Best Japanese cafes in Singapore
Japanese cafes are well-loved for their food and beverage offerings: think matcha latte, loaded sando, mochi desserts and many more. In recent years, there have been several new additions to our neighbourhoods and in the CBD, too. Here’s our handpicked list of the best Japanese cafes in Singapore that serve up good food and good vibes.
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1. Cafe Natsu
Joo Chiat and Katong are treasure troves of minimalist cafes, legit local food and more. Adding to the list is Cafe Natsu, a vibrant cafe helmed by the same team behind Chin Mee Chin Confectionery.
If you’re here for dessert, order their popular Mochi Doughnuts ($12++), served with sweet and creamy salted Hokkiado milk ice cream. These bite-sized doughnuts boast a thin and crispy exterior that’s lightly coated with cinnamon sugar, with an addictive, chewy mochi centre. Else, the cafe has a refreshed menu with mains such as Cold Somen ($16++), an ideal meal to have on a sweltering day. If you’re still peckish, there’s also Wafu Fregola Pasta ($22++) that boasts a variety of Japanese mushrooms, then topped with tobiko AKA fish roe. Cafe Natsu has another outlet in Dhoby Ghaut!
Read our Cafe Natsu review.
Joo Chiat outlet
Address: 283 Joo Chiat Road, Singapore 427537
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 8:30am to 5:30pm
Orchard outlet
Address: 182 Clemenceau Avenue, Singapore 239923
Opening hours: Daily 8:30am to 5:30pm
Website
Cafe Natsu is not a halal-certified eatery.
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2. Baristart Coffee
In September 2023, Baristart Coffee launched their newest outlet at Wisma Atria with their famous Hokkaido cream puffs, Japanese-inspired mains and more. There are two other outlets along Tras Street, and Siloso Beach Walk.
If you can’t decide on what to get, we recommend their Wafu Pasta ($19.80++), which features prawns and bacon strips as the star ingredients. This umami-packed dish is mildly spicy thanks to the addition of chilli padi and Japanese dry chilli shreds. For those who prefer rice to noods, get the Obihiro Butadon ($19.80++) instead. You get juicy pork belly drenched in teriyaki sauce on a bed of Japanese rice. Of course, you’ve got to end your meal with their Hokkaido Cream Puffs ($7++). Each puff is packed with custard cream that is said to be sweet and milky.
Read our Baristart Coffee review.
Website | Full list of outlets
Baristart Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.
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3. Cafe Kitsune
Cafe Kitsune finally opened their doors on our island at Capitol Singapore in late 2022. This cafe brand is so popular that even their merch sells like hotcakes around the world.
For dainty desserts that are not too sweet, get their Pistachio Raspberry Entremet ($15) and Genmaicha Financier ($5). Otherwise, there’s the Sourdough Grilled Cheese With Tomato Dip ($16) for something savoury and substantial. It features sundried tomatoes with a ton of cheese, and a side of house-made tomato sauce that you can dip your toast into. You can also look out for seasonal specials such as Iced Pistachio Latte ($9.50).
Read our Cafe Kitsune review.
Address: 13 Stamford Road, #01-11, Capitol Singapore, Singapore 178905
Opening hours: Daily 10am to 10pm
Website
Cafe Kitsune is not a halal-certified eatery.
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4. Cafe Wabi Sabi
Cafe Wabi Sabi is a recent addition to the trendy Everton Park neighbourhood. This Japanese-inspired cafe is a 10-minute walk from Outram Park MRT Station.
Known as their bestseller, the Pork Katsu Sando ($11.90++) is a must-try if it’s your first visit here. You get pork katsu, mixed salad, cucumber, and tomato densely packed between house-made shokupan. Otherwise, give their Sukiyaki Don ($14.90++) a shot—it comes with sliced beef, onsen egg, tobiko, and caramelised onions. There are a total of nine donburi bowls for you to choose from, so take your time to explore the menu! For those heading down with a group of friends, their Fried Oyster with Wabi-Sabi Wasabi Mayo ($8.90++) makes for an ideal sharing dish.
Read our Cafe Wabi Sabi review.
Address: 3 Everton Park, #01-79, Singapore 080003
Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 8pm, Sat-Sun 8:30am to 5pm
Website
Cafe Wabi Sabi is not a halal-certified eatery.
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5. Paaru
Tucked away at Pearl’s Hill Terrace in Chinatown is Paaru, a minimalist cafe that also has a bakery space at #01-18.
If you’re a fan of shokupan, get their house-baked French Toast Shokupan ($12++). What’s unique about their French toast is that the drizzle isn’t your standard maple syrup—instead, you get kuromitsu AKA Japanese brown sugar syrup. The sweetness is then tempered with bits of cacao nibs and sea salt. Even better, you can DIY your own brunch menu here! Simply get Eggs on Shokupan, which gives you either poached eggs ($11++) or scrambled eggs ($13++), and add more ingredients of your choice, including thick cut bacon ($6++), portobello mushroom ($5++), and housemade jam ($3++).
