Japanese buffets in Singapore: Cheap spreads of sashimi, meaty shabu-shabu and yakiniku

Wish you had a reliable buffet guide to the best all-you-can-eat spots? Buffet Bounty is your go-to resource on buffets for all budgets, tastes and locations. With the glut of Japanese buffet options, we pare it down to the essential 15 for every price range so you can feast like a prince even while on a budget.

TAJIMAYA YAKINIKU

#01-102/103 VivoCity, 1 HarbourFront Walk.  Tel: 6377 0070

Their weekend buffet brunch (Sat-Sun, 11.30am-4pm;  $49.90++) offers unlimited servings of Wagyu and  Angus beef cuts, Kurobuta pork, tiger prawns, salmon  and sashimi. There is a time limit of 100 minutes, so  feast fast.

KUI SHIN BO [Kid-Friendly]

#03-334 Suntec City Mall, 3 Temasek Boulevard.  Tel: 6341 9200

It’s dining for the whole family with a wide selection,  kids’ buffet counter and daily specials at this distinctively  Japanese-themed restaurant (11.30am-3pm, Mon-Fri;  $36.90++, Sat-Sun; $38.90++, 5.30-10pm, Mon-Thu;  $54.90++, Fri-Sun; $58.90++). Indulge in perennial  Japanese favourites like tempura, grilled shishamo and  of course, sashimi. Less commonly found items include  oden and a live noodle station.

SAKAE SUSHI

All Sakae Sushi outlets including #01-133 Heartland Mall, 205 Hougang Street 21. Tel: 6383 6127

It’s all you can eat for 60 mins (Mon-Fri, 3-6pm; $18++)  at this ubiquitous sushi chain. Stuff yourself silly with  sushi and small plates from their conveyer belt or order  full dishes like tempura udon separately  off their menu if sushi isn’t enough to fill you up. The buffet  includes a free drink and you can top up $15 for free-flowing  beer.

SUKI-YA

All Suki-Ya outlets including #02-183B/C Marina Square,  6 Raffles Boulevard.  Tel: 6337 9969

Japanese hotpot buffet (Mon-Thu 11.30am-3pm;  $18.90++, Fri-Sat 11.30am-4pm; $20.90++, Mon-Thu  5-10pm; $24.90++, Fri-Sun 4-10.30pm; $26.90) doesn’t  get any more value-for-money than this! Choose from  kombu, sukiyaki, miso, pork broth and kimchi soup bases,  then dunk your meat, seafood and vegetables to your  heart’s content. They also offer condiments for you to  concoct your own sauce to dip your thinly sliced meat in.  Top up $5.90 for free-flow Wagyu beef cuts.

IRODORI JAPANESE  RESTAURANT

#03-01 Riverview Hotel, 382 Havelock Road.  Tel: 6737 2002

With only one price (daily: 11.30am-2.30pm, 6-10.30pm;  $36.80++), there’s no reason not to pop by when the  craving strikes. Think a range of well-executed Japanese  dishes like tempura, sushi, handrolls and grilled dishes,  including a lip-smacking ebi mentaiyaki.

MOMOYA

16 Jalan Pari Burong. Tel: 6245 3303

Besides sushi, yakitori and sashimi, this a la carte buffet  (daily: 11.45am-2.30pm; $35++, 6-10pm; $39++) also  offers yoshoku dishes like baked pasta and curry rice.  Fan of Japanese-Italian cuisine? Don’t forget to check  out their mentaiko spaghetti showcasing al dente  noodles and a moreish mentaiko sauce.

MOMIJI JAPANESE BUFFET

#05-05/06 City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road.  Tel: 6509 1193

There’s something for everyone here with their wide  selection of Japanese and Chinese dishes. Hidden in  Revenue House, Momiji (Mon- Fri 12nn-3pm; $25.80++,  Sat-Sun 11.30am-3.30pm; $40.80++, Mon-Thu 6-10pm;  $40.80++ Fri-Sun; $42.80++) offers cold seafood like  mussels and whelk, in addition to sashimi. Be sure to  check out their impressive  dessert selection which  includes a DI Y waffle station.

OSAHIME

#01-25/26 Golden Shoe Carpark, 50 Market Street.  Tel: 6227 0331

The fact that this restaurant has been around for over  20 years is testament to its consistent quality. Their a la  carte buffet (Sat, 6-9pm; $45++) offers around 60 items  that are rotated frequently, including ikura sushi, grilled  unagi and very well-made gyozas. The menu doesn’t  have agemono (deep-fried dishes), which won’t be  missed given the variety of the other items available.

