Akashi Japanese Restaurant
What Makes Akashi Japanese Restaurant Special
About Akashi Japanese Restaurant
Akashi Japanese Restaurant has been a quiet fixture of Singapore's Japanese dining landscape for three decades. Founded in 1995 when the city's Japanese restaurant scene was far smaller, Akashi started at the Orchard Rendezvous Hotel on Tanglin Road and has since expanded to three locations: VivoCity's basement (the largest), Paragon at Orchard Road, and the original Tanglin Shopping Centre branch. While flashier newcomers have come and gone, Akashi has endured by doing the fundamentals right: consistently fresh fish, well-executed set meals, and fair pricing that keeps regulars coming back.
The VivoCity outlet occupies a generous triple-unit space at B2-07/08/09, making it Akashi's most spacious branch. The interior is warmly lit with clean wood panels, creating a serene atmosphere more upscale than mall chains. Counter seating at the front is perfect for solo diners watching the chefs work, while deeper inside spacious table areas accommodate families and groups comfortably. The staff, many longstanding, wear traditional Japanese attire and provide attentive but unhurried service. Upon seating, a generous plate of edamame arrives — a small touch that sets the tone for the meal.
What distinguishes Akashi is the quality of its raw fish. The sashimi has a noticeably glossy sheen and deep colour — tuna a rich maroon, salmon plump and vibrant — served with real grated wasabi root rather than reconstituted powder. The sushi rice is properly seasoned and nigiri formed with a confident, light hand. For a comprehensive Japanese meal without omakase pricing, Akashi's teishoku is hard to beat: main dish, rice, miso soup, salad, and seasonal fruit, all under S$20 at lunch. The dinner versions are only S$3–4 more. The Spider Roll is a hidden favourite among regulars — arguably Singapore's best at this price point.
Recommended For
Menu & Pricing
Lunch Sets (~S$3–4 more at dinner)
| Sushi Tsuki Set — Assorted nigiri, soup, salad, fruits | ~S$16 |
| Tenzaru Chasoba — Tempura with chilled green tea soba | ~S$15 |
| Otsukuri Set — Premium assorted sashimi platter | ~S$26 |
| Saba Shioyaki — Salt-grilled mackerel set | ~S$18 |
| Akashi Bento — Chef's combination bento | ~S$22 |
| Chirashi Don — Assorted sashimi over rice | ~S$22 |
A La Carte & Favourites
| Spider Roll ⭐ Editor's Pick | ~S$16 |
| Salmon/Tuna Sashimi (per portion) | S$6–8 |
| Tempura Moriawase | ~S$16 |
| Chicken Teriyaki | ~S$14 |
| Gyoza (6 pcs) | ~S$8 |
Budget Guide
Practical Information
Dietary Information
Not halal-certified. Some dishes contain pork. Sashimi and grilled fish sets available without pork. For halal Japanese near VivoCity: Suki-Ya KIN (L2).
Photos
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Location
From HarbourFront MRT: Exit via VivoCity B2. Walk through basement food corridor — Akashi at B2-07/08/09, large triple-unit with warm wood entrance. Under 3 min.
Your Dining Journey
Warm Welcome with Edamame
A kimono-clad waitress brings a generous plate of salted edamame — complimentary and addictive. Browse the iPad menu (VivoCity) while you enjoy them. The clean wood interior and soft lighting immediately calm the senses after the busy mall.
The Set Arrives — A Complete Tableau
Everything arranged with care on a tray: main dish centred, rice and miso soup to the side, salad dressed simply, seasonal fruit as the finishing touch. Clean, traditional, inviting — exactly what Japanese teishoku should look like.
The Sashimi — Where Akashi Shines
If you ordered sashimi, here is where Akashi proves itself. Fish cut with confident, clean strokes. Tuna: deep maroon, firm. Salmon: rich, buttery. And the real wasabi — grated from the root — provides clean, herbaceous heat that complements the fish. Dip lightly. Let quality speak.
The Supporting Cast
Miso soup: honest and well-seasoned. Tempura: light crispy batter, minimal grease — ebi tempura especially excellent. Salad: simple but fresh. Together they create a balanced, complete meal. Satisfying without being heavy.
Seasonal Fruit Finale
Every set meal ends with seasonal fruit — orange segments, melon, or watermelon. A simple, refreshing conclusion that cleanses the palate. Old-school Japanese hospitality, delivered with quiet confidence.
Akashi is not the most exciting Japanese restaurant in Singapore — no celebrity chef, no molecular gastronomy, no Instagram plating. What it has is rarer: three decades of consistent quality. The sashimi is genuinely good — better than Sushi Tei by a clear margin, approaching omakase-grade freshness at the lower end. The set meals represent some of the best value in Singapore's Japanese dining: a complete lunch with sashimi, rice, soup, salad, and fruit under S$20. Real wasabi at this price point is a standout. The VivoCity outlet suits families — generous space, high chairs available, calm atmosphere. The Spider Roll is a hidden gem. Go for weekday lunch for best value. This is not a restaurant that will blow your mind; it is one that will reliably feed you well, visit after visit, year after year. That consistency deserves respect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Akashi lunch set prices at VivoCity?
Lunch sets range from ~S$15–26. The Tenzaru Chasoba Set (~S$15) is the best value — chilled green tea noodles with crispy tempura moriawase. All sets include rice, miso soup, salad, and seasonal fruit. Dinner is S$3–4 more per set.
Does Akashi use real wasabi?
Yes. Akashi is one of the few mid-range Japanese restaurants in Singapore that serves real grated wasabi root (hon-wasabi) instead of the reconstituted horseradish-based paste common at chain sushi bars.
Is Akashi halal-certified?
No. Akashi is not halal-certified. Sashimi and grilled fish sets can be ordered without pork. For halal Japanese near VivoCity try Suki-Ya KIN (L2).
Is Akashi VivoCity good for families with children?
Yes. The VivoCity outlet is the largest Akashi — spacious enough for strollers with high chairs available. Children enjoy the tempura, edamame, and udon.