As far as comfort food goes, grilled meat skewers a.k.a Yakitori is definitely on our list. Masterfully cooked and grilled to tender, smoky perfection using special Japanese charcoal, yakitori will always have a special place in our hearts.

From cosy Japanese izakaya bars to unassuming joints located in the centre of a park, we suss out the best spots to get your fix of authentic Japanese skewers. Here is our list of the best yakitori joints in Singapore.

BIRDERS

Birders is a contemporary yakitori and sake bar opened by ex-actor Adam Chen. It serves yakitori and a finely curated list of imported sake from Japan. Diners get to choose from a range of yakitori and your food is grilled over charcoal upon order.

In contrast to other yakitori bars that are rather dark, you would be greeted by a warmly-lit restaurant interior that is just so inviting. Sit by the bar with your partner so you can watch the chefs in action.

50 Keong Saik Rd, Singapore 089154
Tel: +65 8748 4585
Mon to Thu: 1pm – 3pm, 6pm – 12am
Fri & Sat: 1pm – 3pm, 6pm – 1am
Nearest Station: Outram Park

CHIKIN

Opened by the owners of Sum Yi Tai, Chikin is an unassuming bar which specialises in clever cocktail infusions, comforting Japanese eats as well as Szechuan mala yakitori—the first of its kind.

Combining traditional Japanese methods with mouth-watering Szechuan flavours, Chikin offers a repertoire of lip-smacking skewers that go excellently well with a beer, cocktail or both.

6 Bukit Pasoh Road,
Singapore 089820
Tel: +65 6910 2742
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 5pm – 12am
Sat: 6pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Outram Park

FIVE IZAKAYA BAR

A hot spot for thrifty tipplers, this popular watering hole—known for their wallet-friendly S$5 tipples—houses some really rock-solid Japanese-inspired bar grub. Besides the conventional truffle fries and chicken wings, we highly recommend giving their yakitori or kushiyaki skewers a go.

5 Changi Business Park Central 1
#01-66/67 Changi City Point
Singapore 486038
Tel: +65 6604 8255
Mon to Sat: 12pm – 12am
Sun: 3pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Expo

GAN YAKITORI

While this unassuming joint is highly patronised for their affordable happy-hour oysters, the real draw is their yakitori. From the typical chicken skewers to more indulgent skewer offerings, there is bound to be something for you and your mates to enjoy.

1 Vista Exchange Green, #02-20
The Star Vista
Singapore 138617
Tel: +65 6694 0660
Mon to Thu: 11am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 3.30pm, 5.30pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Buona Vista

KIMOTO GASTRO BAR

Kimoto Gastro Bar is a quaint little Japanese kushiyaki bar at The Sail @ Marina Bay that offers pretty traditional Japanese bites at a fairly affordable price point.

They serve up an exciting array of caramelised, gorgeously charred kushiyaki (grilled skewers) pleasures along with a decent selection of small plates, salads, donburi and tempura.

6 Marina Boulevard
#01-15 The Sail @ Marina Bay
Singapore 018987
(Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest Station: Downtown

SHIN MINORI

Besides a stellar array of sashimi, sushi, tempura and other heavier options, what we absolutely dig at Shin Minori is their yakitori skewers.

Aside from the conventional chicken meat and offal skewers, the restaurant offers a diverse range that features the likes of grilled quail eggs, grilled bacon-wrapped asparagus and grilled mackerel.

#02-08, 88 East Coast Road
Katong Square
Singapore 428788
Tel: +65 6483 3273
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Sun: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Eunos

SHIROKANE TORI-TAMA

Tokyo-based restaurant, Shirokane Tori-Tama is where you will likely find a larger clientele of Japanese expats eating, drinking and being merry. This homey joint specialises mainly in chicken skewers and they make it a point to use every part of the bird from the heart to the gizzard to even its spleen—yikes!

The restaurant is equipped with a grill imported from Japan and they use bincho white charcoal from the Tosa prefecture to cook all their meats.

11 Unity Street,
Robertson Walk
Singapore 237995
Tel: +65 6836 5680
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Sat: 6pm – 11pm
Nearest Station: Clarke Quay / Fort Canning

TSUKIJI FISH MARKET RESTAURANT

Tori-Sho is yet another concept within Tsukiji Fish Market specialising in an extensive range of chicken-centric dishes. Look forward to new offerings by Tori-Sho Chicken such as the Chiritori Nabe, or opt for their classic smoky, charcoal-grilled Yakitori.