SHIN MINORI

#03-15 UE Square, 81 Clemenceau Avenue.  Tel: 6733 2272

With wallet-friendly prices (daily: 11.30am-2.30pm;  $37.90++, 6-10.30pm; $39.90++), freshly sliced sashimi  and yakitori, this hidden gem is often packed, so book  early. They’re also known for their fancy makis, including  the Rainbow Maki; shrimp tempura with four types of  raw fish crowning the rice.

SHIN YUU JAPANESE RESTAURANT

16 Greenwood Ave. Tel: 6763 4939

While the variety of dishes may not be as large as other  Japanese buffets, the quality is incredible for its price  (daily: 12nn-3pm; $39.90++, 6-10.30pm; $52.90++).Expect popular pickings like aburi sushi, crisp tempura  and scallop mentaiko. Dinner includes a complimentary  serving of premium items like tuna belly, boiled abalone  and Japanese ice cream.

TODAI

#B2-01 The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront  Avenue. Tel: 6688 7771

Although Todai offers an international selection (11.30am  to 3pm, Mon-Fri; $42++ Fri-Sun $64++, 5.30-10pm,  Mon-Thu; $58++, Fri-Sun; $68++) with dishes like  caprese salad and a roast station, they are known for  their Japanese dishes like innovative makis, yakitori and  seafood, which includes Alaskan king crab legs that get  snapped up quickly.

HIMAWARI JAPANESE RESTAURANT

#01-08/09, 991B Alexandra Road. Tel: 6272 1110

This a la carte buffet (11.30am-2.30pm, Mon-Thu;$45.80++, Fri-Sun; $49.80 ++, 5.45-10pm; $48.80++,  Fri-Sun; $52.80++) offers a plentiful selection of  appetisers, fried dishes and sushi. The main draw is  their shabu shabu featuring juicy, well marbled beef and  accompaniments like tofu and enoki mushrooms. The  sashimi is also noteworthy as they offer slightly more  premium items like amaebi (sweet shrimp) and tai (sea  bream). Top up $1.50 for freshly grated wasabi.

AZMAYA

#01-12/13 Riverside Village, 30 Robertson Quay.  Tel: 6737 6863

Situated along the riverfront, the restaurant offers an  extensive a la carte menu, but it’s the Wagyu beef and  pork shabu shabu buffet (daily: 5pm-1am; $90++) that  you want to head straight for. For two hours, you get  unlimited servings of pork belly and collar, A5 Wagyu  beef, and fixings like vegetables and rice. Choices for the  soup base include kombu, chicken and soy milk.

KUSHI JAPANESE DI NING BAR

526 MacPherson Rd. Tel: 6285 6525

Their premium buffet (11.30am-2.30pm, Mon-Thu;  $61.90++, Fri-Sun; $64.90++, 5.30-9.30pm, Mon-Thu;  $69.90++, Fri-Sun; $72.90++) features fresh Japanese oysters, king prawn tempura, and one serving each of  otoro and Wagyu beef. They also offer the option of  upgrading your shabu shabu to a collagen soup base  made with chicken and shark cartilage ($10 for 2 pax,  $20 for 3-4 pax).

TENKAICHI JAPANESE BBQ RESTAURANT

#03-129 Marina Square, 6 Raffles Boulevard.  Tel: 6250 8918

Revel in their Premium Wagyu Beef BBQ buffet (daily:  11.30am-2pm; $64.80++, 6.30-9.30pm; $69.80++),  which offers various Australian Wagyu beef cuts with a  marbling score of 7+. There is also a small selection of  sashimi, and seafood like scallops and prawns to throw  on the grill. Top up $10 for free-flow Häagen-Dazs ice  cream.

IKOI JAPANESE RESTAURANT

G/F Hotel Miramar, 401 Havelock Road. Tel: 6887 3788

With high quality food for an extremely reasonable price,  it’s no wonder their a la carte buffet (daily: 11.30am-  2pm, 6-11pm; $38++) usually requires an advance  booking. The restaurant offers a wide range of authentic  Japanese dishes, from unctuous grilled saba and oden  to fresh, thickly sliced sashimi.