At a Glance
About Nanami Izakaya
Nanami Izakaya occupies a shophouse at 3 Craig Road, one of Tanjong Pagar's most concentrated streets for Japanese dining. The name means 'Seven Seas' in Japanese, and the restaurant has built a loyal following among both Japanese expatriates and local regulars who appreciate its commitment to authentic izakaya cooking — the kind of food that Japanese salarymen eat after work, prepared with genuine ingredients and served in an atmosphere that could have been transported directly from a back street in Shinbashi or Yurakucho. Craig Road itself has become something of an izakaya row in Tanjong Pagar, with Nanami sitting alongside sister establishments and competitors alike, each offering their own interpretation of the Japanese drinking-and-eating culture.
The menu covers the full spectrum of izakaya cooking. Yakitori skewers — chicken thigh, tsukune meatball, skin, liver, and seasonal specials — arrive from the charcoal grill with the right balance of char and juiciness. The sashimi selection changes with availability but typically includes a solid range of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and seasonal white fish. Grilled whole fish, either salted or with a miso glaze, is a staple for larger groups. Tempura is light and crisp, and the fried chicken karaage is among the more reliable versions in the neighbourhood. For heartier appetites, the rice dishes and udon rounds provide a satisfying end to the meal. What you will not find here is innovation for its own sake — Nanami's strength is consistency and authenticity rather than novelty.
The sake list is one of Nanami's genuine strengths, featuring a well-curated selection of nihonshu from regions across Japan — from the clean, crisp junmai daiginjo styles of Niigata to the richer, earthier offerings from warmer prefectures. The staff can guide you through the list if you are unfamiliar with sake, and there are smaller serving sizes available so you can try several without committing to a full bottle. Shochu, Japanese whisky, highballs, and draft Asahi round out the drinks menu. The atmosphere peaks on Friday and Saturday evenings, when Craig Road fills with a mix of Japanese professionals, local couples, and groups of friends settling in for a long session of food and drinks. Reservations are recommended for weekend evenings; weekday lunch and early dinner are usually walk-in friendly.
Recommended For
Menu & Pricing
Representative items from the izakaya menu. Prices are approximate and may vary with seasonal availability.
| Item | Description | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Yakitori Assortment (5 sticks) | Charcoal-grilled chicken skewers — momo, tsukune, skin, negima, liver | ~S$16 |
| Sashimi Moriawase (assorted) | Chef's selection of 5–7 types of fresh sashimi | ~S$28–42 |
| Grilled Whole Shishamo | Whole grilled shishamo (smelt fish), served with salt | ~S$10 |
| Karaage (Fried Chicken) | Japanese-style fried chicken with mayo and lemon | ~S$12 |
| Agedashi Tofu | Deep-fried silken tofu in dashi broth with grated daikon | ~S$10 |
| Salmon Ochazuke | Grilled salmon over rice, topped with dashi tea | ~S$14 |
| Sake (by glass/bottle) | Curated selection from regions across Japan | S$12–89 |
The Nanami Izakaya Experience
Craig Road — Tanjong Pagar's Izakaya Row
Craig Road is to izakayas what Tras Street is to sushi counters — the street where serious Japanese drinking-and-eating culture lives in Tanjong Pagar. Walk down this short stretch after 7pm on any weekday and you will hear Japanese conversation spilling out of every doorway, smell charcoal smoke drifting from grills, and see the warm glow of izakaya lanterns beckoning from shophouse entrances. Nanami sits among the best of them, its ground-floor space filling quickly with groups settling in for a long evening of shared plates and sake. The shophouse setting adds character that purpose-built restaurant spaces cannot replicate — uneven floors, exposed brick, low ceilings, and the sense of being somewhere that has absorbed decades of conversation and laughter.
The Yakitori — Charcoal Simplicity
The yakitori at Nanami follows the traditional Japanese approach: individual chicken parts — momo (thigh), tsukune (minced meat ball), kawa (skin), negima (thigh with leek), reba (liver) — each threaded onto bamboo skewers and grilled over binchotan charcoal with nothing more than salt or tare sauce. The skill is in the timing: skin needs to be crisp but not burnt, tsukune needs to be cooked through but still moist, and thigh should have a slight char on the outside while remaining juicy within. These are the kind of details that separate a good izakaya from a great one, and Nanami's grill work is consistently reliable. Order the assorted plate on your first visit to sample the range, then reorder your favourites individually. The tsukune with egg yolk dip is a particular standout.
