This guide to Singapore’s Top 10 Chirashi-don was last updated on 28 July 2015.
Happiness in a bowl – this is how we define chirashi-don, which is essentially slices of sashimi scattered atop a good bowl of Japanese pearl rice. It is fuss-free, offers a myriad of flavours and textures, and more than comforting any time of the day.
What constitutes to a good chirashi-don? We all have different definitions, and one man’s meat may be another’s poison. But it is unanimous that freshness is key. And then, there is the variety of seafood, quality of rice, and temperature when the don is served. Other subjective factors include the presentation and the cut of the fish.
Since forever, we have been on a quest to suss out the best options in town. We spent so many lunches at Japanese eateries and restaurants; some were terribly disappointing that we do not even want to think about them, some are truly impressive and consistently good that we lost count of how much we contribute to the restaurants’ revenue.
So here it is. Our picks on Singapore’s top 12 chirashi-don. Did you spot any of your favourites too?
AOKI at Shaw Centre is somewhere you can go to enjoy good quality Japanese food. The restaurant itself is small, and prices are definitely higher than average, but it is worth paying for. Choose between the Chirashi Sushi Jyo-sen (S$55), or the Bara Chirashi (S$45).
For a more affordable option, Aoki serves a Mazechirashi ($35) set that comes complete with miso soup, pickles, and dessert.
1 Scotts Road
Shaw Centre #02-17
Tel: +65 6333 8015
Mon to Sat: 12noon – 3pm, 6.30pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
#2 CHIKUWA TEI
We LOVE Chikuwa Tei at Mohamed Sultan Road for their chirashi-don. So good that we have to use Chikuwa Tei’s chirashi sushi (S$25) as the benchmark for a good sushi rice bowl – freshness is top notch, slices are thick enough to bring out the sweetness of the fish, serving is generous and filling, and the cherry on top? Its super reasonable price tag. We always find ourselves at Chikuwa Tei when the craving for chirashi-don kicks in.
Chikuwa Tei
9 Mohamed Sultan Road #01-01
Tel: +65 6738 9395
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay
#3 HIDE YAMAMOTO
At Hide Yamamoto, diners can enjoy four different menus – namely: sushi, robatayaki, ramen and teppanyaki. The Ramen & Dining Bar is the least intimidating of all, with prices as low as S$20 for a maki platter.
But if you are willing to splurge, treat yourself to the Kaisen Chirashi Don (S$58). What you’d get is a large bowl of premium Japanese rice that is cooked to the perfect plumpness with every grain bursting with sweetness, together with a hint of dashi and vinegar. The fish comes in a rainbow of colours – from richly-hued salmon and maguro (tuna), to tako (octopus) and mekajiki (swordfish).
8 Bayfront Avenue
02-05 Casino Side Level 2, Marina Bay Sands
Tel: +65 6688 7098
Daily: 12.00 – 15.00
Mon to Wed: 18.00 – 23.00
Thu to Sun: 18.00 – 03.00
Nearest Station: Bayfront
#4 ISHINOMAKI GRILL & SAKE BAR
Named after one of the municipalities in Japan where reconstruction began after devastation of the 2011 tsunami, Ishinomaki Grill & Sake Bar at Palais Renaissance specialises in izakaya and robatayaki dishes.
During lunch, it has a Barachirashi Ozen which comes with generous slices of tuna, salmon, octopus, sword fish, Amberjack, as well as tobiko. At S$23, it is a steal for the portion. We can see ourselves going back to Ishinomaki regularly just for this.
#B1-02/02A/03, Palais Renaissance
390 Orchard Road
Tel: +65 6737 1065
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
Cuppage Plaza is an old and dodgy building in the Somerset area, but it is also home to many fantastic Japanese restaurants and eateries. Kaiho Sushi, a hole-in-the-wall sushi joint, is one of them. It has been around for years and it is where food lovers in-the-know head to for good and quality Japanese food.
During lunch, it serves nine sets (at S$30) that range from Anago Don Set, to Sushi Set and Ebi Tendon Set. But the one that you should go for is the chirashi Set (S$30 during lunch, S$58 during dinner) which comes an assortment of sliced mackerel, salmon, tuna, scallop, squid, prawn, octopus, and crab meat.
5 Koek Road, Cuppage Plaza, #03-01/02
Tue to Sun: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6.30pm – 11pm
Tel: +65 9734 9822
Nearest Station: Somerset
#6 MANZOKU JAPANESE RESTAURANT
By the guys behind Chikuwa Tei, Manzoku Japanese Restaurant is a nondescript Japanese restaurant tucked away in Purvis Street. Many argue about their Chirashi Don (S$25) – some claim that the fish slices are too thick and hard to chew on, some say they are not the freshest, some even pick on the rice!
But we say it is a rather awesome deal because for S$25, you get a delightful serving of sashimi – with each variety in proper, full slices instead of diced.
18 Purvis Street
Singapore 188597
Tel: +65 6734 4436
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall
This may come as a surprise to some, but mezza9 at Grand Hyatt serves a fantastic Sakura Denbu Chirashi during lunch. Expect nothing short of a bowl of heavenly goodness that is so visually arresting and beautifully presented. The seafood are sliced equally to perfection, and we really love how there is a generous serving of ikura (salmon roe) to complete.
