Here’s my routine when eating buffets: I’ll recce the restaurant, grab the nearest plate and load it up with food, before stuffing the food into my mouth. Even though it’s common to overeat at buffets, to us pragmatic Singaporeans, we’re just eating our money’s worth of food.
But Japanese buffets are different – eat all the sashimi you want, and leave the restaurant without that gelat feeling in your stomach. Whether you’re a fan of shabu shabu, grilled meats or sushi, rest assured that Japanese cuisine is healthy and you won’t have to count your calories.
Here are the best Japanese buffets in Singapore ranked from cheapest to most expensive.
Enjoy a simmering, heart-warming Japanese hot pot, complete with unlimited servings of sliced beef, pork and chicken, at Suki-ya. There are 5 different types of broth for you to cook your shabu-shabu in: butaniku, shabu shabu, wasabi, sukiyaki, and tonyu miso.
Dress up the meats with the sauces available, or even create your own dip using garlic, chopped chilies, spring onion or grated radish. With so much meat available, don’t forget to take some fresh vegetables from the salad bar! Check out a list of their outlets and their opening hours here.
Prices:
Weekdays: Lunch $18.90 (80mins) | Dinner $24.90 (100mins)
Weekends/ PH/ Eve of PH: Lunch $20.90 (80 mins) | Dinner $26.90 (80 mins)
Tenkaichi offers 2 types of buffet sets: Deluxe Buffet ($39.80 Monday to Thursday & $44.80 for Friday to Sunday & Public Holiday) and their Premium Wagyu Beef Buffet ($64.80 Monday to Thursday & $69.80 for Friday to Sunday & Public Holiday). Not all buffets are created equal: the premium wagyu beef buffet offers free flow wagyu beef!
Their seafood spread is also no less premium, with maguro sashimi, hotate, prawns, squid, salmon and shishamo. Also, don’t miss the Yukke Sashimi, which is raw beef sashimi topped with egg yolk.
Address: 6 Raffles Boulevard, Marina Square Shopping Mall #03-129,Singapore 039594
Telephone: 6293 4498
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2pm, 6pm – 10:30pm
Momiji Japanese Restaurant is most famous for its king crab buffet, which is subject to availability, but even when it’s not available, here’s why it’s still reasonable: free flow Snow Crab, Cold Oyster, Fried Oyster and Oyster Shabu Shabu! With 7 different styles of oyster and a huge selection of fresh and well-stocked sashimi and seafood, eat to your heart’s content.
There is also a shabu shabu counter, serving meats which are on rotation, such as wagyu beef, kurobuta black pork and pork belly, accompanied with a kyushu soup base. Even the dessert counter is impressive with Häagen-Dazs Ice Cream, chocolate fondue, cakes, and assorted mochi.
Address: City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road 208539 / Revenue House, 55 Newton Road 307987
Telephone: 6509 1193 (City Square Mall) / 6253 2469 (Revenue house)
Prices:
Weekdays Lunch (12pm – 3pm): $24.80++ (adult) | $21.80++ (senior citizens) | $13.80++ (kids below 12)
Weekends / Eve of PH / PH (11:30am – 3:30pm): $39.80++ (adults) | $35.80++ (senior citizens) | $18.80++ (kids below 12)
Mon – Thu Dinner (6pm – 10pm): $39.80++ (adults) | $35.80++ (senior citizens) | $18.80++ (kids below 12)
Fri – Sun Dinner (5:30pm – 10pm): $42.80++ (adults) | $38.80++ (senior citizens) | $20.80++ (kids below 12)
I’m not sure how many Japanese restaurants in Singapore are authentic, but Azmaya was set up by 2 true-blue Japanese. They are best known for their Wagyu and Pork Shabu Shabu Buffet ($90), which depending on your luck, is occasionally 50% off. Besides savouring the thinly sliced wagyu beef, try their sashimi platter and grilled squid.
Address: 30 Robertson Quay #01-12/13, Singapore 238251
Telephone: +65 6737 6863
Opening Hours: Tue – Sun 5pm – 1am
It is best to visit Sakura at night – enjoy the sea breeze from Marina Country Club and watch the yachts sailing in as you grill your seafood. There is a large selection of food on display: sushi, vegetables, a salad bar, yong tau foo and different varieties of meat and seafood. With both shabu shabu and grill available, dunk your seafood into the hot pot and hear the sizzling of grilled meat at the same time.