The Sake Journey — From Clean to Rich
Nanami's sake list is a genuine asset rather than a token gesture. The selection spans multiple regions and styles — from the clean, floral junmai daiginjo styles of Niigata and Akita (perfect for pairing with sashimi) to the richer, earthier junmai from warmer prefectures like Hiroshima and Saga (which stand up beautifully to grilled meats and stronger-flavoured dishes). If you are new to sake, start with a glass of something light and aromatic and work your way towards fuller-bodied options as the meal progresses. The staff are knowledgeable and happy to recommend pairings. Smaller serving sizes (130ml, 230ml) make it easy to taste several varieties without over-committing. For groups, a bottle to share is the most economical option. Shochu, Japanese whisky highballs, and draft Asahi are also available for those who prefer.
Group Dining — The Izakaya Way
The best way to experience Nanami is with a group of three to six people, ordering a spread of shared plates. This is how izakaya dining is meant to work — a constantly growing collection of small dishes arriving at the table over the course of an evening, each plate passed around and shared while conversation flows freely. Start with sashimi and edamame. Move to yakitori and grilled fish. Add karaage and agedashi tofu as the sake bottles accumulate. Finish with ochazuke or a rice dish to soak up the evening's indulgences. The izakaya format encourages experimentation — order something you have never tried, and if it does not work, the next plate is already on its way. Budget around S$40–60 per person for a generous dinner with drinks, which represents excellent value for the quality and quantity of food.
The After-Work Ritual
If there is one time that captures the true spirit of Nanami, it is a Thursday or Friday evening around 7:30pm, when the week's pressures are winding down and the izakaya fills with the steady hum of conversation, the clinking of beer glasses, and the rhythmic calls of 'sumimasen!' as tables flag down servers for another round. The Japanese expatriate crowd arrives first, loosening ties and settling into the familiar ritual of nama-biiru (draft beer) followed by sake and an expanding table of shared plates. Local regulars filter in after them, comfortable with the menu and the pace. By 9pm, the restaurant is buzzing with the kind of unpretentious energy that makes izakaya culture one of Japan's greatest contributions to the world of dining. This is not a restaurant for seeing and being seen — it is a restaurant for eating well, drinking thoughtfully, and enjoying the company of the people around you.
Practical Information
Sun: Closed
Dietary Information
Tanjong Pagar — Singapore's Japanese Food Capital
The Neighbourhood
Tanjong Pagar holds the highest concentration of Japanese restaurants in Singapore, with over 45 establishments. From Michelin-starred omakase to late-night ramen, this is the most complete Japanese dining neighbourhood in Southeast Asia.
Insider Tips — Dining at Nanami Izakaya
Craig Road is Tanjong Pagar's izakaya row — Nanami is next door to Izakaya Sazangaku (its sister restaurant) and a short walk from Niningashi, giving you options if one is full. Reserve for Friday and Saturday dinner. Start with the sashimi assortment and yakitori plate. Ask the staff to recommend a sake pairing — they know the list well. The tsukune (chicken meatball) with egg yolk dip is the dish that regulars order every single visit. If you are dining with a group, consider the izakaya course menu for the best value — it includes multiple courses plus free-flow drinks within a time limit.
Planning Your Visit to Tanjong Pagar
Tanjong Pagar MRT (East-West Line) is the main access point. Parking at Guoco Tower, International Plaza, 100AM, Icon Village. The area is compact and walkable — most Japanese restaurants within 10 minutes of the MRT.
Editor's Note
Nanami represents the heart of what makes Tanjong Pagar's Craig Road special: unpretentious, authentic izakaya dining where the quality of the food and the warmth of the atmosphere matter more than presentation or Instagram appeal. The yakitori is solid, the sashimi is fresh, and the sake list is better than it needs to be for a casual neighbourhood izakaya. If you are looking for the Japanese after-work drinking culture transplanted to Singapore — the kind of place where you can settle in for three hours of shared plates and gradually emptying sake bottles — Nanami delivers that experience as well as anywhere in the city. It does not try to reinvent the wheel; it simply turns out reliable, authentic izakaya food in a setting that feels genuinely Japanese. For groups of three to six, this is one of the best-value Japanese dining experiences in the Tanjong Pagar neighbourhood.