Best Sashimi Singapore: The Counter, the Platter, and the Fish Between Them

Assorted sashimi platter featuring fresh tuna cuts, sweet prawns, and clams served with wasabi and radish on a dark stone plate.

The first time sashimi made me pause, I wasn’t at a fancy counter.

I was standing in front of a chef who had just laid down a slice of something pink and quiet, and I watched him wipe his knife once before the next cut. No performance. No speech. Just fish, and the care behind it.

That’s the thing I’ve chased ever since. Over the time, across late lunches and slow dinners, I’ve eaten at all of these places more than once. Not to rank them, because ranking fish feels a little beside the point. More to understand what each one is actually for. A business lunch. A birthday. A Tuesday with the family. A night you’d been saving up for.

Here’s what I found.

1. Tomi Sushi (Millenia Walk)

Storefront of Tomi Sushi Millenia Walk paired with a close-up of a premium sashimi platter featuring tuna, white fish, and scallops on a dark plate.

Nearest MRT: Promenade MRT, around 5 to 7 minutes on foot
Price: $$ (lunch sets from around S$32; premium sashimi selections can go higher)

Tomi Sushi is a Japanese sushi restaurant with roots in Niigata, Japan, where the original brand was established. The Singapore outlet carries that regional identity through its focus on fresh seafood, Niigata Koshihikari rice, and traditional Japanese cuisine techniques. The restaurant highlights seafood sourced from Japan, including ingredients air flown from Niigata markets, as well as carefully selected soy sauce and traditional condiments designed to complement sushi and salmon sashimi alike.

Beyond its sashimi selection, Tomi Sushi is known for bringing elements of Niigata cuisine to Singapore, including sushi, kaisen chirashi don, seasonal seafood dishes, and classic preparations. Its appeal comes from the attention given to the foundations of sushi — the vinegared rice, the balance of thin slices of fresh fish, and the harmony between each component.

Dining experience

Tomi Sushi offers both sushi counter and table seating, with the sushi counter being the preferred choice for diners who want to observe the chef’s precise handling of raw fish and fresh ingredients. The setting is more traditional compared with casual sushi chains, making it ideal for business lunches, quieter dinners, and diners who appreciate the rituals of Japanese food.

The restaurant follows a measured pace, allowing chefs more time to prepare each dish properly. It is better suited for diners who enjoy a slower meal rather than a quick stop at a standing sushi bar.

Sashimi test

Tomi Sushi’s fresh sashimi is built around premium ingredients rather than oversized portions. The selection changes depending on seasonal availability, but the restaurant’s focus on Japanese seafood sourcing allows the natural texture and flavour of the fish — from fatty tuna to salmon belly — to remain the main feature.

For diners exploring the restaurant for the first time, an assorted sashimi plate paired with fresh sushi offers the clearest comparison between the quality of the seafood and the chef’s preparation technique.

Hit the Spot

  • Diners who care about Japanese seafood sourcing and traditional Japanese cuisine.

  • Business lunches or dinners where a quieter, more refined setting is preferred.

  • Those who enjoy pairing sashimi with sushi to experience both ingredient quality and technique.

Miss the Spot

  • Diners looking for large sashimi platters at casual prices.

  • Anyone who prefers fast service or a quick conveyor-belt sushi experience.

  • Guests who mainly want creative sushi rolls rather than traditional Japanese preparations.

Fanatic Tip:
Request a sushi counter seat if available. Order both sashimi and sushi — the sashimi highlights the freshness of the fish, while the sushi shows how the chef balances vinegared rice, soy sauce, and preparation.

2. Ganko Sushi Singapore (Penang Road)

Modern glass and stone facade of Ganko Sushi Singapore Penang Road next to ceramic bowls filled with fresh sashimi cuts and sweet prawns.

Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut MRT, around 3 to 5 minutes on foot
Price: $$ (varies depending on sets, à la carte dishes, and seasonal selections)

Ganko Sushi is a Japanese sushi bar brand founded in Osaka in 1963, with decades of experience in sushi, sashimi, and Japanese dining. The Singapore outlet at Penang Road offers a broad Japanese menu covering sushi, sashimi, tempura, grilled dishes, rice bowls, and set meals, making it suitable for diners looking for more than just sushi.

The brand’s strength is its balance between traditional Japanese cuisine and accessibility. Compared with specialist sushi counters that focus heavily on omakase menus, Ganko Sushi provides a wider dining experience where guests can explore different Japanese food dishes in one meal.

If you want sashimi alongside grilled dishes, hot plates, and a livelier Japanese meal, Asia Food Fanatic guides you to the best izakaya in Singapore is a good place to continue.

Dining experience

The restaurant offers a modern Japanese dining environment suited for couples, families, and small groups. The wider menu makes it practical for mixed diners, especially when some guests prefer cooked dishes alongside fresh sashimi.

Sashimi test

Ganko Sushi’s sashimi works best for diners looking for consistency and variety. The menu typically features familiar sashimi selections alongside seasonal offerings, allowing guests to enjoy fresh seafood as part of a satisfying meal.

Hit the Spot

  • Groups where everyone wants different Japanese dishes.

  • Diners who enjoy sashimi but also want cooked dishes and sharing options.

