Premium yakiniku restaurant Yen Yakiniku has opened a new sister concept Yen Social at DUO Galleria on 2 July 2021.

Other than its Butcher Platters and premium cuts, Yen Social will be offering its in-house dry-aged Wagyu beef including whisky dry-aged Wagyu ribeye, using Kavalan single malt whisky from Taiwan.

Widely touted as one of the most popular Yakiniku restaurants in Singapore, Yen Yakiniki is a modern Yakiniku dining experience with farm-to-table premium wagyu cuts.

Yen Social Butcher Platters (pre-order required two days in advance) are available in sizes from 300gram (2 to 3 persons), 600gram (4 to 6 persons) and 1200gram (8 persons).

Look forward to thick cut karubi, chuck eye roll, chuck short ribs and Australian Wagyu ribeye. The restaurant host will demonstrate the precise way to grill each different cut.

Photos credit: Yen Social

You have to also order their signature in-house whisky dry-aged wagyu ribeye, as well as other speciality cuts such as ox tongue and wagyu intercoastal (rib finger) cubes.

Yen Social
7 Fraser Street, #01-25/26 DUO Galleria, Singapore 189356
Mon-Sat 6pm – 11pm (10pm last order)
Tel: +65 8669 6788

A clever play on the word ‘chateaubriand’—which is a prime tender cut of wagyu—Shatoburian is the most talked-about Japanese yakiniku restaurant in town now. Famed for their extensive menu of prized Hida wagyu cuts, this contemporary Japanese BBQ restaurant is a heaven for wagyu aficionados.

The restaurant sits within Palais Renaissance and is already a regular hangout spot among celebrities, socialites, wagyu connoisseurs and pretty much anyone who wants a good yakiniku meal.

Shatoburian sits on the second level of Palais Renaissance. The elusive restaurant is decked in a predominantly-dark interior with wooden partitions, and it is a cosy, intimate space for any special occasion. You may choose to enjoy your meal at the counter or sit at the tables for your own privacy.

It is wonderful to know that Shatoburian is all about sustainability. Their cattle hail from the Gifu prefecture and the restaurant adopts the nose-to-tail method of importing, hence offering all types of cuts of wagyu on its menu. The culinary team are so confident in their meat quality and flavours that they go easy on the seasoning and artificial flavourings.

You may not know where to start, and we will tell you go to for the Signature Yakiniku Don which comes in three variations—Kurobuta Pork (S$85), Japanese Wagyu Beef (S$118) and Chef’s premium selection of Japanese wagyu beef (S$188).

The Japanese Wagyu Beef Yakiniku Donburi is presented with foie gras, uni, caviar, onsen egg and topped with shaved truffles. Luxurious and indulgent, this heavenly bowl of treasures will make your day, regardless of which variation you go for. This is, hands down, one of the best wagyu donburi in Singapore.

There is this claypot rice dish that is good for sharing, and it is the Truffle Mushroom Gohan (S$98). A mix of French and Japanese mushrooms are cooked to order and topped with shaved truffles—simple but very earthy flavours with a splendid aftertaste of the fragrant truffle.

On the yakiniku menu, you can choose from thin-slice, normal-slice as well as steak cuts.

Our ultimate favourite is definitely the Shato-suki (S$80)!

100g of Sirloin is BBQ-ed over big flames only until medium-rare, leaving the slices of heaven still soft and tender, before it is served in a Japanese raw egg.

Other cuts to love are the Misuji (Oyster blade, S$52), Rib Shin (S$70) and Pork Jowl (S$28), as well as Chateaubriand (S$150)—Shatoburian’s prized cut—which is 120g of the most tender and best cut of the tenderloin.

Most of the meats are available in Shio or Tare (Barbeque sauce) and the steaks are served with Himalayan salt and condiments.

It goes without saying that a meal at Shatoburian doesn’t come cheap. But is it worth splurging on? Definitely! This is the place to head to if you are willing to pay a premium for quality wagyu yakiniku.

Shatoburian
390 Orchard Rd, #02 – 08, Singapore 238871
Tel: +65 6904 3308

Nestled within Emporium Shokuhin in Marina Square, Gyuu+ Yakiniku Grill is Japanese beef heaven. 

