Boat Quay has gotten somewhat of a makeover as a foodie destination in recent years, with the addition of a few bars and eateries that helped it shed its reputation as “that place with all the overpriced seafood restaurants”. 

One of these new joints is Shinya Izakaya, a Japanese bar and sister business to Georgetown Tze Char (also located at the far end of Boat Quay) and Nonbei Izakaya. 

Shinya Izakaya is as unpretentious as they come, with a straightforward menu of classic Japanese dishes. Inside, you’ll find plenty of cozy booths to dine with friends, as well as private rooms. Food-wise, Shinya Izakaya’s offerings are pretty similar to Nonbei Izakaya’s, with a stronger focus on bar bites like Ei Hire ($12++) and Gobo Stick Karaage ($6++). 

For a more substantial sharing plate to pair with your beer, I recommend the Buta Kakuni ($12++) which features tender slices of stewed pork belly with just the right amount of fat. 

The sashimi is pretty decent, too. You can’t go wrong with the Assorted Sashimi 5 Kinds ($48++) which includes cuts of crowd favourites like salmon, scallops, and amberjack. 

No visit to an izakaya is complete without a plate of freshly-grilled kushiyaki. I love the succulence and smokiness of the Tebasaki Chicken Mid Wings ($3++), and the Tsukune Chicken Meatballs ($2.50++) absolutely drip with flavour. Not to be outdone is the Shiitake ($2++) which manages to retain its juiciness. 

Shinya Izakaya also serves up substantial mains such as dons, though my preference is still the bar bites, which you can order as many as you want to fill up your tummy. 

 

 

Address: 79 Boat Quay, Singapore 049867
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Nearest MRT: Raffles Place EW14/NS26 
Opening hours:
Tuesday to Sunday: 4pm – 3am 
Closed on Monday 
Contact: +65 8112 8028

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