Some restaurants announce themselves from the street. Hiyaki Yakitori Izakaya Bar does not quite do that. Along Kampong Bahru, where the road feels calmer than the usual dining stretches in Singapore, the restaurant sits with a softer presence. It is close enough to Outram Park to be convenient, but still just far enough to feel slightly away from the rush. This subtlety is part of its charm, making Hiyaki one of those hidden gems that diners are happy to discover.
I came in expecting skewers and drinks. What stayed with me was the warm ambiance, the attentive staff, and the way the table slowly filled without the meal ever feeling hurried. Hiyaki Yakitori Izakaya Bar feels like the kind of izakaya bar you remember not because one thing was loud, but because many small things landed well.
Finding Hiyaki Yakitori Izakaya Near Outram Park
Hiyaki Yakitori Izakaya is located at 33 Kampong Bahru Road, with Outram Park as the nearest MRT. The walk there is not difficult, though it can feel a bit difficult if you are expecting a restaurant sitting right in the middle of a busy food stretch. This one is quieter, which is part of its appeal.
The space feels modern without losing the comfort of a neighbourhood yakitori izakaya. The lighting is dim, the room feels intimate, and the atmosphere struck a nice balance between polished and relaxed. It was not too formal, but it also did not feel careless. For diners looking to enjoy good food in a calmer setting, Hiyaki is a great spot to keep on your radar.
A Yakitori Izakaya Bar With a Charcoal Grill at the Centre
The heart of Hiyaki Yakitori is the charcoal grill. You feel it in the way the chicken arrives slightly smoky, the way the meat keeps its tenderness, and the way simple skewers become the kind of dish you keep reaching for between sips of sake.
This is not just a skewer stall. Hiyaki Yakitori Izakaya Bar works as a proper yakitori izakaya restaurant because the menu offers more than grilled chicken. There are fresh sashimi plates, sushi-style bites, rice dishes, vegetables, wagyu beef, and drinks that make the night feel complete.
The best way to eat here is slowly. Order a few skewers first, then add one or two cold dishes, then something richer. If you are unsure, ask for chef recommendations. The staff were helpful without hovering, and the efficient service meant dishes were served super fast without making the meal feel rushed.
Potato Salad, Grilled Butter Corn, and the First Bites
The first few dishes set the tone of the table today. I liked starting with the potato salad because it gave the meal something soft and familiar before the grilled items arrived. It was simple, but tastefully prepared, the kind of small plate that works better in context than it might sound on its own.
The grilled butter corn was another easy order. Sweet, warm, and slightly smoky, it worked well beside the drinks. There was a perfect balance between comfort and char, and I could see why this dish would be a regular order for groups sharing the table.
A few early bites to consider:
- Potato salad for something creamy and easy to share
- Grilled butter corn for sweetness and smoke
- Hotate nori wasabi if you want something sharper and more layered
- Fresh sashimi to bring a cooler taste before the grill
Hotate Nori Wasabi, Fresh Sashimi, and a Cleaner Taste
After the first grilled and warm dishes, the Hotate Nori Wasabi brought a different kind of pause. The wasabi gave the dish a clean lift, while the seafood kept it fresh. It was beautifully presented without feeling overly arranged, and it reminded me that Hiyaki offers more than charcoal and chicken.
Fresh sashimi is a good choice here if you want some brightness on the table. Salmon, fish slices, and other raw items help reset the mouth between richer dishes. If you are ordering wagyu beef cubes, chicken wings, or unagi fried rice later, this kind of cleaner dish becomes even more useful.
The sashimi and sushi-style plates also show the restaurant’s great variety. Few restaurants manage to feel both focused and flexible, but Hiyaki Yakitori Izakaya has enough range for different diners at the same table. Someone can stay with skewers and beer, while another can build the meal around sashimi, rice, and sake.
Hiyaki Offers Chicken Meatballs, Chicken Thigh, and Leek Skewers
The yakitori section is where the restaurant feels most confident. The chicken meatballs had a good bite, with enough seasoning to stand on their own. The chicken thigh was juicy and smoky, while the leek skewers added sweetness from the vegetables and softness from the chicken.
The chicken wings were another strong order. Done right, wings should feel almost effortless, with the meat falling close to the bone and the skin carrying the charcoal flavor. These were incredibly tender in the way good yakitori should be.
For a fuller table, I would order:
- Chicken meatballs for texture and seasoning
- Chicken thigh for a juicy, classic skewer
- Chicken wings for a richer bite
- Leek skewers for a sweet, smoky balance
- Wagyu beef cubes if you want something heavier
By this point, the meal had become a wonderful dinner in the quietest way. Not every dish needed to be a real standout. Some simply supported the next one.
Drinks, Service, and the Atmosphere at Hiyaki
The drinks list fits the food well. Sake works with the fresh sashimi and grilled chicken, while beer is an easy match for fried or smoky items. Highballs would also make sense if you want something lighter through the evening.
The staff were attentive, and the service had a steady rhythm. Plates came quickly, but there was still space to talk. Nothing felt too rehearsed. A small exchange while asking about the menu, a quick check on the table, a recommendation given without pressure, these things helped the atmosphere feel more human.
Hiyaki is a popular spot, but it does not feel like a place trying too hard to be one. The atmosphere is warm, the food is good quality, and the room is comfortable enough for both a next meal with friends and a quieter dinner for two. That is what I liked most: the delicious preparations, the good timings, and the feeling that the restaurant understood how people actually eat together.
Is Hiyaki the Best Yakitori Izakaya Restaurant for You?
If you want a loud party izakaya bar, Hiyaki may not be the exact fit. It is more measured than that. It feels better suited to diners who want good food, a warm table, and enough time to move through grilled skewers, sashimi, rice, and drinks.
The reasonable prices depend on how you order. Stick to yakitori, potato salad, grilled butter corn, and drinks, and the meal can feel approachable. For me, Hiyaki Yakitori Izakaya Bar works because it has a clear sense of itself. It is a yakitori izakaya with a charcoal grill, fresh seafood, good service, and a calm Kampong Bahru location that gives the night room to breathe.
Final Thoughts on Hiyaki Yakitori Izakaya Bar
I left Hiyaki thinking about the small things: the sweetness of grilled butter corn, the bite of wasabi, the tenderness of chicken thigh, the comfort of unagi fried rice, and the way the attentive staff moved around the room without interrupting the evening.
It is not hidden in a dramatic way, yet it still feels like a place that people discover, remember, and return to. Hiyaki Yakitori Izakaya Bar may be slightly off most people’s radars when it comes to the best izakaya restaurants, but that is part of what makes it special.
For a modern yakitori izakaya bar near Outram Park, with good food, sake, skewers, and a warm atmosphere, Hiyaki is an easy restaurant to recommend.