Highlights
About
Tori-Q (とりＱ) brings the spirit of Japan's yatai (屋台) street food stalls to Compass One Sengkang. The concept is simple and focused: charcoal-grilled chicken yakitori skewers, freshly prepared and served hot from the grill. Each skewer is individually priced from S$2.20, making it one of the most affordable Japanese food options in Compass One — you can grab a quick two-skewer snack for under S$5, or build a full meal with a rice bowl and sides for under S$10. The charcoal grilling produces a smoky, slightly caramelised exterior that electric grills simply cannot replicate.
Beyond yakitori, the menu extends to chicken karaage (Japanese fried chicken — crispy, juicy, seasoned with ginger and soy), teriyaki chicken rice bowls, and combo sets. The karaage is a standout — properly marinated in a ginger-garlic-soy base for several hours before frying, resulting in deeply flavoured meat beneath a crisp, golden shell. For commuters grabbing a quick bite before or after the MRT ride, Tori-Q's grab-and-go format is ideal: order at the counter, pick up your skewers or bento box, and eat on the go or at the mall's common seating areas.
The pricing structure makes Tori-Q uniquely flexible: unlike most restaurants where you commit to a full meal, here you can calibrate exactly how much you want to spend. Two skewers (S$4.40) as an afternoon snack. Four skewers with rice (S$8-10) as a light dinner. A karaage bento box (S$6.90) for a satisfying takeaway meal. This flexibility makes Tori-Q popular with students, office workers, and parents grabbing a quick bite while kids are at the playground upstairs. It is the kind of reliable, no-fuss Japanese food option that every neighbourhood mall needs.
Recommended For
Menu & Pricing
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Original Yakitori (per stick) Charcoal-grilled chicken thigh · salt or tare sauce | S$2.20 | From |
| Tsukune (per stick) Charcoal-grilled chicken meatball · tare glaze | S$2.50 | |
| Chicken Karaage (6 pcs) Japanese fried chicken · ginger-soy marinated · crispy shell | S$5.90 | Popular |
| Teriyaki Chicken Don Grilled teriyaki chicken over rice with salad | S$6.90 | Set meal |
| Yakitori Set (4 sticks) Assorted 4 yakitori skewers with rice | S$8.50 | Best value |
| Karaage Bento Karaage + rice + salad + pickles in bento box | S$7.90 | Takeaway |
* Prices subject to GST. Menu may vary.
Practical Info
Dietary Info
Your Visit
Quick Snack Strategy
Grab 2-3 yakitori sticks (S$4.40-6.60) for a quick protein-rich snack between meals. The original chicken thigh yakitori with tare (sweet soy glaze) is the classic starting point. Add a tsukune (chicken meatball, S$2.50) for variety. Total time from order to eating: under 3 minutes if skewers are ready on the grill. Perfect for a pre-dinner snack while waiting for a table at the fuller restaurants upstairs.
Full Meal Option
For a proper meal, the Teriyaki Chicken Don (S$6.90) or Yakitori Set (S$8.50, 4 sticks with rice) are excellent value. The Karaage Bento (S$7.90) is the best takeaway option — the bento format keeps everything organised and portable. At these prices, Tori-Q delivers a complete Japanese meal for less than most food court options.
The Charcoal Difference
Tori-Q uses charcoal grilling rather than electric — this matters because charcoal produces infrared heat that sears the outside of the chicken while keeping the inside juicy. The smoky aroma is part of the experience. In Japanese yakitori culture, the quality of the charcoal (typically binchotan white charcoal) and the grillmaster's skill in controlling heat zones are what separate good yakitori from mediocre. While Tori-Q is a chain format rather than a specialist yakitori-ya, the charcoal grilling still produces noticeably better results than the electric-grilled alternatives you find at food courts.
Yakitori Culture in Japan
Yakitori (焼き鳥, literally "grilled bird") is one of Japan's most beloved street foods, traditionally sold from small yatai (屋台) stalls and at izakaya pubs. In Tokyo alone, there are thousands of specialist yakitori-ya, each with their own approach to charcoal, sauce, and which chicken parts they serve. The two main flavouring styles are shio (salt, letting the chicken flavour shine) and tare (a sweet soy-mirin glaze that caramelises on the grill). The best yakitori-ya in Japan are as revered as sushi restaurants — Michelin has awarded stars to yakitori specialists. Tori-Q brings an accessible version of this tradition to everyday neighbourhood dining.
Photos
Map
Editor's Note
Tori-Q at Compass One is the snack-sized Japanese option that every busy commuter in Sengkang should know about. At S$2.20 per skewer, it is the cheapest Japanese food in the mall — cheaper than Yoshinoya's budget gyudon. The charcoal grilling genuinely matters: you get a smoky, caramelised exterior that elevates simple chicken beyond what electric grills can achieve. The karaage is reliably crispy and well-seasoned. For a quick protein hit between meals, a budget dinner under S$10, or a takeaway bento on the way home from work, Tori-Q fills a niche that nobody else at Compass One covers. It is not destination dining — it is smart, affordable, authentically Japanese grab-and-go food.
Compare: Quick Japanese at Compass One
| Restaurant | Price/Pax | Specialty | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tori-Q | S$2–10 | Charcoal yakitori skewers | Snack, budget, grab-go |
| MOS Burger | S$5–12 | Premium Japanese burgers | Quality fast food |
| Yoshinoya ☪️ | S$5–12 | Gyudon beef bowls | Budget halal |
Tori-Q is the most flexible option — you can spend as little as S$2.20 on a single skewer or build a full meal under S$10. MOS Burger and Yoshinoya require a minimum ~S$5 commitment.
Yakitori: Japan's Ultimate Street Food
In Japan, yakitori is far more than just "chicken on a stick." It is a culinary art form with dedicated restaurants (yakitori-ya) that use binchotan white charcoal, source specific chicken breeds, and serve every part of the bird — from breast and thigh to heart, liver, cartilage, and skin. The grillmaster (yakitori-shi) controls heat zones on the charcoal to cook each part at its optimal temperature. Two seasoning philosophies exist: shio (salt only, for purists who want to taste the chicken) and tare (a sweet soy-mirin glaze that develops complex caramel notes over the charcoal). In Tokyo's Yurakucho district, the railway underpass yakitori alleys are legendary — businessmen stopping for skewers and beer after work is a defining image of Japanese urban culture.
Tori-Q brings an accessible, everyday version of this tradition to Singapore's suburban malls. While it cannot match the artisanal depth of a specialist yakitori-ya, it delivers the core experience — charcoal-grilled chicken, properly seasoned, served fresh and hot — at a price point (S$2.20/stick) that makes it a realistic daily option rather than a special-occasion treat. For Sengkang residents who may never visit a Tokyo yakitori alley, Tori-Q provides a genuine taste of this important Japanese food tradition, right at their neighbourhood MRT station.
Getting Here & Area Guide
Compass One is directly connected to Sengkang MRT Station (NE16, North East Line) and Sengkang LRT. The Sengkang Bus Interchange is adjacent to the mall, with key services including buses 80, 86, 87, 89, 102, 119, and 136. For drivers, multi-storey parking is available with EV charging stations. Tori-Q is typically located on the ground floor or food cluster area of the mall. After your yakitori snack, explore the rest of Compass One: Sengkang Public Library (Levels 3-4), Chateraise (Level 3) for Japanese desserts, or head to Level 4's children's playground. Waterway Point in Punggol is just one LRT stop away.