The Best Yakiniku in Orchard with the Most Tender Meat Cuts
The Japanese term “yakiniku” means “grilled meat,” and grilling bite-sized pieces of meat at the table has become a favourite dining style among Singaporeans. Luckily, there are plenty of restaurants here with a unique take on this delicious grilling tradition.
It’s a great way to ease your hunger pangs when you’ve been shopping all day, so enjoy discovering the best yakiniku spots on Orchard Road with this guide.
Gyu-Kaku
Address: 176 Orchard Road, The Centrepoint
Contact: +6568384001
Hours: Daily, 11.30 AM–10 PM
Price: $$
Gyu-Kaku has a great ambience for a relaxing dinner and brisk service. The servers offer grilling advice so we don’t end up with burnt fare.
I love coming here for the Wagyu beef. The marbling has consistently been good.
I highly recommend the Australian beef brisket. It’s tender and tasty. Also, the beef tongue has an excellent texture after grilling with none of the gaminess you’d come to expect from this type of meat.
You can opt for a mix of a la carte and buffet items if you wish. The restaurant also offers free-flow dishes like kimchi, takoyaki, and potato mochi, but be careful not to over-order so you can save room.
Pro-tip: Use the convenient QR code for add-on items.
Yakiniku Like
Address: 313@Somerset
Contact: +6569204860
Hours: Daily, 11 AM–10 PM
Price: $
At Yakiniku Like, I tried the weekday lunch value set for under S$10, and it was totally worth it. I ordered the karubi (short rib) set, and the meat was so tender when grilled.
The sauces are amazing and elevate the dining experience–the butter garlic was so good I almost drank it. Also worth trying are the scallops, abalone, Hokkaido pork, and A5 beef.
The self-service grill is admittedly a bit small, but it’s fine for dining alone or with a friend.
Pro-tip: To stay on theme, there’s grilled mochi for dessert. Try it!
Yakinikutei Ao-Chan
Address: 100 Orchard Rd, Concorde Hotel
Contact: +6567356457
Hours: Monday to Friday, noon–2.30 PM and 6–10.30 PM
Price: $$
For a luxe yakiniku experience, I head to Yakinikutei Ao-Chan. I always go for the belly tender prime for its perfect marbling and succulent bite.
The ox tongue adds a nice crunch, and the Japanese pork belly tastes like savoury sweet satay after grilling. The karubi (rib section) beef is so good you’ll want more than one plate.
For carbs to accompany all that protein, get the garlic rice. It’s enough to satisfy two hungry diners!
Pro-tip: There’s free-flowing Japanese tea to cleanse your palate.
Yakiniquest
Address: 333A Orchard Rd Mandarin Gallery
Contact: +6562234129
Hours: Daily, noon–3 PM and 6–10.30 PM
Price: $$$
At Yakiniquest, the meats are top-notch. You’ll taste the quality right away. The Omi beef comes with a certificate proving it’s A-5 grade. You can actually ask to see it!
They serve different cuts of Wagyu depending on the season and doneness. It’s pricey but worth it.
The waiters can handle the grilling so you can’t mess it up (my greatest fear!), and they know exactly how to do it right. I like how the dinner was paced so we didn’t feel rushed, and even while grilling, the waiter took the time to explain the meat and process to us!
Pro-tip: Pairing the meal with sake helps cut through the fat and cleanses the palate between dishes.
Shatoburian
Address: 390 Orchard Road, Palais Renaissance
Contact: +6569043308
Hours: Monday to Saturday, noon–2.30 PM and 6–10 PM
Price: $$$
At Shatoburian, I always go for the Chateaubriand (premium beef tenderloin cut and where the restaurant got its name) and signature yakiniku don with A5 Wagyu beef. They’re always tender and juicy, and make me regret not having a bottomless stomach.
It’s worth noting that Shatoburian prioritises sustainability by sourcing cattle from Gifu Prefecture and offering a diverse menu with various Wagyu cuts, following a nose-to-tail approach. I like this.
The Yakiniku don, with cubed foie gras, sea urchin, caviar, onsen egg, and truffles, is an umami bomb when mixed together. And the black sesame ice cream is a great palate cleanser with just the right kind of refreshing sweetness.