It is part of their weekday set lunch menu, and you have two options – a two-course lunch (S$32++) and a three-course lunch (S$42++). One of the most value-for-money options, we’d say!
Grand Hyatt Singapore
10 Scotts Road
Mezzanine Level
Tel: +65 6730 7188
Nearest Station: Orchard
#8 RYOSHI SUSHI IKEIKEMARU
Ryoshi Sushi Ikeikemaru may be a kaiten (conveyer belt) sushi restaurant, but don’t let that fool you into thinking that they are but a mediocre joint. They have surprisingly fresh sushi at pocket-friendly prices.
But Ryoshi’s Chirashi-don (only available at the Westgate outlet) is one worthy mention. For S$29, you get a bowl of maguro slices, negitoro (fatty tuna with minced onion), hotate (scallop), tako, anago (conger eel), amaebi (sweet prawn), ikura, gizzard shad, ika (squid) and tamago (sweet egg omelette). Yes, we were pretty mind-blown by the sheer variety.
Ryoshi Sushi Ikeikemaru is also listed in our guide to Singapore’s affordable sushi restaurants.
#03-05, Westgate, 3 Gateway Drive
Daily: 10am – 10pm
Nearest Station: Jurong East
#9 SYUN
The Chirashi Sushi (S$32) is a new-found favourite that will have us returning to Syun – a new Japanese outlet at Resorts World Sentosa – helmed by famous Japanese Chef Hal Yamashita again and again
You have no idea how picky we are about our Chirashi-don, but Syun’s version won our hearts for its generous chunks of sweet sashimi and ikura atop plump Japanese rice drizzled with a ginger-like sauce. The gorgeous flowers you see are edible, too! All Jyu Box Sets are served with Miso Soup, Kailan and Tofu, Steamed Egg Custard, and Green Salad Yuzu Ginger Dressing.
Festive Walk, Resorts World Sentosa
8 Sentosa Gateway
Tue to Sun: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 11pm
Tel: +65 6577 6688
Nearest Station: Harbourfront
#10 TATSUYA JAPANESE RESTAURANT
A stalwart of the local dining scene, Tatsuya is where in-the-know locals go for top quality Japanese food. The set lunches are extremely value-for-money, and it explains their evergreen popularity. Go for the Bara Chirashi (S$35.90), and you will not be disappointed.
We are usually not fans of diced sashimi, but this is one version that we dare say is among the bests in town, one that has earned our frequent patronage and loyalty. On a minute note, the different fish seem to always be scattered in an organized pattern, and the reds and oranges and yellows are so appealing that it is probably the most Instagram-worthy Bara Chirashi.
Goodwood Park Hotel
22 Scotts Road
Tel: +65 6887 4598
Daily: 12pm – 3pm, 6.30pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
#11 TEPPEI JAPANESE RESTAURANT
Teppei Japanese Restaurant at the ground floor of Orchid Hotel has been gaining a steady following because of its extremely affordable omakase (prices start from S$50/pax). Another highly-raved about dish that has earned its regulars’ loyalty is its barachirashi (S$17.60).
The barachirashi is pretty decent and inexpensive – probably the cheapest chirashi you can get in Singapore – but it is not worth the queue. It suffices as an introductory bowl for first-timers, decent enough, but there are many more chirashi-don out there that shout freshness and variety way better.
#01-18, Orchid Hotel, 1 Tras Link
Tel: +65 6222 7363
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar
#12 THE SUSHI BAR
We like the idea of a small Japanese sushi bar ala hole-in-the-wall concept that caters to its regular patrons and the random walk-ins, and The Sushi Bar at Far East Plaza is one such place that has won the hearts of many Singaporeans.
The Sushi bar’s Chirashi-don (S$24.90) is one of our favourites, with thickly-sliced and super fresh sashimi. It comes with three slices of salmon, tuna, hamachi, mekajiki, scallop and ikura. For those who are willing to splurge, there is also a premium chirashi-don.
#04-28 Far East Plaza
14 Scotts Road
Mon to Fri: 12.30pm – 3pm, 5.30pm – 9pm
Sat: 12.30pm – 9pm
Nearest Station: Orchard
For more recommendations, read our guide to Singapore’s best Japanese restaurants.
How in the world did Chikuwa Tei make it on the list? It’s definitely not deserving of a spot…
Chikuwa was good when Peter was helming the sashimi bar. The standard stayed decent for awhile after Peter left Chikuwa.
The nearest MRT to Westgate is Jurong East… There’s no station named Jurong West.
I love tampopo’s at taka. first the location and so the quality, even I agreed the portion are getting smaller, but the qualityof toro and the rest is getting better.
I will nominate Rakuichi Japanese Restaurant on Dempsey Hill.
I stopped reading after seeing Chikuwatei. The author clearly doesn’t know his sashimi and wasabi (which IMO can make or break a chirashi don)…
Chef Peter is now at Kaiware. Level 2, 111 Somerset. Chirashi Standard remains the same.
You missed out Sun & Moon’s! Portion may be a little small for those with larger appetite but definitely worth the try. Instead of all raw ingredients, they use aburi salmon in it
definitely one of my favorites.
The sushi bar is the one my sis and I swear by it! Freshly prepared, thick slices, totally worth the money!
You should try out Chirashitei located at food republic Manulife . It is $19.90 with huge slices of sashimi. The rice is delicious too .
Cheers