The Tori-Sho Chicken menu also includes an extensive variety of yakitori, such as the usual chicken thigh, wing and fillet section, as well as the more acquired innards and soft bone.

With prices starting from just S$2.20 per skewer, we’d understand why it is so difficult to say no to these delightful sticks of goodness.

181 Orchard Road, #12-02
Orchard Central
Singapore 238896
Tel: +65 6634 2803
Daily : 12pm – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Sat & Sun High Tea: 3pm – 5pm
Nearest Station: Somerset

TORIYARD

ToriYard is a yakitori joint opened by actress-turned-business owner Jazreel Low. The menu is curated and designed by Tokyo native, Chef Hasegawa Isao, who has had close to 40 years of culinary experience in Japan, France and Malaysia.

For lunch, there are a total of 10 chicken-focused yakitori options to choose from with more varieties available during dinner. Our personal favourites include the Chicken Wing, Chicken Tail as well as the Chicken Skin.

1380 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1
Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park
Singapore 569930
Tel: +65 9296 5988
(Closed on Tuesdays)
Mon, Wed to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sat: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 11pm
Sun: 11am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Ang Mo Kio / Bishan

YATAGARASU

Located along Circular Road, Yatagarasu is a quaint little eatery devoted to serving up authentic Japanese chargrilled meat skewers. Besides the usual skewers, you can expect a pretty impressive selection of 10 innovative pork belly-wrapped creations here as well ranging from enoki mushroom to curry rice.

72 Circular Road, #01-01
Singapore 049426
Tel: +65 6221 7785
Mon to Fri: 10.30am – 2pm, 6pm – 12am
Sat & Sun: 6pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Raffles Place

Read: 17 Japanese Restaurants in Singapore for every budget.

Located along Circular Road is newly-opened Yatagarasu, a quaint little eatery devoted to serving up authentic Japanese chargrilled meat skewers.

Besides the usual skewers you would expect to find at most yakitori joints, you can expect a pretty impressive selection of 10 innovative pork belly-wrapped creations here as well ranging from enoki mushroom to curry rice..

This unassuming yakitori joint along Circular Road makes for a good, robust meal with your mates before you pop over just a few steps away to the boat quay area for a tipple or two.

Although small and pretty hard to notice from the outside, the establishment is homely; small and cosy with minimal decor. The dining area features a long bar counter and an open concept kitchen in which diners can watch as the chef works his magic and indulge in the scent of perfectly grilled meats.

Freshness and quality are taken very seriously here, which is why every individual skewer is prepared fresh whenever an order comes in.

During dinner service, the menu is kept relatively straightforward with yakitori playing a more upfront role, but they also have a large variety of side dishes you can add into your mix to make for a more substantial meal.

We went for a variety of chicken yakitori parts such as the usual, more forgiving thigh, wing and fillet section, as well as some odd ends such as the liver, heart and soft bone. Prices start from S$2.50 per stick.

We highly recommend the chicken thigh as it is much more tender and juicy as opposed to the fillet. However, despite the fillet being a tad bit dryer in texture, it came with a citrusy, almost yuzu-like garnish which really brightened the dish up.

If you happen to adore the gamy, iron-like flavour of liver then you should definitely go for the chicken liver. Cooked medium, the liver exudes a charred and crispy exterior, whilst maintaining a smooth and velvety interior which literally melts in your mouth.

The chicken heart, on the other hand, was pretty darn amazing too. Crispy on the outside, it had a nice chew which was a good contrast to the melty liver.

Having read so many reviews about their pork belly wraps, we could not resist trying them. We opted for the Curry Rice (S$6) which was essentially a compact ball of Japanese curry rice wrapped in strips of pork belly.

It arrived with an additional ladle of curry and a generous sprinkling of pickles. In terms of taste, it was decent but nothing worth shouting about, although we have to give the chef props for his creativeness.

Yatagarasu
72 Circular Road, #01-01
Singapore 049426
Tel: +65 6221 7785
(Closed on Sundays)
Mon to Sat: 6pm – 12am
Nearest Station: Raffles Place