  • Those looking for a more traditional Japanese restaurant experience without omakase pricing.

Miss the Spot

  • Diners searching specifically for a premium sushi counter experience.

  • Guests who want highly specialised seasonal seafood.

  • Anyone looking mainly for a quick sashimi takeaway option.

Fanatic Tip:
Order sashimi together with sushi platter and hot dishes instead of treating it as a standalone item. Ganko Sushi works best when experienced as a complete Japanese meal.

3. Sushi Tei (Paragon)

Wooden entrance of Sushi Tei Orchard Paragon beside a lavish, large sashimi platter overflowing with fresh otoro, salmon, and white fish.

Nearest MRT: Orchard MRT, around 5 to 8 minutes on foot
Price: $–$$ (sashimi plates, sets, and à la carte dishes available at mid-range prices)

Sushi Tei is one of Singapore’s more established Japanese restaurant groups, founded in 1994 and known for making Japanese food more accessible through a casual dining format. The Paragon outlet offers a wide selection of sushi, fresh sashimi, chirashi don, grilled dishes, tempura, and other Japanese favourites in a central Orchard location.

Unlike specialised sushi bars that focus mainly on seasonal tasting menus, Sushi Tei is built around variety and consistency. Its menu is designed for different dining occasions, from family meals and business lunches to casual dinners where guests want dependable Japanese dishes without a premium price tag.

Dining experience

The Paragon outlet offers a comfortable Japanese dining environment suited for shopping breaks, casual meals, and group gatherings. The restaurant’s larger seating capacity makes it more accessible than smaller sushi counters, although peak dining periods can get busy.

Sashimi test

Sushi Tei’s sashimi is best suited for diners looking for accessibility, variety, and consistency. Its sashimi platters allow groups to sample different raw seafood options in one order, making it a convenient choice for diners who are less familiar with Japanese fish selections.

Hit the Spot

  • Families, groups, and casual diners looking for a reliable Japanese meal.

  • Those who want sashimi alongside sushi, rice bowls, and cooked dishes.

  • Diners who prefer familiar seafood choices at a more approachable price point.

Miss the Spot

  • Guests looking for an intimate chef-led sushi counter experience.

  • Diners specifically searching for rare seasonal seafood or omakase-style progression.

  • Those expecting a highly specialised sashimi-focused restaurant.

Fanatic Tip:
Do not only order sushi rolls. A sashimi platter paired with a kaisen chirashi don or cold soba gives a better sense of Sushi Tei’s ingredient quality and menu range.

4. Sushi Sato (Dempsey)

Serene stone walkway entrance of Sushi Sato Dempsey paired with a delicate, high-end sashimi dish garnished with microgreens and sauce on a white ceramic plate.

Nearest MRT: Orchard MRT, followed by a short taxi ride
Price: $$$$ (premium omakase dining; lunch and dinner menus vary by season)

Sushi Sato is a premium Japanese sushi restaurant located in Dempsey Hill, known for its chef-led omakase menu experience and focus on seasonal Japanese ingredients. The restaurant operates around a traditional sushi counter format, where the menu changes according to seafood availability and the chef’s selection.

The restaurant is led by Chef Kenji Sato and focuses on an intimate dining experience built around Edomae-style sushi techniques, seasonal seafood, and careful preparation. Rather than offering an extensive à la carte menu, Sushi Sato centres around a structured progression where each course is selected to showcase the ingredients at their best.

Dining experience

Sushi Sato offers an intimate sushi counter setting with limited seating, creating a more personalised dining experience compared with larger Japanese restaurants. Guests follow an omakase progression where the chef determines the sequence of dishes based on the available ingredients.

Sashimi test

Sashimi at Sushi Sato reflects its omakase approach, where seasonal seafood and precise preparation take priority over large portions or extensive sashimi platters. Ingredients like bluefin tuna and fatty tuna are selected according to quality and availability, with the chef controlling how each item is presented throughout the meal.

Hit the Spot

  • Special occasions, celebrations, and diners looking for a premium sushi experience.

  • Guests who appreciate seasonal Japanese seafood and chef-led preparation.

  • Those who prefer an intimate counter setting over a larger restaurant environment.

Miss the Spot

  • Diners looking for casual sashimi without a high price commitment.

  • Guests who prefer choosing individual dishes rather than following an omakase menu.

  • Anyone looking for a quick Japanese meal.

Fanatic Tip:
Trust the chef’s progression instead of trying to compare the meal to a standard sashimi platter. Sushi Sato’s strength is the complete omakase menu experience, where each course is designed to build on the previous one.

The Fish Between Them

Every memorable sashimi experience, regardless of setting, shares a common thread: the careful selection and precise preparation of fresh fish that invites you to pause and truly savor each bite. The essence lies in the quality of the seafood, the respect for tradition, and the moment of connection between the diner and the craft behind the plate. Whether enjoyed in a refined omakase setting or a casual meal, the joy comes from letting the natural flavors shine and slowing down to appreciate the art of Japanese cuisine.

Sashimi is only one way into Singapore’s Japanese dining scene; for more places worth exploring, see our guide to the best Cuppage Plaza food and dining options.

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