Kampong Bahru’s new Hiyaki is a stylish, modern izakaya perfect for hangouts with S$10.80 highballs and 1-for-1 beer

Kampong Bahru probably isn’t on most people’s radars as a probable hangout spot — there isn’t much in the area, save for a few cult-favourite cafes.

If you’re working in the area though, there’s Hiyaki, a new opening that might be good for drinks and unwinding after work.

Unlike the usual izakayas, which are usually cosy, rustic, and sometimes a little dingy, Hiyaki has a lot more modern flair in its decor.

From the moment you enter, you’re greeted by a line of umbrella lights perched right atop the counter seats, hung upside down from the ceiling and flanked by an array of maple leaves, giving it a bit more of an IG-friendly edge.

Just off to the side, the main seating area itself is also sharply set up, featuring a striking cityscape graphic spread over its main wall, while a slew of posters are plastered all over the surrounding beams.

Tucked away in a corner at the front of the space, Hiyaki also has a small private room with a bunch of zaisu (Japanese chairs with no back or legs and usually put on a tatami floor) surrounding a table in the centre.

There are screen doors that can be pulled shut to allow for some privacy — a nice and cosy little spot for bigger group hangouts.

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Great variety on Hiyaki’s menu

As with any izakaya, Hiyaki’s menu is quite extensive and chock-full of classic bar grub of various styles, ranging from yakitori to tempura.

Of course, there’s also every Japanese food lover’s favourite: Sashimi. 

At Hiyaki, you can get an assortment, with various options: Three kinds (S$35.80), two different options of five kinds, with a choice of otoro (fatty tuna, S$70.80) and chutoro (medium fatty tuna, S$60.80), as well as standalone uni (S$35.80 for 35g).

The five-kinds platter features either of the tuna cuts along with kanpachi (amberjack), maguro (tuna), sake (salmon) and mekajiki (swordfish).

Everything is flown in twice a week and all five varieties of fish taste equally fresh. Fans of fatty and decadent foods would probably enjoy how the otoro lightly melts in the mouth!

Besides that, Hiyaki also serves up smoky charcoal-grilled skewers, with a selection of twelve different items — both meats and vegetables — available.

That includes all the yakitori staples such as tsukune (chicken meatballs served with egg yolk, S$7.80), torimomo (chicken thigh, S$5) and tebasaki (chicken wings, S$5).

A good choice would be the tebasaki, which was tender and also sported a nicely crunchy layer of crust from its time on the charcoal grill.

The izakaya also has some less traditional signatures, such as the hotate nori wasabi (S$19.80 for three pieces), with pan-fried scallops served on sheets of seaweed and finished with kizami wasabi.

Recommended as one of Hiyaki’s signatures, the scallop is well-seared till juicy and soft, then nicely spruced up with a touch of wasabi.

Another one is Hiyaki’s unagi chahan (unagi fried rice, S$16.80) with chopped-up morsels of grilled eel in the fray.

The grains are loose, nicely moist and spruced up with a nice touch of smoke and unagi richness. A good dish to serve as the sharing carb for the table.

Then there’s all the gratuitous deep-fried favourites such as kawa ebi age (fried baby shrimp, S$13.80) and the shirauo tempura (fried silver fish, S$12.80) that comes encased in a nice airy batter.

With great snacks such as tempura and skewers to accompany your booze, you can’t really miss out on alcohol.

Hiyaki serves up all the usual suspects of beers, sake and cocktails. The highballs are priced at S$10.80, while it also offers one-for-one Sapporo beer at S$11.80 on Mondays to Thursday from 4.30pm to 7pm, if you’re looking for deals!

If you ask us, Hiyaki is a more than solid hangout spot. Great diversity, solid food, nice ambience — it’s got everything you want for a sake-fuelled hangout.

So if you think Kampong Bahru has nothing going on for it, think again.

This was a hosted tasting.

For more ideas on what to eat, read our stories on the most unique mooncakes gift ideas for 2024 and all the tasty treats you can get at Hvala’s new flagship.

Do explore the new GrabFood Dine Out service for awesome deals.

You can also book a ride to Hiyaki at Kampong Bahru