I am a complete sucker for Japanese cuisine, period. Be it ramen, curry rice, yakitori or sushi, I want it all. But maki rolls are my ultimate bias. These small cylindrical rolls are so versatile, and pack so much flavour and texture all in one bite. My record is chowing down 12 pieces of maki in one meal in Japan, which earned me a huge food baby and weird stares from my friend. I almost had to roll back to my apartment that night! Since then, I have been on a hunt for the best maki rolls in Singapore that will motivate me to break my record, and here are my top 10 finalists.
Senmi Sushi is located in Emporium Shokuhin, a huge Japanese food and retail outlet that includes a live seafood market, a supermarket and restaurants. Although Giant Chirashi Don ($34++) is what we commonly see while scrolling through Emporium Shokuhin’s location tag on Instagram, their Dynamite Maki ($15++ for eight pieces) is our pick of the day. A thin slice of torched A5 wagyu beef is wrapped around seasoned sushi rice, which houses seaweed, avocado, ebi fry and cheese. Sprinkled with tempura bits and drizzled with Senmi’s secret sauce, this truly is the bomb diggity.
Address: 6 Raffles Boulevard, #01-18, Marina Square, Singapore 039594
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10pm
Tel: 6812 2179
Website
If I had to pick my favourite from Barashi-Tei’s menu, it would be Spicy Salmon Maki ($12.80++ for eight pieces). Each mouthful is a burst of umami, with lightly-torched salmon, creamy mentaiko sauce with a slightly spicy kick and crunchy ebi fry in the centre of each maki. Head down ASAP with your friends for late-night supper, and order two portions if you don’t wish to quarrel with them over one maki.
Check out our full review of Barashi-Tei.
Address: 266 Middle Road, Elias Building, Singapore 188991
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am to 3pm, 6pm to 4am, Sun 11am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm
Tel: 6837 0506
A few years back, I was dining at Wisma Atria’s Food Republic and wondering why a queue was forming outside Koh Grill Sushi & Bar – now I know. Shiok Maki Version One ($16.80++ for eight pieces) propelled this Japanese sushi bar to fame, and although it has been around for some time now, people still rave endlessly about it. Unagi and avocado are tightly wrapped in sushi rice, topped with aburi salmon, ebiko and the star of this dish – a creamy and cheesy sauce that’s super shiok!
Check out other places in Singapore that serve aburi sushi.
Address: 435 Orchard Road, #04-21, Wisma Atria Shopping Centre, Singapore 238877
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10pm
Tel: 9180 3805 (SMS for reservations)
I first came to know Tanuki Raw by watching countless Boomerangs of the wobbly egg in their Truffle Yakiniku Donburi ($14.90++). If you’re one of those who pay them a visit just for that beef bowl, be sure to get a plate of Tanuki Aburi Maki ($14.90++ for eight pieces) too. Sushi rice wrapped around a centre of snow crab, unagi, cucumber and avocado is topped with salmon and scallop. Spicy mayo is generously spread on top, and torched for that smoky flavour. Finished with bonito flakes, I personally prefer this maki over their rice bowls.
Address: 181 Orchard Road, #04-01, Orchard Central, Singapore 238896
Opening hours: Daily 11:30 am to 10:30pm (last order at 9:30pm for food, 10:15pm for drinks)
Tel: 6636 5949
Website
Menu
Full list of outlets
Popping an entire piece of Soft Shell Crab Salmon Aburi ($18.90++ for eight pieces) from The Sushi Bar into your mouth is no easy task, because each maki is huge! Crispy soft shell crab and creamy avocado forms the interior of this sushi, and topped with a slice of aburi salmon. Make a reservation ahead to avoid the long queue!
Address: 391B Orchard Road, #05-34/35, Ngee Ann City, Singapore 238874
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 9:45pm
Tel: 8818 3535
Website
Menu
Full list of outlets
Exuding a hipster vibe, The Flying Squirrel at Amoy Street is full of mystery with its hidden entrance, tiny square windows and brick walls – just like Diagon Alley’s entrance in the Harry Potter books. TFS Signature Maki ($26++ for six pieces) is an assortment of maki with different toppings, and it makes a great appetiser. Every piece will be a pleasant surprise!
Address: 92 Amoy Street, #01-02, Singapore 069911
Opening hours: Mon-Thur 11am to 11pm, Fri 11am to 12am, Sat 12:30pm to 12am
Tel: 6226 2203
Website
Menu
Kinsa Sushi adds a healthy touch to maki with purple rice. Hotate Mentai ($17.80++ for six pieces) features crab stick and avocado folded in purple rice, topped with aburi hotate (scallop) mentai and deep fried radish. This vibrant purple maki deserves a spot on your Instagram feed!
Address: 4 Hillview Rise, #02-02, HillV2, Singapore 669320
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am to 3pm, 5:30pm to 10pm, Sat-Sun 11:30am to 10pm
Tel: 6710 7278
Website
Menu
Kinki Restaurant + Bar says groove with their cool floor art and graffiti. Aside from their hip ambience, the contemporary Japanese dishes that they serve are bound to please your taste buds. Skip the usual and dig into Foie Gras Unagi Maki ($32++ for two pieces). Coated in a lightly-flavoured sauce, foie gras and unagi is rolled tightly in sushi rice and topped with crispy potato floss. This dish, albeit pricey, is worth every cent.
Address: 70 Collyer Quay, #02-02, Customs House, Singapore 049323
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm to 2:30pm, 6pm to 10:30pm, PH 6pm to 10:30pm
Tel: 6533 3471
Website
Menu
Hana Japanese Restaurant is the first place I’d visit if I want to watch some wingardium leviosa happen in real life. Famous for their eye-catching flying noodles, they pride themselves in their unique food presentation. Think dishes in transparent boxes, drawers and even dim sum baskets. As gimmicky as it sounds, they do serve some a delicious fare. Hana Signature Maki ($20++ for six pieces) features three thick layers of salmon coated generously with Hana’s signature sauce and a touch of ebiko.
Check out our full review of Hana Japanese Restaurant.
Address: 583 Orchard Road, #01-17, Forum The Shopping Mall, Singapore 238884
Opening hours: Daily 11:30am to 10pm
Tel: 6737 5525
Website
Perched at the top of People’s Park Complex, Lepark is a great place to lepak with your friends at. While rocking to live electronic getai music, munch on Poached Chicken Sushi ($8 for six pieces) – chicken rice ball topped with Hainanese poached chicken, a dollop of house-made chicken rice chilli sauce and egg floss, all held together by a strip of seaweed.
Check out other live music bars in Singapore or places with Singaporean sushi.
Address: 1 Park Road, Level 6, People’s Park Complex, Singapore 059108
Opening hours: Tue-Thur 4pm to 11pm, Sat 12pm to 12am, Sun 12pm to 10pm
Tel: 6908 5809
Website | Menu
If you happen to watch a maki-eating competition in the future, the champion might just be me. If there are other must-try maki rolls we should know of, do leave a comment below. In the meantime, get rolling with me and give these 10 maki rolls a try!
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