Sushi cravings rarely stay simple. One week, a salmon sushi roll is exactly what you want; the next, you are comparing vinegar blends, asking where the tuna came from and wondering whether lunch is finally the right time to try omakase.
That progression shaped our search for the best Japanese sushi Singapore has to offer. Instead of ranking eight similar counters, we selected sushi restaurants that represent different stages of the obsession, from intricate Edomae dining to generous platters, creative rolls and approachable everyday meals.
Follow the Sushi Trail
1. Sushi Sakuta – Fresh Sushi for the Most Serious Stage of Your Craving
Sushi Sakuta currently holds two Michelin stars, placing it among the most accomplished sushi specialists in Singapore. Chef-owner Yoshio Sakuta and his Japanese team create a seasonal omakase using seafood from Japan, while the rice combines two Japanese cultivars in a carefully considered ratio.
This is the final stage of the obsession because every detail affects the taste. The temperature of the rice, thickness of the fish, amount of wasabi and timing of each piece determine whether the nigiri feels balanced, particularly when the topping is delicate or exceptionally rich.
Seasonality means we would avoid promising one permanent list of signature dishes. The better approach is to arrive ready for the chef’s current selection, whether that includes white fish, shellfish, uni, silver-skinned fish or premium fatty tuna.
Beyond the Food
The 10-seat counter is made from a 200-year-old Nara cypress tree, with a private room available for diners who prefer more separation. The setting is elegant but restrained, keeping attention on the exquisite sushi rather than excessive caviar, elaborate garnishes or dramatic plating.
Sushi Sakuta Details
Address: 9 Raffles Blvd, #01-06/07/08 Millenia Walk, Singapore 039596
Opening hours: Lunch on selected days from 12.30pm to 3pm; dinner Tuesday to Sunday from 7pm to 10.30pm; closed Monday
What to order: Seasonal omakase
2. Sushi To Sumi – Premium Japanese Sushi Singapore Without the Three-Hour Ceremony
Sushi To Sumi offers a very different experience for sushi lovers who want quality sushi without committing to a lengthy omakase. Located in Raffles Place, the restaurant brings Tokyo’s traditional tachigui, or standing sushi culture, to Singapore. Guests stand at the sushi counter, watch the chef prepare each piece, and enjoy premium sushi in roughly 30–45 minutes — a format designed around the pace of the CBD.
The menu changes according to the daily catch, with seasonal fish, sashimi, and nigiri taking centre stage. Rather than a fixed selection of omakase sets, the chef decides what is best based on seasonality and availability. The experience is less about having a long list of Japanese dishes and more about allowing ingredient quality to determine what reaches the counter that day.
Beyond the Food
The restaurant’s name reflects its two-part identity: sushi and sumi, or charcoal. Alongside nigiri and sashimi, diners can enjoy seafood prepared over Japanese binchotan, adding a smoky dimension to the menu. This makes Sushi To Sumi distinct from Sushi Express, Genki Sushi, or other popular chain restaurants built around convenience, cheap sushi, sushi delivery, or broad à la carte sushi selections.
There are no donburi bowls, extensive lunch sets, or endless cooked options designed to suit every possible craving. Instead, the focus stays on the fish and the chef’s sushi preparation. For diners who normally associate premium sushi with counters in Dempsey Hill, ION Orchard, or restaurants connected to Tsukiji Market, Sushi To Sumi presents a more time-conscious alternative in the CBD.
Sushi To Sumi Details
Address: 20 Cecil Street, PLUS #02-01, Singapore 049705
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday, 11am–2pm and 6pm–10pm; closed Sunday
What to order: Seasonal nigiri, chef-selected sushi, sashimi, and binchotan-grilled seafood
3. Sushi Jin – Fresh Sashimi for the Curious Stage
Inside Shaw Centre lies Sushi Jin, where their skill in ingredient sourcing becomes difficult to ignore. The intimate sushi bar, operated by Les Amis Group, receives fresh seafood flown from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market several times weekly and pairs its menus with a carefully chosen sake range.
We ordered the Snow Crab Ikura Don, priced at $32, which arrived with finely shredded Hokkaido snow crab and salmon roe spread over seasoned sushi rice. The crab tasted naturally sweet and delicate, while the ikura added little bursts of saltiness that sharpened each spoonful without burying the seafood.
To be honest, a Toyosu shipment does not automatically make sushi excellent. What matters is how the kitchen handles those premium ingredients, and Sushi Jin does well when it keeps seasoning measured enough for the natural sweetness of scallop, prawn or tuna to remain clear.
Beyond the Food
The polished room still feels approachable when someone at the table is learning the difference between akami, chutoro and otoro. This is also a sensible place to ask the staff what arrived recently instead of ordering salmon simply because it feels familiar.
Sushi Jin Details
Address: 1 Scotts Road, Shaw Centre #03-07, Singapore 228208
Opening hours: Daily, 11.30am to 3pm for lunch, with last orders at 2pm; 6pm to 10pm for dinner, with last orders at 9pm
What to order: Snow Crab Ikura Don, seasonal nigiri and premium sashimi
4. Ganko Sushi – Japanese Food for the Traditionalist
Ganko Sushi represents the stage when diners become curious about Japanese restaurant history as much as individual dishes. Founded in Osaka in 1963, the brand built its identity around washoku before making its Singapore debut at 9 Penang Road in the UBS Building.
Its sushi sets provide an easy way to compare different styles of seafood. The deluxe selection can include sea bream, medium fatty tuna, amberjack, scallop, red prawn, eel, salmon roe and tuna roll, giving the table a broad mix of clean, rich, sweet and grilled flavours.
