When I think of delicious Japanese food, expensive omakase and Michelin-starred restaurants come to mind. Having worked with food for a while, I realised that Singapore has legit Japanese restaurants at affordable price points. If you’re on a budget, here’s a comprehensive guide to cheap Japanese food in Singapore.
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CBD-goers are lucky to have Onori, a new Japanese eatery at Far East Square serving up handrolls from $3.50+. Prices are affordable here, but the ingredients are promised to be of good quality, including premium uni, unagi, and snow crab. A set of three costs $11.90+, but you can also get them a la carte. For starters, the Unagi Kabayaki ($5.50+) features a sweet-savoury grilled unagi that’s of the same size as the tamagoyaki, all wrapped in Japanese nori and finished with toasted sesame seeds. If you don’t mind spending a little more, the Hotate w Uni Paste ($7+) is a great choice for textural variety; you get a mix of buttery scallops, smooth uni paste, chewy jellyfish, crispy flying fish roe, and crunchy rice cracker balls.
Read our Onori feature.
Address: 135 Amoy Street, #01-03, Far East Square, Singapore 049964
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 8pm, Sat 11:30am to 2:30pm
Tel: 6298 2236
Website
Onori is not a halal-certified eatery.
You can imagine our excitement when we found $3.90 ramen and soba at Chinatown Complex. Uma Haus is where you can enjoy these cheap deals, such as the Signature Tonkotsu Ramen ($6.90) that comes in four different soup bases: Original, Spicy, Black Garlic Oil, and Prawn Oil. If you’re there for the cheapest item, AKA the $3.90 meal, ask for a bowl of Abura Dry Ramen. It features noodles tossed in a smoky oil, then topped with shallots, minced pork, and spring onions.
Read our Uma Haus feature.
Address: 335 Smith Street, #02-118, Chinatown Complex, Singapore 050335
Opening hours:
Tel: 9777 7696
Website
Uma Haus is not a halal-certified eatery.
HARU-HARU is a Japanese stall at Bras Basah Complex that doles up XL mentaiko pork katsu curry and more under $15. There are more than 10 items on the menu, ranging from the most affordable Chicken Katsu Don ($8.90) to the crowd-favourite Pork Katsu Don ($9.90). If you don’t mind spending more, get their Premium Pork Katsu Don ($13.90) to try since you’re already there. Another value-for-money option is the Mentai Ebi Fry Curry ($13.90) if you prefer seafood to meat. FYI, you can request the mentaiko mayo sauce to be served on the side to dip instead.
Check out our Haru-Haru feature.
Address: 231 Bain Street, #01-79, Bras Basah Complex, Singapore 180231
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9:30pm
Website
HARU-HARU is not a halal-certified eatery.
Run by a Japanese couple is Reiwa Soba, where you can find soba dishes made with 100% buckwheat soba, all prepared in-house. They serve their soba both hot and cold, priced at $11+. You can also opt to enjoy your soba with additional toppings, from Kakiage ($3.80+) to an Onsen Egg ($2+). But the best way to enjoy your soba is by ordering a platter of Buckwheat Flour Tempura Toppings ($7+), which includes a fish, a prawn, and two vegetables.
Check out our Reiwa Soba review.
Address: Blk 740 Bedok Reservoir Road, #01-3177, Singapore 470740
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 11:30am to 3pm, 5:30pm to 9:30pm
Tel: 8762 2088
Website
Reiwa Soba is not a halal-certified eatery.
Ramen Taisho used to be a hawker stall at Maxwell Food Centre but has since become a fully fledged eatery at Le Quest Shopping Mall. The owner spent three years in and out of Japan, mastering the art of ramen making, so you can expect really good ramen here.
Their expertise shines in the Black Tonkotsu Ramen ($9.80), which sees a combination of creamy pork bone broth and umami-laden black garlic oil. Aside, they also have a Black Tsukemen ($8.80), where noodles are dipped into a black garlic sauce served on the side.
Read our Ramen Taisho review.
Address: 91 Hillview Link, #02-K1, Le Quest Shopping Mall, Singapore 669723
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11am to 8pm
Tel: 8886 3228
Website
Ramen Taisho is not a halal-certified eatery.
Located in Clementi is Kinobe, perfect for those looking to enjoy elevated Japanese donburi bowls without breaking the bank. Try their Wagyu Don ($13), which comprises fluffy pearl rice topped with well-marinated slices of fatty Wagyu, which is then crowned with an oozing onsen egg. The Butadon ($6.50) is equally scrumptious, with fatty strips of pork conferring a meaty aroma. Pair that with the creamy egg, and you’ll be sure to love this dish.
Read our Kinobe review.
Address: 727 Clementi West Street 2, #01-294, S11 Coffeeshop, Singapore 120727
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 9pm
Tel: 8779 1844
Website
Kinobe is not a halal-certified eatery.
