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

Last Updated: October 23, 2026
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. Araya Shouten's Freshest Catches (Tanglin Mall)

Green storefront entrance of Araya Shouten high-quality Japanese fish shop with refrigerated display cases and a premium takeaway bento box overflowing with fresh sashimi, crab claw, tamago, and glistening ikura salmon roe.

Nearest MRT: Orchard Boulevard MRT, around 4 to 6 minutes on foot
Price: $$–$$$ depending on species and cut

Araya Shouten takes a different approach to sashimi in Singapore. This is not a conventional Japanese sushi restaurant, standing sushi bar, or casual sushi bar with a fixed menu. It is a specialist Japanese fishmonger where the focus begins with the raw fish itself, giving sashimi lovers access to premium sashimi, seasonal seafood, and carefully selected fresh ingredients to enjoy at home.

The selection changes with the catch, so diners can discover seasonal sashimi, salmon fish, salmon belly, shiro maguro, botan ebi, and other Japanese seafood when available. Rather than chasing the biggest platter, thin slices, or the lowest price point, Araya is about finding the fish that is genuinely worth eating that day. Some cuts offer a clean texture; others have a firmer bite, richer flavour, or the natural sweetness that comes with properly handled seafood.

From the Port to the Counter

This is where Araya differs most from other best sashimi Singapore spots. Araya-san comes from three generations of Hokkaido fishing families and spent years working in frozen fish logistics and import/export before building his own seafood business.

He works directly with Japanese fishing ports and suppliers, who handle his orders using specialised techniques including immediate gut removal, Sumotoshiki blood removal, Shinkei Jime, and water-jet cleaning. The purpose is straightforward: preserve the quality of the fish from the moment it is caught, before it reaches Singapore. It is a different proposition from simply buying air flown seafood and calling it premium.

Sashimi Test

For a discerning palate, this makes the selection more interesting than simply choosing between salmon, tuna, or whatever happens to be on a standard restaurant menu. Depending on the season, you may find fresh salmon, fatty cuts, seasonal white fish, or rarer species that are difficult to find through conventional retail channels.

There is no elaborate counter seating experience competing for attention, and no modern twist designed to dress up the seafood. The fish is the point. A little soy sauce and traditional condiments are enough when the ingredient has been properly sourced and handled.

Hit the Spot

  • Sashimi lovers who care about Japanese seafood sourcing and true quality.

  • Home cooks who want to create their own sashimi platter with premium ingredients.

  • Diners looking beyond familiar choices for freshest catches and seasonal fish.

  • Couples looking for something different from conventional casual dates around Ngee Ann City, Far East Plaza, East Plaza, or Clarke Quay.

Miss the Spot

  • Diners looking for a full-service restaurant with skilled chefs preparing every course.

  • Anyone wanting elaborate signature dishes, soft shell crab, or a formal counter experience.

  • Guests who simply want a quick, fixed bowl rather than choosing seafood themselves.

Fanatic Tip:
Ask what arrived most recently and what Araya-san thinks is worth trying. The answer may not be the fish you came looking for, and that is often the fun of shopping here. You can check their Instagram account to know more: https://www.instagram.com/araya.shouten/.

2. Ganko Sushi Singapore's Fresh Sashimi (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's Traditional Japanese Cuisine (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's Premium Sashimi (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 savour each bite. Whether it is fresh salmon sashimi, affordable salmon sashimi, or more specialised Japanese sashimi, the difference ultimately comes down to quality sashimi, fresh cuts, and absolute freshness.

That principle holds across Singapore’s best Japanese restaurants, from the vibrant izakaya culture around Clarke Quay MRT to quieter dining near Customs House and Bras Basah MRT. The setting can change, but the joy comes from letting the seafood’s natural flavours shine, respecting the craft, and slowing down long enough to appreciate what is on the plate.

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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