Pro-tip: Posh black leather sofas, classy wooden tables, and dim lighting make this a perfect date spot.
Tokyo Yakiniku Heijoen Takashimaya
Address: 391 Orchard Rd, Ngee Ann City
Contact: +6566341411
Hours: Monday to Friday, 11 AM–3 PM and 6–10 PM; Saturday to Sunday, 11 AM–3 PM and 5–10 PM
Price: $$
If you’re a lover of Japanese Wagyu yakiniku, I’m betting you’ll have a fantastic time at Tokyo Yakiniku Heijoen Takashimaya. For something offering premium meat cuts, it can understandably be intimidating at first.
But its exclusive daily limited lunch set offers a variety of cuts all on one platter—an amazing deal for anyone who hasn’t tried authentic Wagyu from Japan!
While there, I also recommend trying the cube fillet, deluxe karubi (beef short ribs), and salted beef tongue. They’re all tender and juicy.
Pro-tip: The place also has a small portions menu if you’re a light eater.
Kai Yakitori
Address: 150 Orchard Rd, Orchard Plaza
Contact: +658838 0661
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 6.30–10.30 PM
Price: $$
This place offers authentic yakitori, at least according to my Singaporean taste buds. I highly recommend the tori negi (chicken thigh with leek). The chicken is soft and juicy, and the leek enhances the binchotan charcoal aroma.
Kai Yakitori’s chicken oyster blade was a delightful surprise with its crispy skin and succulent meat. The tsukune (ground chicken) was juicy and flavorful, leaving us wanting more.
Despite being a bit pricey, you can really taste the effort and dedication put into each piece of yakitori.
Pro-tip: Try some of the char-grilled vegetables as well. They taste quite sweet and juicy.
Kuroki
Address: 290 Orchard Rd, Paragon Shopping Centre
Contact: +6563393383
Hours: Daily, 11.30 AM–10 PM
Price: $$$
I experienced Kuroki because we had to bid farewell to a work colleague, and I’m glad the company chose it. The entrance exudes elegance with a warm wooden ambience, and we were seated in a private room.
The highlight, of course, was the meat. Every cut we ordered was exquisite—tender, flavourful, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. The pork jowl and beef tongue, in particular, were impressively soft without any unwanted toughness.
On my return visit, I opted for the S$48 set and three other a la carte meat dishes. Each was just as great as I remembered. My favourite was the Wagyu ribeye steak, which was perfectly marbled and cooked to perfection.
Pro-tip: The lunch set also includes a refreshing salad and a delicious chawanmushi, which complements the meal nicely.
Ishinomaki Grill & Sake
Address: 390 Orchard Rd, Palais Renaissance
Contact: +6567371065
Hours: Daily, 11.30 AM–3 PM and 6–10 PM
Price: $$$
Ishinomaki Grill & Sake is a standout spot for an elevated Japanese BBQ experience, with many items flown in directly from Japan. This not only ensures exceptional taste but also understandably commands a higher price.
It’s perfect for grilling skewered meat while sipping premium sake. The pork belly and grilled Iberico pork are fantastic—a must-have. The chicken meatballs on a stick were also delicious.
I noticed it’s a favourite among business people for sealing deals, but I’d recommend it to anyone looking for top-tier grilled cuisine.
Pro-tip: Aside from teppanyaki, there’s also a wide selection of a la carte items here.
Yakiniku Oh
Media from rachaelwong
Address: 5 Koek Rd, Cuppage Plaza
Contact: +6567331248
Hours: Daily, noon–10.30 PM
Price: $$
One of the first things I noticed about Yakiniku Oh is the generous cuts of meat. And it isn’t cheap quality cuts either. The karubi actually melted in my mouth!
The place offers free-flow drinks for two hours and an A4 Wagyu BBQ buffet for just S$67 per person, which is great value for Japanese grilled meat lovers. Most of the cuts from the beef platter are top-notch, too.
Pro-tip: The curry rice pairs perfectly with the beef if you want some carbs with all that protein.