Jinjo
Highlights
About
Jinjo opened in April 2018 as part of Les Amis Group's Shaw Centre second-floor dining cluster. The Les Amis Group — known for its three-Michelin-star French flagship — operates Jinjo as its Japanese concept: a modern sumiyaki restaurant built around binchotan (white charcoal) grilling.
Chef Makoto Saito brings a traditional washoku background to a prefecture-focused menu that traces every ingredient to source. The seasonal rotation is rigorous: Kagoshima Wagyu, Kyoto Shishito, Hokkaido scallop, and sweet potatoes from Chiba (Spring/Summer) or Okinawa (Autumn/Winter) — the best expression per season.
The cosy second-floor space at Shaw Centre features a 7-seat bar counter directly facing the live grill — the best view. The low entrance doorway is deliberate: you duck to enter, then straighten up to the full space. The sake list is curated prefecture by prefecture to match the food.
Prefecture-Focused Ingredients
Recommended For
Menu & Pricing
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Weekday Set Lunch Seasonal grilled items + rice |
from S$22 | Mon–Fri lunch |
| Yakitori Skewers Tebasaki (wing) · Momo (thigh) · Seseri (neck) · Sunazuri (gizzard) · more |
S$4–8 | Order several — small, punchy |
| Binchotan Plates — From the Sea Kama (tuna belly) · Nodoguro (Ishikawa) · seasonal scallop |
S$18–30+ | Nodoguro is seasonal |
| Binchotan Plates — From the Land Kagoshima Wagyu · Seseri (grilled + hay-smoked) · beef tongue |
S$18–55 | Seseri is a must-order |
| Vegetables & Starters Satsuma-Imo · Chawanmushi S$12 · Yuzu tomato S$12 |
S$6–20 | Good starters |
| Donabe Claypot Rice ⚠️ Order at start — 35 min. Truffle S$55 · Unagi S$35 · Seasonal S$45. Serves 2. |
S$35–55 | Order immediately |
* Prices approx., subject to change · +10% service charge + 9% GST. Note: one source lists Jinjo as Halal-certified — confirm directly with the restaurant if this matters for your visit.
Practical Info
Dietary Info
Photos
Your Dining Journey
The Low Doorway
Jinjo's entrance is deliberately low — duck to enter, then straighten up to the full charcoal-warm space. This references Japanese samurai castle doorways. Request bar counter seats when booking to face the live grill.
Order the Donabe Rice Immediately
The single most important tip at Jinjo: order donabe immediately. It takes 35 minutes. Truffle donabe (S$55, 2 bowls) is composedly sweet, not aggressively truffle-forward. Unagi (S$35) is a direct classic. If you forget, you'll be too full when it arrives.
Start with the Yuzu Tomato and Chawanmushi
The yuzu tomato (S$12) — a Japanese tomato saturated with yuzu — sets the Jinjo palate: clean provenance, light technique, flavour-forward. Follow with chawanmushi (S$12). These two establish the register for the meal: precise, not heavy.
Seseri: The Hidden Signature
Among all the land-based binchotan items, Seseri (chicken neck, S$18) is the must-order. Chef Saito grills the neck, shreds it, then grills again over charcoal and hay — deeply smoky, addictive, with a rich sauce. This double-grill technique is unusual and produces a texture unlike standard yakitori. Often described as fine-dining popcorn chicken.
The Sake List by Prefecture
Jinjo's sake list is curated prefecture by prefecture to match the food. Ask the team to guide a pairing based on what you've ordered — the list is designed for exactly this, and the staff are knowledgeable. Sake + charcoal grill is one of Japanese dining's most natural combinations. Don't default to beer.
Location
1 Scotts Road #02-19/20 Shaw Centre, Singapore 228208 · Orchard MRT (NS22/TE14) 3 min walk
📍 Open in Google MapsEditor's Note
Jinjo is Les Amis Group's most accessible concept and earns its place beyond price: the prefecture-focused sourcing is genuine, the binchotan technique is careful, and the food has precision above its price point. The Seseri is one of Singapore's most distinctive yakitori items. Order donabe immediately. The weekday set lunch from S$22 is excellent value in Orchard. For dinner, order selectively — portions are small and precise, and the bill grows with volume. Halal certification has been mentioned by one source but not officially confirmed — verify directly with the restaurant if relevant.
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