Kazan Japanese Cuisine
At a Glance
About Kazan Japanese Cuisine
Kazan Japanese Cuisine (火山, meaning 'volcano') is one of the original Japanese hawker stalls in Singapore — a pioneering stall that has been serving affordable, quality Japanese food at Chinatown Complex Food Centre for over a decade. Founded by a chef known as Lim, who spent more than eight years working in a Japanese restaurant before deciding to bring restaurant-quality Japanese food to the hawker setting, Kazan originally opened in Tanjong Pagar before moving to its current location at Chinatown Complex #02-001 in 2013. With over 17 years of accumulated experience in Japanese cuisine, Lim's technical foundation sets Kazan apart from the growing number of Japanese hawker stalls that have emerged in recent years.
The Unagi Set (S$8-10) is the dish that put Kazan on the food blog map. At a price point where most restaurants charge S$20-30 for unagi don, Kazan delivers a fillet-sized slab of grilled eel — thick, fleshy, and glazed with a sweet unagi sauce until the skin is slightly crisp. It is served in a bento-style layout with Japanese short-grain rice (Kazan notably does not substitute with cheaper rice varieties), shredded iceberg lettuce, pickles, and a bowl of miso soup. The portion size consistently surprises first-time visitors — food bloggers regularly describe it as 'the most generous unagi portion at a hawker stall in Singapore'. While the eel may not match the melt-in-your-mouth quality of premium restaurants like Man Man, the value proposition at under S$10 is genuinely extraordinary.
Beyond unagi, Kazan's menu is a comprehensive Japanese bento operation. The Katsudon (S$5) is remarkable value — freshly fried crispy pork cutlets covered in slightly runny scrambled egg with sweet katsu sauce on rice. The Ebi Don Set (S$5.50) features large, crunchy breaded prawns on seasoned rice with egg and onion sauce. The Chicken Katsu Curry Rice (S$6.50) offers a solid Japanese curry experience. The Yuzu Chicken Cutlet is a less common option that adds a refreshing citrus twist. The Oyakodon (S$7) and Salmon Teriyaki round out a menu that covers most of the Japanese comfort food essentials. Everything comes with miso soup included, and the quality of the miso is consistently praised as well-balanced.
Kazan occupies stall #02-001 on Level 2 of Chinatown Complex — the same massive hawker centre that houses Uma Haus ramen, Michelin-starred Liao Fan Soya Sauce Chicken, and over 260 other stalls. Finding Kazan can be a minor adventure: it is located in the yellow zone at a far corner, identifiable by its bright gold neon signage that stands out among the more traditional hawker stalls. The stall is closed on Saturdays, and operates split hours on other days: lunch from 12pm to 3pm, dinner from 5:30pm to 8:30pm. Service from the friendly aunties running the stall is efficient despite steady queues during lunch. For anyone visiting Chinatown Complex — whether for the famous claypot rice, the Michelin chicken, or the legendary rojak — Kazan is the essential Japanese food stop that should not be missed.
Recommended For
Menu & Pricing
Cash preferred. All sets include miso soup. Japanese short-grain rice used. Closed Saturdays.
Sets (all include miso soup)
| Unagi Set — fillet-sized grilled eel + rice + miso soup (SIGNATURE) | S$8–10 |
| Katsudon — crispy pork cutlet + egg + katsu sauce on rice | S$5 |
| Ebi Don Set — breaded prawns + egg + onion sauce on rice | S$5.50 |
| Oyakodon — chicken + egg on rice | S$7 |
| Chicken Katsu Curry Rice — chicken cutlet + Japanese curry | S$6.50 |
| Salmon Teriyaki Set — grilled salmon + teriyaki sauce | ~S$8 |
| Yuzu Chicken Cutlet — crispy cutlet with citrus yuzu sauce | ~S$7 |
Sides
| Fried Ebi (per piece) | S$1.20 |
Practical Information
Dietary Information
Photos
Sourced via Google Places — food-focused photography
Location
335 Smith Street, #02-001, Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, Singapore 050335
Level 2 of Chinatown Complex Food Centre (Singapore's largest hawker centre, 260+ stalls). Located at a far corner of the yellow zone — look for the bright gold neon signage. Near Chinatown MRT (NE4/DT19), Exit A, 4-minute walk.
📍 Open in Google MapsYour Dining Journey
From the golden signage to the fillet-sized unagi — what to expect at Kazan.
Find the Golden Sign
Kazan is at stall #02-001 on Level 2 of Chinatown Complex — Singapore's largest hawker centre with over 260 stalls. The stall is in the yellow zone, at a far corner that can take a few minutes to locate. Look for the bright gold neon signage with menu photos displayed prominently — it stands out against the more muted traditional hawker stalls nearby. The walk from Chinatown MRT Exit A takes about 4 minutes.
Order the Unagi
The Unagi Set (S$8-10) is the must-order. When it arrives, you will understand why food bloggers keep returning: the slab of grilled eel is genuinely fillet-sized — thick, fleshy, and generously glazed with a sweet, sticky unagi sauce. The skin is grilled until slightly crisp, adding textural contrast. The miso soup is well-balanced, not too salty. For the budget-conscious, the Katsudon at S$5 with miso soup is arguably the cheapest proper katsudon in central Singapore.
Hawker Heritage
Kazan represents the best of Singapore's hawker tradition: a skilled chef choosing the hawker path to make quality food accessible to everyone. Chef Lim's 17+ years of Japanese cuisine experience shows in the consistent execution — the rice is always properly cooked Japanese short-grain, the tempura batter is crispy, the unagi sauce is well-balanced. In the same building, you can also visit Uma Haus for S$3.90 ramen, Liao Fan for Michelin soya sauce chicken, and Lian He Ben Ji for legendary claypot rice. Chinatown Complex is a food pilgrimage destination, and Kazan is one of its essential Japanese stops.
Kazan Japanese Cuisine is one of Chinatown Complex's most enduring Japanese treasures. While newer stalls like Uma Haus bring S$3.90 ramen to the complex, Kazan has been quietly serving restaurant-quality Japanese bento for over a decade — and the Unagi Set at S$8-10 remains its crown jewel. At a time when restaurant unagi don costs S$25-35, getting a fillet-sized portion at this price from an ex-restaurant chef is extraordinary. The Katsudon at S$5 is equally impressive. Kazan does not try to be trendy or Instagram-worthy — it simply delivers good Japanese food at honest prices, day after day. That consistency, combined with Chef Lim's genuine expertise, is what makes Kazan essential.