Their all-you-can-eat buffet option is available for lunch but the premium a la carte wagyu dinner buffet is what you should be looking out for. Featuring the best of Japanese beef cuts—including succulent beef aged for 14, 21 and 28 days—and other types of fresh meat, seasonal fish and seafood, this is one Japanese barbecue restaurant that will leave you with happy bellies.

Boasting a refined interior with low and warm lighting for a sophisticated ambiance, Gyuu+ Yakiniku Grill’s dark wood theme and personal dry aging room reminds us of high-end yakiniku restaurants in Japan. Yes, this is the place to impress your significant other and business associates.

Signature dishes include A5 Miyazaki Shin, USDA Sirloin Steak, USDA Prime Sirloin, Kurobuta Pork Rosu Steak and Pork Shoulder Tare that are air-flown all the way from Japan, Australia and U.S.A.

If you think all that premium meat sounds heavy on your wallet, rest assured that prices are kept affordable as Gyuu+ Yakiniku Grill leverages on Emporium Shokuhin’s direct sourcing means. Top-notch Japanese beef at lower prices? We are sold.

Seafood lovers are not neglected too—the restaurant gets its selection of live lobsters and crabs from the tanks at Emporium Shokuhin. Tasty a la carte options you have include Hon Maguro Steak (S$18++), Madai Fillet (S$16++), Scallops (S$18++) and Prawns (S$13++).

Mon to Thu: S$98++
Fri to Sun, Eve of PH & PH: S$108++

Gyuu+ Yakiniku Grill
6 Raffles Boulevard
#01-18, Emporium Shokuhin
Marina Square
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 6224 3433
Daily: 11.30am – 3pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: City Hall / Esplanade / Promenade

Niku Katsumata in Ebisu Japan is exclusive for members only but the grilled meat restaurant has since expanded to Singapore shores at Duxton Road. Their menu features yakiniku (grilled meat) and they are best known for their Kagoshima wagyu beef.

Known for offering reasonable prices without compromising on quality, diners at this Japanese restaurant can expect premium beef cuts in their A4 Wagyu Beef Set (S$38++) and A4 Wagyu Donburi (S$25++). What a steal!

Drop by the restaurant after work for a delectable dinner and a range of alcoholic beverages.

For the uninitiated, wagyu is classified into five different grades (from 1 to 5) to rate its meat quality based on various factors with a rating of five being the best. With that being said, you should know that Niku Katsumata’s A4 Wagyu Beef is of a pretty high standard.

Before we begin, the friendly server shared with us about the various cuts of the beef we were going to try. We had our wagyu beef grilled to medium rare doneness on the crystal plate and the tender meat melted in our mouths—it was so good! You cannot leave the place without trying this.

Another affordable option is the A4 Wagyu Donburi (S$25++) which is moist Japanese rice wrapped with Tataki Wagyu and topped with Ikura. Try the wagyu on its own first before pouring in the soup that is given to complement the rice.

There are also condiments at the side to enhance the taste of the wagyu but we think that it is great on its own.

For S$38++, our A4 Wagyu Beef Set came with six pieces of Wagyu beef, rice with beef curry, salad and pickles.

Choose a topping of your choice for the A4 Wagyu Donburi including Caviar, Foie Gras, Ikura and Urchin.

Niku Katsumata
47 Duxton Road
Singapore 089511
Tel: +65 9162 7502
Daily: 5.30pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Tanjong Pagar

Aburiya is a common name that I have always heard from friends when we talk about Japanese BBQ restaurant. Though I am a frequent diner of the restaurants at Robertson Quay, I only found myself stepping in to Aburiya some time recently. And after my dinner, I can understand why Aburiya has its steady flow of customers nightly.

The ala carte menu offers plenty of choices for beef, pork, lamb, chicken, vegetables and seafood, but we recommend opting for the sets – the signature beef set (S$80) comes with an assortment of beef such as prime short rib, tenderloin and skirt; the seafood set (S$75) with prawns, scallops and squid; and the premium wagyu set (S$120) which offers beef tongue, cube-cut steak, skirt and prime short rib.