Read our Paaru review.
Address: 195 Pearl’s Hill Terrace, #01-61, Pearl’s Hill Studio, Singapore 168976
Opening hours: Thurs-Mon 9am to 7pm
Website
Paaru is not a halal-certified eatery.
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6. Takagi Coffee
Conveniently located in the CBD, Takagi Coffee is a great pit stop for those in the vicinity to drop by for a quick coffee break or casual meeting.
This cafe takes pride in their specialty coffee and brunch menu. For starters, we recommend the Takagi Coffee Original Blend ($5.40++), which boasts a combination of strong coffee brew with hints of citrus notes. To go along with your coffee, get their W Egg Sandwich with Salad ($12.80++). Egg mayo fans will dig this as you get a generous amount of creamy house-made egg mayo marinated in shoyu. Else, there’s the Mochi Skin Matcha French Toast ($15.80++). You get toast that is wrapped in mochi skin, and served with a side of fruits and a scoop of matcha ice cream.
Read our Takagi Coffee review.
Address: 100 Tras Street, #01-14B, 100 AM, Singapore 079027
Opening hours: Daily 8am to 9pm
Website
Takagi Coffee is not a halal-certified eatery.
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7. Onne Cafe
Onne Cafe is run by a married couple, and the cafe is named after their daughter Dionne. It’s also an eight-minute walk from Outram Park MRT Station!
We recommend you drop by during lunch on weekdays between 11am and 2pm for their wallet-friendly lunch sets. Their Carbonara Miso ($21) is a must-try for those who like creamy pasta. The miso-infused cream sauce paired really well with the generous portions of pork and ikura. You can also give the Melting Beef Don ($21) a try for a hearty bowl of onsen egg, pan-seared beef, and Japanese rice. For desserts, get their Mochi Waffles ($9) in either Dirty Charcoal or Matcha Green Tea flavour!
Read our Onne Cafe review.
Address: 5 Kampong Bahru Road, Singapore 169341
Opening hours: Mon-Tue 9am to 9pm, Thurs-Fri 9am to 9pm, Sat-Sun 11am to 11pm
Tel: 9760 4004
Website
Onne Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
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8. Daizu Cafe
Located along Rangoon Road is Daizu Cafe, a minimalist cafe that specialises in Japanese-Western fusion food.
If you’re heading down for brunch, there’s the Tamago Ikura Sando ($16++) and Chicken Sando ($20++). The former uses ikura, scrambled eggs, and mayonnaise as the star ingredient, while the latter features breaded chicken and a house-made tonkatsu sauce. Take note that all brunch items are only available till 3pm! While you’re here, explore their range of specialty fries that come in nine different flavours. Some noteworthy ones include Nori Fries ($12++), Mentaiko Fries ($12++), and Umami Fries Sensation ($18++).
Read our Daizu Cafe review.
Address: 129 Rangoon Road, Singapore 218407
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am to 10pm, Sat-Sun 8am to 10pm
Website
Daizu Cafe is not a halal-certified eatery.
9. Hello Arigato
With four outlets spread across the country, Hello Arigato has been crowned one of the most popular Japanese cafes in Singapore. Do note that their menu varies depending on the outlet you visit!
The newest branch in Bukit Timah offers Wagyu Hamburg Gyu Sando ($28+), which presents a juicy house-made Wagyu beef patty. Also, the Joo Chiat outlet has a new item on the menu: Katsu Curry Sando ($18+), which comes with freshly breaded chicken katsu and house-made Japanese curry sauce. If you’re visiting their Everton Park outlet, it’s a must to try their Milk Doughnuts series which comes with 16 different flavours. We recommend their earthy Black Goma ($5.50+) and locally-inspired Kaya Butter ($5.50)!
Read our Hello Arigato review.
Website | Full list of outlets
Hello Arigato is not a halal-certified eatery.
10. Suzuki Cafe and Roastery
Image credit: @jazpster
Formerly known as Suzuki Factory Cafe, the newly rebranded Suzuki Cafe and Roastery is a Kyoto-style Japanese teahouse tucked away in an industrial estate in Boon Lay.
This cafe is a paradise for coffee lovers as you get an extensive selection of house blends and filter coffee to choose from. For something simple, get their Long Black ($6), which uses a house blend from Columbia and Ethiopia. Otherwise, opt for their Matcha Latte ($8) or Hojicha Latte ($8) which is made using Hokkaido fresh milk. If you prefer tea to coffee, try their Gifel Tea ($7) which comes in four flavours: Supreme Earl Grey, White Ginger Peach, Oriental Sencha, and Fruity Peach.
Address: 8 Chin Bee Avenue, Singapore 619932
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 8:30am to 5:30pm
Website
Suzuki Cafe and Roastery is not a halal-certified eatery.
11. Cafe Usagi Tokyo
Image credit: @nihao_alt
Homegrown brand Cafe Usagi Tokyo made their entrance into the matcha specialty cafe scene in early 2023.