The appeal is variety without requiring a fixed omakase menu. A mixed sushi platter lets everyone compare oily tuna, mild white fish, sweet prawn and grilled eel, while the premium seafood rice dishes provide a less formal route to sashimi and seasonal ingredients.
Beyond the Food
We were sure of one thing after our visit: Ganko is not trying to imitate a tiny chef-led counter. It works best as an established Japanese restaurant where sushi can sit beside sukiyaki, hot dishes and seasonal specials, drawing from traditional Japanese cuisine and Japan’s vibrant izakaya culture.
Ganko Sushi Details
Address: 9 Penang Road, #01-01 UBS Building, Singapore 238459
Opening hours: Daily, 11.30am to 2.45pm and 5pm to 9.15pm
What to order: Deluxe Sushi Set and Premium Seafood Rice Bowl
5. Tomi Sushi – A Japanese Restaurant for the Full Experience
At Tomi Sushi, their Millenia Walk branch serves sushi, sashimi, set meals and Niigata specialities, including hegi cold soba made with funori seaweed and Koshihikari rice from Niigata.
Fresh fish arrives from Japan several times weekly, which makes the sashimi sets a sensible place to start. The Sashi Set Lunch and larger lunch combinations suit diners who want fresh sashimi, rice, soup and supporting dishes without committing to a full evening omakase.
Tomi Sushi’s rice deserves attention because the grains remain distinct beneath the fish instead of turning dense or sticky. Its Niigata soy sauces are also selected separately for sushi and sashimi, a small detail that becomes noticeable when alternating between nigiri and sliced seafood.
Beyond the Food
The atmosphere is straightforward and works for family meals, colleagues and friends. Among the restaurants in Singapore serving regional Japanese cuisine, Tomi Sushi remains particularly useful because its lunch menu and dinner selection accommodate sushi fans and diners who would rather order soba, tempura or cooked food.
Tomi Sushi Details
Address: 9 Raffles Boulevard, #02-12/13 Millenia Walk, Singapore 039596
Opening hours: 11.30am to 2.30pm and 5.30pm to 9.30pm
What to order: Sashi Set Lunch, Sushi Gozen and hegi soba
6. The Sushi Bar – Japanese Sushi in Singapore for the Playful Stage
The Sushi Bar at Ngee Ann City is the stage where the usual salmon roll starts becoming more adventurous. The menu retains familiar choices but adds seared fish, fried prawns, mentaiko and mixed sashimi combinations that make casual sushi feel more indulgent.
The Salmon Avocado Roll pairs the fatty softness of salmon with creamy avocado. For more texture, the Ebi Fry Salmon Aburi Roll combines fried prawn, avocado and cucumber with torched salmon and mentaiko sauce, giving each piece a crisp centre and richer finish.
The unexpected part is how easily one roll turns into several shared plates. A table that arrives intending to order something small can quickly end up with chirashi, sashimi salad and negitoro maki occupying every available gap.
The chirashi was another easy addition to the table, and we shared more about it in our late-night chirashi don trail across Singapore, where the best bowls had to do more than look good under restaurant lighting.
Beyond the Food
Okay, so funny story: We were initially going Sushi Dan, but a friend just recently ate at Sushi Bar and raved about it so much, we had to visit this spot first. And we obviously did not leave disappointed. The Sushi Bar offered a relevant answer when the craving is for a playful sushi roll with a modern twist rather than a highly traditional counter meal.
The Sushi Bar Details
Address: Ngee Ann City, 391 Orchard Road, Singapore
What to order: Ebi Fry Salmon Aburi Roll, Negitoro Maki and Chirashi Don
Expected spend: About $30 to $60 per person
7. Sushi Tei – Affordable Sushi for Everyday Cravings
Sushi Tei is where many Singapore diners first learn that a sushi meal can be much broader than salmon nigiri. At its Raffles City Shopping Centre branch, their japanese food covers rolls, sashimi, tempura, noodles, rice dishes, soup and seasonal specials, making it an easy choice for groups with different appetites.
For a familiar introduction, the Aburi Salmon Roll combines crab meat, avocado and omelette beneath lightly torched salmon. The topping adds a richer taste without overwhelming the rice, while individual salmon sushi and assorted sashimi provide simpler ways to compare fresh seafood.
The vegetable miso soup is more substantial than the small complimentary cup some diners expect. We would pair it with a roll and sashimi rather than ordering too many fried dishes, although the ebi tempura can be difficult to ignore once one plate appears on the table.
Beyond the Food
This is affordable sushi by central Singapore standards, particularly because everyone can control their own spend. Sushi Tei also operates multiple locations, but the Raffles City outlet is especially practical before a movie, shopping trip or casual dinner around City Hall.
Sushi Tei Details
Address: Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road, Singapore
What to order: Aburi Salmon Roll, salmon sushi, assorted sashimi and vegetable miso soup
Expected spend: About $25 to $55 per person
How Far Did Our Sushi Curiosity Take Us?
After reviewing all seven spots, which all happened to be deserving of being among the best Japanese restaurants we have visited, we realised a growing interest in sushi can start with a salmon roll at Sushi Zushi and end with someone debating the vinegar in Edomae sushi. Some days call for premium sushi, pristine raw fish, aburi sushi, and fresh ingredients selected around the season, while others are better suited to a quick meal with efficient service.
Other days, we are perfectly happy with generous rolls, miso soup, low prices that leave room for dessert, or an omakase set menu where the dishes range from sashimi to cooked courses. The best choice is not always the fanciest counter or the kind of place often compared with Michelin starred restaurants, but the restaurant that matches how seriously you feel like taking sushi that day.