We started with the Wagyu Jo Karubi (S$21.90). The wagyu prime short rib was good but not life-changing. Next up was the Tan Negi (S$8.90) – beef tongue with Japanese leek – which was gone within minutes. Another of our favourite was the Kurobuta Karuni (S$10.90). We ordered two portions of the pork belly in shio and hot miso sauce. We preferred the latter – the hot miso sauce was spicy and tangy, and it complemented the pork belly very well. We also had the Beef Tenderloin (S$14.90) with taro sauce, Garlic Pork Sausage (S$7.90) and Wagyu Ribeye (S$29.90). While nothing was deliciously arresting, all the meat were well-marinated, tasty and satisfying.

In a nutshell, Aburiya is one of the better Japanese BBQ restaurants in Singapore. It is the kind of place to go for a fun night out with a group of friends to pig out.

Aburiya Yakiniku
#01-03 The Quayside
60 Robertson Quay
Tel: +65 6735 4862
Mon to Sat: 6pm – 11.30pm
Sun & PH: 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay

For more recommendations, read our guide on Japanese Restaurants in Singapore

With so many restaurants lined along the two sides of Lorong Mambong, it’s easy to miss out Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ restaurant if you are new to Holland Village. How many times have I walked past it when I was in the area? Plenty.

I can’t believe that it took me until now to try the Japanese restaurant, but boy am I glad that I finally went there for dinner recently. Gyu Kaku means bull horn in Japanese, but to me, it translates to meat heaven.

Besides Holland Village, the Yakiniku restaurant also has other two branches at Chijmes and UE Square. There’s really nothing better than the sizzling sound of wagyu beef over the red-hot charcoal grill.

The manager suggested the Fuku Set ($179/2pax, $249/3pax, $309/4pax) which comes with assorted kimchee, aburi bacon, choice of salad, assorted mushroom, wagyu fillet steak, wagyu karubi, wagyu rump cap, kurobuta pork collar, duck breast, gindara miso foil grill, ishiyaki mentaiko and a choice of dessert. There is also the Warai set ($149/2pax, $209/3pax, $269/4pax) which is slightly more affordable and comes with choices like lamb chop, wagyu tongue, and wagyu nakaochi.

This is the Horenso Salad at Gyu-Kaku restaurant, which is essentially a Japanese style Spinach salad topped with bacon and creamy sesame dressing. If it was up to me, I’d call this the awesome-Japanese-salad.

After finishing the fantastic salad, we continued with the assorted kimchee, aburi bacon and the Japanese stone grill rice. I wasn’t really paying attention to them, though. I was distracted by the huge plate of wagyu-goodness on the table…

I ate a slice of beef. Two. Three. And then half the plate was gone. It was impossible to slow down. They were so good. Oh my god. A piece of Wagyu fillet steak, a bite of wagyu karubi, a mouthful of wagyu rump cap – I can die without regrets now.

Halfway through the meal, we shifted our focus to the kurobuta pork collar, duck breast and gindara. The grilled cod was not bad, but I felt that it was a distraction from the beef. Who needs cod when you can have wagyu beef? The same goes for kurobuta pork collar and duck breast. Still, everything was gone in a flash. More meat please!

The servings of the Fuku set should be enough for most people, but my brother is a big meat eater, so we ordered more food from the ala carte menu.

If I had eaten the Wagyu Brisket ($13.9/small, $19.9/large) first, it might have tasted fantastic, but there was no turning back after we had the wagyu fillet steak and rump cap.

Even though we already had a lot of meat, it was impossible to resist the 200g Wagyu ribeye steak ($89.9). Our bellies were bursting when we were done with the steak. This is the reason why I can never be a vegetarian.

I was quite amazed that we didn’t smell like BBQ after finishing dinner. The air ventilation of the restaurant was very good; the fumes from the BBQ were ventilated efficiently through the vents. It was also great that the staff came along often to change the grill plate.

Gyu Kaku Japanese BBQ restaurant is not cheap. But it serves good quality meat, and I like the fact that you won’t smell like BBQ after a meal. I will definitely come back when I am craving for wagyu beef.

Singapore Food Blog Review
Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ Restaurant
29 Lorong Mambong
Holland Village
Tel: +65 6466 4001

81 Clemenceau Avenue
#01-18/19 UE Square
Tel: +65 6733 4001

Note: This was an invited media tasting.

For more recommendations, please read my list of Japanese Restaurants in Singapore