Many of us are into mochi right now, and their Signature Mochi Ice Cream ($6) is a great dessert choice to sort out our cravings. There’s a variety of flavours to choose from, including Lavender Hojicha, Burnt Cheesecake, Strawberry Shortcake, and Samurai Blue Sea Salt. Their Matcha Latte ($6.80) or Genmaicha Cold Brew ($8) makes for a great pairing with the dessert!
Read our Cafe Usagi Tokyo review.
Suntec City outlet
Address: 8 Temasek Boulevard, #02-615A, Tower 3, Suntec City, Singapore 038983
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10pm
Somerset outlet
Address: 111 Somerset Road, #01-42, 111 Somerset, Singapore 238164
Opening hours: Daily 9am to 8pm
Website
Cafe Usagi Tokyo is not a halal-certified eatery.
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12. Kurasu
Image credit: @thegluttonproject
It would be blasphemous to leave Kurasu out of a guide to Japanese cafes in Singapore as the brand has grown into a favourite of many coffee lovers. Hailing from Kyoto, the famed cafe now has two stores on our island.
Highlights include their Hand Drip Coffee ($7.50), Cold Brew ($8.50), and Batch Brew ($4.50). Alternatively, we recommend their matcha series which comes in several forms, including Matcha Latte ($7), Matcha Latte Espresso ($8), and Ceremonial Matcha ($8.50).
Waterloo Street outlet
Address: 261 Waterloo Street, #01-24, Waterloo Centre, Singapore 180261
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 10am to 6pm
Orchard outlet
Address: 1 Grange Road, #01-03, Orchard Building, Singapore 239693
Opening hours: Thurs-Tue 9:30am to 5:30pm
Website
Kurasu is not a halal-certified eatery.
13. KYO Kohee
Image credit: @iris.__.nihao
Another strong contender for Japanese matcha and coffee is KYO Kohee, a hidden gem in the heart of the CBD.
You get a good range of latte here, namely: Hojicha Latte ($5.90), Genmaicha Latte ($6.90), Dirty Matcha Latte ($7.90), Dirty Hojicha Latte ($7.90), and Mahou Latte ($6.90). You can pay an additional $1 for milk alternatives, including Hokkaido milk, oat milk, and soy milk. If you prefer a cleaner aftertaste, we recommend their tea series with no milk. There’s the Akai Tea ($4.90), Genmai Tea ($5.90), and Sencha ($5.90).
Read our KYO Kohee review.
Address: 144 Robinson Road, #01-01, Robinson Square, Singapore 068908
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 8am to 5pm
Website
KYO Kohee is not a halal-certified eatery.
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14. Kizuna
Image credit: @iris.__.nihao
Hidden under a HBD block, Kizuna is the place to visit for Japanese fusion food at wallet-friendly prices. The cafe also offers weekday lunch specials with a different item on the menu on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.
Look out for their Char Siew Maze-udon ($12.90++) every Wednesday, which features maze udon topped with pork belly and an egg yolk. There’s the Hamburg Don ($13.90++) on Thursdays, a hearty meal including rice, egg, beef hamburg, and a house-made sauce. You can expect something a tad fancier on Fridays called Tsukimi Negitoro Don ($18.90++). This dish presents finely chopped tuna belly with Japanese rice topped with an egg yolk. Do note that the lunch specials are available from 11:30am!
Address: 148 Potong Pasir Ave 1, #01-37, Singapore 350148
Opening hours: Tue 5pm to 11pm, Wed-Sat 9am to 4pm, 5pm to 11pm, Sun 9am to 4pm
Website
Kizuna is not a halal-certified eatery.
15. Hvala
Image credit: @hvala_sg
With five outlets across Singapore, Hvala is arguably one of the most accessible and frequented Japanese cafes in Singapore. Their flagship store is located at Chijmes!
For desserts, start with their Kinako Warabi Mochi ($6.80++), which is essentially house-made warabi mochi coated with kinako powder AKA roasted soybean powder, and Japanese sugar syrup. Alternatively, opt for the Goma Sliced Cake ($8.90++) or Matcha Petit ($9.90++) if you’re a fan of sponge cakes. We can’t forget about drinks—the Matcha Hojicha Ice Blend ($8.50++) and Yuzu Ice Blend ($8.50++) are great choices for Singapore’s sultry weather.
Read our Hvala feature!
Website | Full list of outlets
Hvala is not a halal-certified eatery.
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Best Japanese cafes to visit in Singapore
We hope our list of Japanese cafes in Singapore comes in handy when in need of a momentary respite from our hectic lives. You can also find out the best tea houses in Singapore for a wide variety of tea, or our guide to cheap Japanese food under $15 for mentaiko don, chirashi and more.
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The post 15 Japanese Cafes In Singapore For Loaded Sando, Mochi Waffles And More appeared first on EatBook.sg – Local Singapore Food Guide And Review Site.
