If you’re a fan of Japanese cuisine, this is one food festival you won’t want to miss. From now till 6 July 2025, head down to Waterway Point to experience the Isetan Hanabi Matsuri food fair, where you’ll get to indulge in a wide spread of sweet and savoury treats, some even flown in directly from Japan.
We started strong with the award-winning chicken karaage from Higo Marunoya—they won Japan’s Kumamoto Fried Chicken Championship for four years straight!
It comes in three flavours, all priced at $7.95 for 100g. Pick from the likes of Spicy, Original, and Sweet-Sour; the former reminded us of Korean fried chicken coated in gochujang—bold, sweet, and spicy all at once.
The Sweet-Sour version was our favourite for good reason: it was delightfully crispy on the outside and tender within, with a piquant flavour from the sticky sauce.
Since we’ve already tried the takoyaki from Nakayama Shokuhin when we visited the fair last year, we went for the Spring Onion Hashimaki ($6) instead, featuring a chewy Japanese pancake wrapped around a pair of chopsticks.
The pancake was absolutely delicious. It was crispy on the edges and loaded with strips of crunchy onion for added texture. The sweet and creamy Japanese mayo drizzled atop the pancake tied everything together, balancing out the savoury richness of the batter with a touch of tang.
Next, we tried the Roast Wagyu Beef Burger ($14) from Niku Niku Butchery. Though we found the Wagyu juicy and tender, the smaller-than-expected size of the burger was a let-down.
Then, move on to the sweets at Shiroyama Gelato Shaved Ice, which has Japanese shaved ice in Ichigo ($14), Yuzu ($13), and Muscat ($13) flavours.
The former comes with layers of rich whipped cream, sweet-tangy strawberry shaved ice, and creamy vanilla gelato sitting on a bed of crunchy cornflakes.
Matcha fanatics may have heard of Matcha An. Their Signature Uji Matcha Cheesecake ($29) features an earthy matcha cake that’s baked with cream cheese for added richness.
Round off your visit at Coco Gelato, starring gelato that’s flown straight from Japan. Prices start at $7 for a single scoop and $9 for a double, with premium flavours going for an extra $1 or $2.
A must-try flavour is the Furano King Rock Melon ($8)—creamy, refreshing, and not overly sweet.
Before you leave, don’t forget to pick up a few Japanese treats for your loved ones at home, such as the Shiroyama Mochi ($5 for 10) in Pear, Muscat, and Orange flavours.
Isetan Hanabi Matsuri Japanese Food Festival is located in Waterway Point, a three-minute walk from Punggol MRT Station Exit A.
Check out our review on Instagram!
In related content, read our guide to the best cheap Japanese food in Singapore for food under $15++. Alternatively, Kyoto Ramen Hachicken in Chinatown has ramen for just $4.90++.
Address: 83 Punggol Central, Level 1 Village Square, West Wing, Waterway Point, Singapore 828761
Opening hours: Tue 12pm to 9pm (24 July), Sun-Thurs 10:30am to 9pm, Fri-Sat 10:30am to 9:30pm (25 June to 5 July), Sun 10:30am to 7pm (6 July)
Website
Isetan’s Hanabi Matsuri is not a halal-certified fair.
Photos taken by Nabila Malek.
This was an independent visit by Eatbook.sg
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