Highlights
About
Ichiban Boshi (一番星, meaning "first star" or "brightest star") is a full-service Japanese restaurant chain operated by RE&S Enterprises — Singapore's largest Japanese food and beverage group. At Waterway Point #B1-19, Ichiban Boshi fills a crucial gap in Punggol's Japanese dining scene: while Sushiro and Genki Sushi specialise in sushi, and Gyu-Kaku focuses on yakiniku, Ichiban Boshi is the only outlet offering a comprehensive, full-menu Japanese dining experience with table service. The menu spans the entire breadth of Japanese cuisine: sushi platters, sashimi selections, tempura, teriyaki, tonkatsu, donburi, ramen, udon, and multi-course bento sets.
The RE&S group (which also operates Kuriya Japanese Market, Ichiban Sushi, and other brands) brings decades of Japanese food expertise and direct sourcing relationships with Japanese suppliers. This translates to consistent quality across the menu — the sashimi uses fish sourced through RE&S's established cold chain logistics, the tempura batter is prepared using Japanese technique, and the rice is Japanese short-grain. The restaurant seats approximately 80 in a clean, modern interior with booth and table seating suitable for couples, families, and small groups.
What makes Ichiban Boshi particularly valuable for the Punggol community is the set meal (teishoku) format. These multi-component meals — typically a main dish, rice, miso soup, salad, and side dishes — offer restaurant-quality Japanese dining at set prices (S$15–22 for lunch sets, S$18–28 for dinner sets). For a family where one person wants sushi, another wants tempura, and a child wants teriyaki chicken, Ichiban Boshi is the only restaurant at Waterway Point where all three can be satisfied at a single table with proper table service. The lunch sets are particularly good value — many include a drink, and the variety means you can visit multiple times without repeating the same meal.
Recommended For
Menu & Pricing
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Salmon Sashimi Set (Lunch) Salmon sashimi, rice, miso soup, salad, sides | S$16.90 | Popular lunch |
| Tempura Teishoku Assorted tempura with rice, miso soup, pickles | S$18.90 | Classic |
| Chicken Teriyaki Don Grilled teriyaki chicken on rice with salad and soup | S$14.90 | Budget |
| Sushi & Sashimi Combo 6-pc sushi + 9-pc sashimi with miso soup | S$24.90 | Best of both |
| Tonkatsu Set Crispy pork cutlet with cabbage, rice, miso soup, tonkatsu sauce | S$17.90 | Hearty |
| Chirashi Don Assorted sashimi over sushi rice | S$19.90 | Signature |
| Kids Bento Chicken karaage, rice, mini sushi, salad — for kids under 12 | S$9.90 | Kids |
| Udon Set Hot udon in dashi broth with tempura side | S$14.90 | Comfort |
* Prices subject to GST. Menu may vary.
Practical Info
Dietary Info
Your Visit
Set Meal Strategy
Lunch sets (S$14–22) are the best value: each includes a main dish, rice, miso soup, and sides. The Salmon Sashimi Set (S$16.90) and Tempura Teishoku (S$18.90) are the top choices. For budget: Chicken Teriyaki Don (S$14.90) is a complete meal under S$15. For a splurge: Sushi & Sashimi Combo (S$24.90) gives you the full raw fish experience. Kids Bento (S$9.90) is perfectly portioned for children.
When to Choose Ichiban Boshi
Choose Ichiban Boshi over Sushiro/Genki Sushi when: you want a full sit-down meal with table service (not counter/conveyor), your group has mixed preferences (one wants sushi, another tempura, another ramen), you want hot dishes alongside sushi (tempura, teriyaki, tonkatsu), you are celebrating a birthday or occasion (proper table setting), or you simply want a more relaxed dining pace. For pure sushi, Sushiro and Genki Sushi offer better per-piece value. For the complete Japanese dining experience, Ichiban Boshi is the choice.
Navigate the B1 Location
Ichiban Boshi is on Basement 1 (#B1-19) — take the escalator down from Level 1. Nearby on the same level: Sukiya (#B1-23, halal gyudon) and various other food outlets. The B1 location means slightly less foot traffic than Level 1 restaurants, which often translates to shorter waiting times. After your meal, take the escalator up to Level 1 for Chateraise (Japanese desserts) or walk to the Waterway Point outdoor area.
Photos
Map
Editor's Note
Ichiban Boshi is the Swiss Army knife of Waterway Point's Japanese dining scene. Where Sushiro specialises in conveyor sushi and Gyu-Kaku focuses on yakiniku, Ichiban Boshi covers everything: sushi, sashimi, tempura, tonkatsu, ramen, udon, donburi, and bento sets. Operated by RE&S — Singapore's most established Japanese food company — the quality is consistent and the menu is genuinely comprehensive. The lunch sets (S$14–22) represent the best value: multi-component Japanese meals with table service at casual dining prices. For Punggol families who want a proper sit-down Japanese meal where everyone can order something different, this is the default choice. It is not the most exciting restaurant in the mall, but it is the most versatile — and reliability has its own value.
Compare: Japanese Dining Styles at Waterway Point
| Restaurant | Price/Pax | Specialty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ichiban Boshi | S$15–30 | Full-service, full menu | Mixed groups, complete meals |
| Sushiro | S$10–20 | Conveyor sushi | Budget sushi |
| Gyu-Kaku | S$30–50 | Group yakiniku | Meat lovers, celebrations |
| Hototogisu | S$14–22 | Premium ramen | Ramen connoisseurs |
RE&S: Singapore's Japanese Food Pioneer
RE&S Enterprises is the largest Japanese food and beverage group in Singapore, operating over 60 outlets across multiple brands. Founded in 1988, the company was one of the earliest to bring authentic Japanese dining to Singapore's suburban malls — at a time when Japanese restaurants were largely confined to hotel lobbies and the Orchard Road corridor. RE&S's brand portfolio includes Ichiban Boshi (full-service Japanese), Ichiban Sushi (budget sushi), Kuriya Japanese Market (Japanese groceries and takeaway), and several other concepts. The group's scale enables direct sourcing from Japanese producers — fish from Tsukiji/Toyosu wholesalers, rice from Japanese agricultural cooperatives, and specialty ingredients flown in weekly. This supply chain advantage means Ichiban Boshi can serve quality sashimi-grade fish at suburban mall prices. For Punggol residents, having an RE&S outlet at Waterway Point means access to the same quality standards that the group maintains at its city-centre locations, without the city-centre crowds or prices.