Quick-service Japanese BBQ concepts are all the rage these days, and it is easy to see why. For starters, these yakiniku restaurants offer delectable meal sets with (typically) electric smokeless grills for a fuss-free dining experience. If that’s not enough, most of these joints are now found either at heartland malls or in the city centre – and accessibility is always a plus in our books.
So for a hearty, delicious grilled meat meal fix, these are the best places to go to satisfy your meat cravings.
59 Hutong Yakiniku
The restaurant may have only opened in 2022, but 59 Hutong Yakiniku has already won many fans with its Taiwanese yakiniku experience. Diners can enjoy an extensive selection of premium meats that are cooked to perfection by the restaurant’s experienced grill-masters. During cooking, a minimal amount of Hutong-specialty salt, sesame oil and pepper are used to enhance and showcase the flavours of the ingredients.
Try the newly introduced Japanese A5 Wagyu, Australian Wagyu and American beef which have been carefully sourced and expertly cut to for best results. Menu items include Australian Wagyu Tongue Prosperity Bag (dumpling wrapped with sliced beef, scallions and onions), Japanese A5 Wagyu Hamburger Steak, and Japanese A5 Wagyu Chuck Top Blade Sukiyaki.
The expanded space on the second level offers an even better experience. Spanning 1,000 square feet, the space seats 20 persons and features two private rooms that are perfect for special occasions, corporate events, or intimate parties.
Website: 59 Hutong Yakiniku
Address: 35 Boat Quay, Singapore 049824
Opening hours: Mon to Sun, 12pm to 3.30pm (lunch); 5.30pm to 11pm (dinner)
Hey! Yakiniku
No smoke, no GST and no service charge—that’s the promise of Hey! Yakiniku, a Japanese yakiniku restaurant found at Bugis Junction. The signature Hey Set is a no-brainer, and for less than $16, you’ll get three types of beef cuts including beef short plate and skirt steak. If you’re on the hunt for meats that will truly melt in your mouth, give their premium Australian wagyu beef or the Trinity Set’s pork jowl a shot. Just grill them on your dedicated smokeless grill, dip them into the sauces provided, and enjoy the grilled meats alongside some rice and miso seaweed soup.
Website: www.facebook.com/heyyakiniku
Address: 80 Middle Rd #01-92/96 Bugis Junction, Singapore 188966
The Gyu Bar
For a top-level wagyu experience, head to The Gyu Bar. The 35-seater beef specialist on Stevens Road offers premium wagyu from Japan sourced from chef Tomoo Kimura’s personal network built over the years. A variety of cooking techniques are applied to the meat, including yakiniku, sukiyaki and shabu shabu. Its yakiniku menu items such as Yakiniku Wagyu Foie Gras Don, however, stand out for its masterfully grilled flavours.
Website: www.thegyubar.com.sg
Address: 30 Stevens Road, #01-08, Singapore 257840
Opening hours: Mon to Sun, 12pm to 3pm (lunch); 6pm to 10pm (dinner)
Yakiniku-Go
Pork-free yakiniku restaurant Yakiniku-Go has got a total of three branches to date, so head to any of its three locales to enjoy flavourful steaks and cuts like angus ribeye steak, beef short plate, and beef tongue. Sets here start from $9.80, and the menu also includes seafood options such as the Seafood Hoiru Yaki (squid, prawns and scallops) and Salmon Batayaki. As for sauces, try the zesty Negi Shio Tare, or the piquant Spicy Yakiniku Tare.
Website: www.facebook.com/YakinikuGO.sg
Address: Islandwide
Opening hours: Varies by outlet
Yakiniku Like Singapore
Single diners will not have to miss out on all the BBQ fun any longer as Yakiniku Like (with outlets at PLQ Mall, Clementi Mall and VivoCity) is all about catering to individual patrons. Just go straight for their Like Set (priced below $20) for a mix of beef short plate, skirt steak and beef tongue – perfect for barbecuing on a smokeless grill. This set comes with soup, rice and a side of choice, plus sauces for dipping. Talk about affordable.
Website: www.facebook.com/yakinikulikesg
Address: Islandwide
Opening hours: Varies by outlet
Yen Social
A new, wallet-friendly concept by the team behind Michelin-rated Yen Yakiniku, Yen Social specialises in hand selected meat cuts grilled to perfection. Just savour specialty beef cuts such as ox tongue and the wagyu intercostal (rib finger) cubes, or choose the in-house whisky dry-aged wagyu ribeye if you fancy something more premium. You’ll also want to leave room to try the signature Wagyu Beef Noodle; this sees succulent strands of noodles swimming in a rich and robust beef broth alongside chunks of beef tendon and daikon.
Website: www.theyengroup.com.sg/yen-social
Address: 7 Fraser Street, #01-25/26 Duo Galleria, Singapore 189356
Opening hours: Tue to Sun, 12pm to 2pm (lunch); Mon to Sun, 6pm to 11pm (dinner)