Family friendly and affordable, there is even a shuttle bus service from Sengkang MRT station. Don’t be surprised if you accidentally connect to a Malaysian phone line!
Address: 600 Punggol 17th Avenue, Marina Country Club, S829734
Telephone: 6385 8197
Prices:
Weekends lunch (12pm – 4:30pm): $28++ (adults) | $24++ (senior citizens) | $14.90++ (kids below 12)
Mon – Thu dinner (5pm – 10:30pm): $30.80++ (adults) | $26.80++ (senior citizens) | $14.90++ (kids below 12)
Fri – Sun dinner (5pm – 10:30pm): $33.80++ (adults) | $27.80++ (senior citizens) | $15.90++ (kids below 12)
Tajimaya Yakiniku’s premium weekend Japanese buffet offers you a free flow of the best food available – wagyu and angus beef, kurobuta pork, tiger prawns and sashimi. Grill them over an authentic Japanese charcoal grill, which comes equipped with a high-tech ventilation system that ensures you won’t leave with a smoky smell.
Address: 1 Harbourfront Walk, #01-102/103 Vivocity, 098585
Telephone: 6377 0070
Opening Hours: Weekends 11:30am – 4pm
Prices: $45.90++
Judging from the number of times I’ve seen people post Instagram photos with the sumo statue outside the restaurant, everyone knows about Kiseki. Literally translated as ‘miracle’, Kiseki is known as the mega Japanese buffet at mini prices – a miracle to cash-strapped students!
Eat to your heart’s content with sushi, sashimi, teppanyaki, yakitori, grill and hot pot, and even Japanese Western cuisine like pasta and pizza. The desserts do not fall behind, with a selection of waffles, ice-cream, Japanese-flavoured desserts like matcha and azuki, and even macarons.
Just be careful – you wouldn’t want to leave the restaurant looking like the sumo at the front door!
Address: Orchard Central #08-01/02/03
Telephone: 6736 1216
Opening Hours: 11.30am to 3pm daily; 6pm to 10.30pm daily
Prices:
Weekday lunch: $19.80++ (adults) | $12.80++ (child 4-12 years old)
Weekend lunch: $27.80++ (adults) | $17.80++ (child 4-12 years old)
Weekday dinner: $31.80++ (adults) | $15.80++ (child 4-12 years old)
Weekend dinner: $34.80++ (adults) | $18.80++ (child 4-12 years old)
Even though Todai is an international buffet restaurant, with Chinese, Italian, Korean cuisines etc, it is most popular for its Japanese cuisine – Alaskan Snow Crab, seafood, sushi and sashimi. Their Alaskan Snow Crabs are generously large and bursting with meat, unlike the skinny pincers which other restaurants may serve.
Its other cuisines are not to be overlooked, with prime ribs, korean pancakes and spicy chicken etc. Given the wide range of food, it isn’t possible to sample everything, and it may not be wise to try!
Address: #B2-01 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018972
Telephone: +65 6688 7771
Opening Hours: Mon – Sat 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm / Sun 11:30am – 4pm, 5pm – 10pm
Prices:
Weekday lunch: $42++
Weekend lunch: $64++
Mon – Thu dinner: $58++
Fri – Sun dinner: $68++
Frequently proclaimed the ‘Best Japanese Buffet in Singapore’, Ikoi Japanese Restaurant offers a comprehensive range of Japanese cuisine, from sashimi, tempura and yakitori to ramen. Most famous for its extensive sashimi spread, sashimi-lovers will definitely be able to eat their money’s worth.
Even the ambience is impressively authentic – be greeted by a wooden, Japanese-style exterior complete with lanterns and curtains, and watch as the sushi chefs prepare the sushi before your eyes.
