Yamato Izakaya: Highly-Rated Unagi Restaurant With Spirited Away Vibes In Tai Seng

Yamato Izakaya is an unagi-specialty restaurant in Tai Seng

Yamato Izakaya has been around since 2018, but we’ve only managed to pay them a visit very recently. Located at the Oxley Bizhub in Tai Seng, they specialise in Japanese fare such as unagi, ramen, teppanyaki, donburi, sushi, sashimi, and yakitori. Don’t let the 10-minute stroll from Tai Seng MRT Station deter you from paying them a visit, though, as what awaits at this Japanese restaurant is well worth the walk.

The family-run restaurant houses two specialised kitchens: Man Man Unagi, dedicated to crafting unagi dishes, and Tora Tora, known for their sushi and Japanese donburi. They’re also highly rated on Google, with over a 4.4 star rating from over 2,000 diners.

Image credit: @yamato_izakaya

Yamato Izakaya boasts a huge dining space that can comfortably accommodate up to 150 patrons. Their alfresco area is also pet-friendly, and comes with beach umbrellas to keep diners shaded from the sun or drizzle.

The restaurant’s interior, decked out with red Japanese paper lanterns, carefully selected cutlery, and a life-sized samurai figure at the entrance, showcases the owner’s attention to detail. It felt as though we had stepped into a scene from Spirited Away, with lively conversations filling the air as diners savoured their meals.

Most of the unagi dishes at Yamato Izakaya utilise the Anguilla Japonica, a Japanese eel from Japan’s West Hamamatsu that’s coveted for its rich, fatty flavour. From the open kitchen, diners can also watch as the chefs skillfully grill the unagi before dipping it into a house-made sauce.

Our dinner kicked off with Umaki ($10.90++), a savoury appetiser comprising soft tamago wrapped over unagi, served with Japanese radish on the side. Here, the richness of the unagi takes centre stage, while the tamago provides a subtle savouriness that complements the eel’s sweet flavour.

Next, we were treated to the Unagi Cheese Maki ($26.90++), a fusion dish where unagi maki is served with four-cheese Hokkaido sauce, and crowned with tobiko.

For a bowl of hearty noodles, order the Unagi Mazesoba ($27.90++). This dish offered a subtle spiciness, complemented by the unagi’s perfectly grilled, crispy skin. It was served with a side of savoury soup to complete the meal.

The highlight of our meal was the Unagi Hitsumabushi, priced at $49.50++ for a large portion. You can savour the unagi in three different ways: as is, with condiments such as sansho pepper powder, or by adding dashi to transform it into an ochazuke. You’re also welcome to experiment and create your own unique combination based on your preferences.

Yamato Izakaya also has an extensive drinks menu, featuring sake priced from $23++ per 300ml bottle. We recommend the Homare Aladdin Yuzu-Infused Sake for something sweet and zesty, or the Homare Strawberry Nigori Sake for unfiltered sake with a dash of strawberry juice. If you’re more of a beer fan, opt for the Sapporo Beer Tower instead, currently available at a promotional price of $49++.

Additionally, you can receive a complimentary salmon head with each order of a large hitsumabushi, subject to availability. To claim this offer, simply flash this post at Yamato Izakaya from now until December 31 2023.

For more good food in Tai Seng, check out Hei Bai Chao for KL Hokkien mee and crispy pork knuckle. You can also read our unagi don food guide for affordable unagi dishes from Unatoto, Una Una and more.

Address: 65 Ubi Road, #01-92, Oxley Bizhub, Singapore 408729
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:30am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm, Sun 11:30am to 3pm, 6pm to 9:30pm
Tel: 6935 2925
Website
Yamato Izakaya is not a halal-certified eatery, but does not use pork, lard, or alcohol.

Photos taken by Faith Chua and edited by Casandra Nicholas.
This was a media tasting at Yamato Izakaya.

Featured image adapted from @yamato_izakaya