steak. If you’re dining alone or with just one other person, opt for their smaller sets, like the Steak Set (S$70), consisting of striploin steak, dice cut steak and rump steak, amounting to 300g total. Platter B (S$45), with 250g of meat, is another good option that includes premium steak, karubi, pork belly and pork collar.
For a list of locations, opening hours and contact numbers, refer here.
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11. Ushiyama Yakiniku
Ushiyama Yakiniku encapsulates the luxury and quality of a yakiniku meal. They use meat from Ohmi Beef, one of Japan’s top 3 Wagyu brands, ensuring that your experience is nothing short of incredible.
You can enjoy a huge variety of cuts of the Ohmi Wagyu beef, including Otoro Karubi (premium chuck ribs) (S$48), Kosankaku (chuck tender) (S$36), Ichibo (top sirloin cap) (S$48), Zabuton (chuck flap) (S$68) and Chateaubriand (premium cut of tenderloin) (S$168).
There are also other kinds of meat to try, like the Australian Wagyu, with cuts such as Harami (skirt steak) (S$28) and Jo Tan (premium ox tongue) (S$38). Why not get some Karubi (pork belly) (S$22) or Kata Rosu (pork collar) (S$22) if you’re a pork lover?
Of course, seafood fans will be delighted by offerings like Angel Prawn (S$12 for 2 pieces), Squid (S$12), Hokkaido Scallop (S$14 for 2 pieces) and King Crab (S$88 per leg).
251 Holland Avenue, Singapore 278981
+65 9232 3838
Mon: 9am – 10.30pm
Tue to Fri: 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 3pm & 5.30pm – 10.30pm
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12. Yakiniku OK!
This one’s for the Easties— Yakiniku OK! is located within White Sands Mall, making it a relatively convenient spot to enjoy a yakiniku meal. The prices are quite affordable too, with sets starting from just S$9.90.
Each set comes with rice, 2 side dishes, and 1 or 2 dipping sauces, ensuring that your meal is satisfying. The OK Set (S$21.90) is great for beef lovers as it comes with beef short plate, beef tongue and beef striploin steak. If you’d like to indulge in something more fancy, the Premium Wagyu A5 Set (S$35.90) is an option too.
The Seafood Set (S$27.90) includes saba fish, tilapia fish and ika, making it a good choice for fish fans. To enjoy both fish and beef, opt for the Mackerel & Karubi Set (S$19.90) or Tilapia & Karubi Set (S$18.90).
Pasir Ris Central Street 3, White Sands Mall, #02-12/13/14, Singapore 518457
+65 6844 9003
Daily: 11am – 9.30pm
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13. Ryo Yakiniku
Ryo Yakiniku is a halal yakiniku option located within a Tai Seng coffeeshop. Simply scan the QR code on each table to order your dishes and start grilling away. The stall offers beef, chicken, lamb, salmon and vegetable options, starting from S$6.90 for 100g.
I highly recommend the Prime Karubi (50g) (S$6.90), which was well-marbled with a delicious rich flavour. Skip the Japanese A5 Wagyu (S$24.90), which was surprisingly tough and did not have the same melt-in-your-mouth texture or flavour as most other A5 Wagyu. The Angus Striploin (140g) (S$14.90) is one of the more value-for-money choices, albeit it is also a tad chewy.
Pair your yakiniku meats with add ons like the flavourful Furikake Rice (S$1.90) and Onsen Egg (S$1.50). There are also finger foods like Octopus Takoyaki (S$8.90) and Mentaiko Fries (S$8.90) to savour.
61 Tai Seng Avenue, Singapore 534167
+65 9066 0981
Daily: 5pm – 10.30pm
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