Brothers Ramen may sport an unassuming storefront, but the joint attracts long queues even before it opens. Here you can get bowls of value-for-money yet delectable ramen! The signature Brothers Ramen ($14.90++) is also a popular choice among customers, which features all the ramen staples: springy noodles, tender chashu pork, and soft bamboo shoots. For a dry version, go straight for the Megamen Dry ($14.90++), starring ajitsuke tamago and shredded seaweed some key ingredients.
Read our Brother’s Ramen review.
Address: 10 Anson Road, #01-20 International Plaza, Singapore 079903
Opening hours: Mon-Tues, Thurs-Fri 11:30am to 2:30pm, 6pm to 7:45pm, Wed, Sat 11:30am to 2:30pm
Website
Brothers Ramen is not a halal-certified eatery.
Buta Kin puts expensive ramen shops to shame. Their soup base is impressive, boiled for hours with pork and chicken bones. Get the Special Tonkotsu Ramen ($8), which features three thick slices of chashu. Each slice is melt-in-the-mouth, highlighting a golden ratio of fat to meat. If you prefer some heat in your ramen, their Tonkotsu Red Ramen ($6.70) makes for a good alternative. You can opt for udon instead of ramen if that’s your preferred choice of carbs!
Read our Buta Kin review.
Address: 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #04-28, Beauty World Food Centre, Singapore 588177
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 9:10pm, Sat-Sun 9:30am to 9:10pm
Tel: 8661 6028
Website
Buta Kin is not a halal-certified eatery.
At Kazan Japanese Cuisine, you can expect cheap Japanese food that’s both good in quality and generously portioned. You’ll be hard-pressed to find anywhere that serves Unagi Set with such an impressive portion at just $10. The unagi is steeped in a rich teriyaki sauce and broiled until it’s tender. Their Oyakodon ($7) is another noteworthy option, with a chicken katsu cutlet drenched in an onion and egg sauce.
Read our Kazan Japanese Cuisine review.
Address: 335 Smith Street, #02-01, Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, Singapore 050335
Opening hours: Sun-Fri 12pm to 3pm, 5:30pm to 8:30pm
Tel: 8455 5229
Kazan Japanese Cuisine is not a halal-certified eatery.
Portions at Konomi Zen are huge. At just $6, the Salmon Bento Set gives you a gigantic slice of salmon, seared to a nice char. Their Tendon ($5) features a combination of seafood and vegetable tempura nested on fluffy Japanese rice. It’s further topped with tempura bits for extra crispness. Alternatively, there’s Katsu Don ($3.50) for a hearty, wallet-friendly option.
Read our Konomi Zen review.
Address: 628 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 4, #01-59, Ang Mo Kio 628 Market & Food Centre, Singapore 560628
Opening hours: Tue-Fri 11am to 2pm, 4:30pm to 7pm
Tel: 6901 1873
Konomi Zen is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you’re nearby the CBD, head to Gyunion for cheap Japanese rice bowls. Their Gyu-don, for instance, costs $11.50 and features heaps of beef slices cooked in a sweet shoyu sauce. Chicken Curry Don ($8.90) is another noteworthy selection, with a generous portion of curried chicken chunks. FYI, there are noodle dishes here too!
Read our Gyunion review.
Address: 138 Robinson Road, #02-03, Oxley Tower, Singapore 068906
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 11:45am to 6:15pm, Fri 11:45am to 7:45pm
Website
Gyunion is a Muslim-owned eatery.
Mentai-Ya churns out 400 to 600 bowls of mentai don daily, using up to 60kg of short-grain rice each day. Their Salmon Mentai Don ($9.80) is a must-try, slathered with a buttery mentaiko sauce that’s blended in-house. For curry fans, consider one of these three choices: Ebi Curry Don ($8.80), Beef Curry Don ($9.80), or Chicken Katsu Curry Don ($8.80).
Read our Mentai-ya review.
Website | Full list of outlets
Mentai-ya is not a halal-certified eatery.
LILYAN, Tokyo’s renowned soba restaurant, opened its first Singapore outlet at Boat Quay last year. They’ve got a few affordable options on their menu, including Kake ($12++), a hot soba dish with dashi soup, and Mori ($12++), a cold soba dish with traditional tsuyu dipping. If you’re willing to spend a little more, we recommend the Toriten ($22+). This dish sees cold buckwheat noodles served with a side of grated daikon, tsuyu, and chicken tempura.
Read our LILYAN review.
Address: 38 Circular Road, Singapore 049394
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5:30pm to 11pm
Tel: 9088 3117
Website
LILYAN is not a halal-certified eatery.