Address: #01-01, Hotel Miramar, 401 Havelock Road
Telephone: (65) 6887 3788
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2pm, 6pm – 11pm
Prices: Lunch $38++, Dinner $68.80++
Another close contender for the title of ‘Best Japanese Buffet’, Irodori’s Japanese a la carte buffet offers more than just the usual spread – imagine green tea tofu, ebi mentai mayo, and grilled salmon cheek! Having multiple sashimi platters is more than enough reason to come, but do try the unique dishes while you’re here. Affordable and authentic, the fact that even former President S. R. Nathan had dined here is testament to its popularity.
Address: 382 Havelock Road, Riverview Hotel #03-01, Singapore 169629
Telephone: 6737 2002
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 2:30pm, 6pm – 10:30pm
Prices: $36.80++
I was pleasantly surprised to discover that there is Japanese buffet in the heartlands. Located in Toa Payoh, Shinkei Japanese Buffet Restaurant boasts over 145 items on their a la carte buffet menu. Choose from the Japanese staples of sushi, sashimi and yakimono to quirkier dishes like the mentai spaghetti and salmon rice porridge.
Whether you’re dining with your family or a big group of friends, Shinkei Japanese Buffet Restaurant offers comfort, especially with the availability of private rooms at no extra cost!
Address: 600 Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, #01-06/07/10, Singapore 319515
Telephone: (65) 3158 8527
Opening Hours: 11am – 2:30pm, 6pm – 10:30pm
Prices:
Weekday lunch: $33++
Weekend lunch: $37++
Daily dinner: $39++
Himawari Japanese Restaurant has gained recognition from the media for its renowned Japanese a la carte buffet. With a selection of more than 100 dishes, including sashimi, sushi, handrolls and even mochi etc, your tastebuds will definitely be satiated.
Address: 1 Orchid Club Road, #02-02 Driving Range Unit, Singapore 769162
Telephone: 6934 3313
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Prices:
Mon – Thu lunch: $41.80++
Mon – Thu dinner $45.80++
Fri – Sun lunch: $45.80++
Fri – Sun dinner: $48.80++
The spread of Japanese dishes at Kuishin Bo are so extensive that I’d never have thought to find some in a buffet, such as generous slices of unagi kabayaki (grilled eel), salmon sausages, and an interesting dish of egg with wasabi on the side. Their dessert selection is also impressive, with mini cakes, tarts, pralines, jellies and dango to complete the whole buffet experience.
Click here for a list of outlets and opening hours, and click here for the list of prices.
Regarded one of the best Japanese buffets in Singapore, there are just so many dishes (138 to be exact) for you to try, such as floss karachi, shishamo, enoki maki, mango california, and of course, free-flow sashimi. To aid in healthy digestion, they even have the Momo salad to balance the meal!
Address: 109 Killiney Road Singapore
Telephone: 6734 5565
Prices: $39++
It may not be possible to leave Shin Yuu feeling hungry. With dishes such as dory fish topped with cheese, seared minced tuna belly sushi, smoked duck and hotate mentaiyaki, eat to your heart’s content. The restaurant also offers plenty of meat, like the wafu tenderloin steak, spare ribs teriyaki, and grilled salmon head.
Address: 16 Greenwood Ave, Hillcrest Road, Singapore 289209
Telephone: 6763 4939
Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10:30pm
Prices:
Lunch: $39.90++ (adults) | $23.90++ (child)
Dinner: $52.90++ (adults) | $31.90++ (child)
Feel zen and sophisticated as you tuck into Z’en’s shabu shabu and a la carte buffet amidst its peaceful ambience. The food is no less exquisite, with a 200g sirloin steak, wagyu beef, sashimi, and shabu shabu fresh from Japan. Judging from the extent of marbling in the meat, the meats used are fresh and of good quality.
Address: 205 River Valley Road, UE Square #01-75, Singapore 238274
Telephone:+65 6732 3110
Opening Hours: Mon to Fri 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm to 10:30pm / Sat, Sun & PH 6pm to 10:30pm
Prices:
Weekdays: $52++
Weekends: $56++
Japanese buffets are usually value-for-money – most of the buffets listed above offer the staple free-flow sashimi and even wagyu beef to eat your money’s worth, while other dishes look worthy enough to be on the a la carte menu. Due to the popularity of Japanese buffets, make a reservation (and skip your previous meal) to be safe!
Quality doesn’t always have to come with a hefty price tag.
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