Kuro Kare serves up cheap Japanese food at SMU and NUS. The establishment is run by ex-fine dining chefs who have earned their chops at renowned restaurants such as Meta and Fleurette. It’s all about their signature 36-hour slow-cooked curry here, prepared with over 25 ingredients. You get this alongside your choice of protein, a side of furikake-topped pearl grain rice, and some house-made pickles. The KFC: Kuro Fried Chicken Curry (from $9.90) is a good choice if you’d like to try the curry! For a vibrant rice bowl with a bit of everything, we recommend the Enoki & Corn Tempura Donburi (from $6.50), which comes topped with an onsen egg.
Read our Kuro Kare review.
SMU outlet
Address: 80 Stamford Road, #B1-65, SMU, School of Information Systems, Singapore 178902
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 8pm
NUS outlet
Address: 3A Engineering Drive 2, Level 2, NUS, Techno Edge, Singapore 117275
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11am to 7:30pm
Website
Kuro Kare is not a halal-certified eatery.
Butahage is a renowned Hokkaido restaurant that specialises in grilled pork donburi bowls, AKA butadon. They returned to Singapore with two outlets, one at Suntec City and another at Tampines’ Century Square, both serving up the brand’s signature dish, prepared with different grades of pork. Get the Obihiro Meibutsu Butadon, priced from $11.80++ for the regular size. You get Canadian pork that’s charcoal grilled and marinated with their secret tare, served atop delicious Hokkaido rice.
Read our Butahage review.
Website | Full list of outlets
Butahage is not a halal-certified eatery.
Tori Sanwa, a renowned Japanese oyakodon chain boasting a heritage that spans more than a century, now has a few outlets scattered across Singapore. The Nagoya restaurant is known for their chicken dishes, from oyakodon to their award-winning karaage. You definitely have to try their Aburi Oyako Don ($14.90++) for a unique take on the classic dish. Here, the chicken thigh pieces get scorched by a flame torch before serving, adding extra depth and smokiness to each spoonful.
Read our Tori Sanwa review.
Website | Full list of outlets
Tori Sanwa is not a halal-certified eatery.
Highly rated and raved about Yoshiya is a gem in Balestier. Tucked away on the second floor of Shaw Plaza, they’re known for their wallet-friendly donburi bowls and sashimi sets, as well as their lunchtime specials. Items are typically below $15+ here and are generously portioned. Their Chicken Katsu Don ($10.80+), for example, comes with a huge slab of well-fried chicken cutlet, served with seasoned rice, while the Salmon Mentaiyaki Don ($12.80+) features a generous drizzle of creamy mentaiko sauce atop a huge piece of fried salmon.
Address: Balestier Road, #02-13/14, Shaw Plaza, Singapore 329783
Opening hours: Daily 12pm to 9pm
Tel: 6539 9219
Yoshiya is not a halal-certified eatery.
There are plenty of cheap Japanese restaurants in Singapore, but finding a halal-certified option may not be the easiest. The Ramen Stall is one we personally can vouch for—the halal ramen joint along North Bridge Road has quite an extensive menu, with most of its items coming in under $15. Spicy ramen lovers will have a field day here, with the likes of their Mala Ramen ($14.90++) and Volcano Ramen ($13.90++). Aside from noodle dishes, the eatery also sells maki rolls and fresh sashimi. The best part is that The Ramen Stall opens till 1am on most days, and even till 2am on selected days!
Read our The Ramen Stall review.
Address: 787 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198755
Opening hours: Sun-Thurs 11am to 1am, Fri-Sat 11am to 2am
Tel: 6655 0800
Website
The Ramen Stall is a halal-certified eatery.
Another must-try cheap Japanese food spot is Fukudon. The eatery began in 2020 and has been going strong since, with their wide array of wallet-friendly donburi bowls, including the popular Pork Belly Katsu Don ($7.50). Some of the items here aren’t super conventionally Japanese but are definitely healthy picks, great for a quick and protein-packed lunch. One of our favourite bowls is the Sous Vide Chicken Don ($6.80), served with an onsen egg and edamame.
Read our Fukudon review.
Address: 84 Marine Parade Central, #01-48, Promenade Market, Singapore 440084
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 8pm
Tel: 9382 9948
Website
Fukudon is not a halal-certified eatery.
If you live in the East and you’re looking for cheap Japanese food, swing by Our Tampines Hub’s Ippon Fusion Bowl. If you can’t decide what to get, we recommend starting easy with the Ippon Dry Ramen (from $7.50) or Ippon Pork Rice (from $7.50). Otherwise, consider the Spicy Dry Ramen (from $6.80) for a fiery, punchy kick.
Read our Ippon Fusion Bowl review.
Address: 1 Tampines Walk, #01-72, Our Tampines Hub Hawker Centre, Singapore 528523
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 11:30am to 2:30pm, 5pm to 8pm
Website
Ippon Fusion Bowl is not a halal-certified eatery.
Quality Japanese meals and affordable prices are not mutually exclusive, with our list of cheap Japanese food places. For other Japanese food guides, check out the best Japanese bakeries in Singapore. We also have a guide to the best Japanese cafes, where you can have loaded sando, matcha on tap and more.