A wide, eye-level shot framed through a wooden doorway captures the warm, cozy entrance of an authentic Japanese restaurant, representing the file "1-Yorimichi Yakitori Izakaya Review.webp". On the left, a long wooden bar counter illuminated by a soft golden under-counter glow is lined with a row of empty, high-backed wooden barstools with dark cushions. Behind the bar, an organized kitchen and drink preparation station features rows of glasses and bottles under glowing paper lanterns hanging from the ceiling. To the right, a glass windowpane features a prominent vertical "PUSH" sign next to a hanging wooden plaque inscribed with Japanese characters, alongside promotional posters and reviews displayed for incoming diners.

Yorimichi Yakitori Izakaya Review: Hidden Gem at Golden Mile Tower

Some restaurants you find on purpose. Others you stumble into because you took the long way home. There’s a Japanese word for that wandering route, yorimichi, a small detour on the way somewhere else. It’s the perfect name for Yorimichi Yakitori Izakaya, a quietly charming spot tucked into Golden Mile Tower in Singapore.

I’ve come to think of yakitori as both food and ritual, the slow patience of skewers over charcoal. So when a friend dragged me here one weeknight, I expected good skewers, little items and else. Let me explain why.

Yorimichi Yakitori Izakaya at Golden Mile Tower: A Hidden Gem Worth the Detour

It sits in a slightly nondescript corner near the entrance, easy to walk past if you aren’t paying attention. Honestly, that’s part of the appeal. Golden Mile Tower has an old-school, lived-in feel, all worn tiles and quiet bustle, and slipping into Yorimichi from that backdrop feels like finding a warm pocket of Japan you weren’t supposed to know about. It’s a genuine hidden gem, and the small effort to find it makes the meal feel earned; the detour, in other words, is the whole point. Yorimichi is praised for its traditional Japanese ambiance and high-quality charcoal-grilled skewers.

The Interior Reminds You of a Casual Izakaya in Japan

A wide, eye-level shot captures the vibrant, highly decorated interior of a Japanese izakaya, representing the file "2-Yorimichi Yakitori Izakaya Review.webp". The dining area features several thick wooden tables paired with stools made from green plastic crates topped with grey cushions, each set with condiments and tissue boxes. The back wall is covered with a dramatic, colorful mural depicting an octopus and ocean waves next to a bright blue-lit beverage refrigerator displaying cold sake and drinks. The lively, eclectic atmosphere is enhanced by a dark ceiling filled with hanging white Sapporo paper lanterns, neon tube accents, sake barrels, and extensive shelves packed with liquor bottles on the right wall where a staff member stands.

Step inside and the mood shifts with warm lighting, wooden details, the low hum of conversation, and a faint thread of charcoal smoke drifting from the grill. It evokes the small izakaya counters in Japan where ordering one more skewer makes an hour slip away. The interior is decorated with old advertisements and Japanese memorabilia. Nothing here pretends to be polished or grand, which is exactly its charm. This is a place built for friends, after-work unwinding, or relaxed weekend visits, where you come in tense and somewhere between the first skewer and second beer, you stop checking the time.

Yakitori, Skewers, and Grilled Dishes to Order

A high-angle, close-up shot captures two glistening, freshly grilled yakitori skewers served on a rustic rectangular ceramic plate, representing the file "3-Yorimichi Yakitori Izakaya Review.webp". The thick chunks of meat are skewered on wooden sticks, showing a savory, caramelized glaze with subtle charred edges from the grill that reflect the warm, overhead restaurant lighting. The square plate features an earthy, textured grey and brown glaze and rests on a polished wooden table with a visible grain. In the upper-left corner, a small, multi-colored decorative ceramic dish holds a dollop of bright green wasabi and a dark dipping sauce, completing the appetizing presentation.

Good yakitori is deceptively simple. It lives or dies on timing, fire, and seasoning, and there’s nowhere for a careless cook to hide.

At Yorimichi, the skewers arrive in their own unhurried rhythm, hot off the charcoal. I’d start with the classics and build outward from there.

A few grilled dishes worth your order:

  • Torimomo (chicken thigh) and torikawa (chicken skin), juicy and crisp respectively
  • Sunagimo (gizzard) and hatsu (heart) for texture and a little adventure
  • Tebasaki (chicken wings) and tsukune (chicken meatball)
  • Pork belly, garlic, and shiitake mushroom for variety

My honest advice: don’t over-plan. Order a spread, share everything, and let the table decide what to repeat. That’s how this delicious food is meant to be eaten.

Do Not Miss the Garlic Fried Rice

If you take one tip from me, it’s this: the garlic fried rice, listed as ninniku chahan at $9.80, is the dish I think about days later. It’s savoury, aromatic, and faintly buttery, with that toasty garlic edge that lingers. After a run of smoky skewers, a warm bowl of fried rice grounds the whole meal beautifully. I’d call it the quiet anchor of the table. It isn’t flashy, but it’s the dish you keep reaching for, and the one you should absolutely check off when you visit.

Sashimi, Small Plates, and Other Japanese Food Beyond Yakitori

A close-up, eye-level shot captures a lavish spread of vibrant Japanese dishes arranged across a dark wooden table, representing the file "4-Yorimichi Yakitori Izakaya Review.webp". In the foreground, two large ceramic bowls with a textured, scale-like blue and white pattern are filled with colorful ingredients; the left bowl contains a chirashi-style mix of cubed tamago (egg omelet), cucumbers, ikura (salmon roe), and seaweed, while the right bowl neatly showcases slices of fresh salmon, shrimp, squid, and shredded daikon radish. The background falls into a soft blur, revealing a crowded feast of additional platters including sashimi, skewers, and side dishes, set within a dimly lit restaurant where a colorful wall mural is faintly visible in the distance.

Here’s where the name earns itself. Yorimichi is more than just yakitori, and the kitchen clearly wants you to roam beyond the grill. The sashimi is a lovely counterpoint to all that char. The 5-kind moriawase is the easy choice, but the salmon, hamachi, and hotate hold their own as fresh, clean bites between skewers. Add a few small plates and you’ve got a fuller, more balanced spread. It’s proper Japanese comfort cooking, the kind of menu that rewards ordering a little of everything rather than one thing in bulk.

Additional Information

Opening hours, last I checked:

  • Mon–Thu: 5PM–12AM
  • Fri–Sat: 5PM–1AM
  • Sun: 5PM–10:30PM

Hours can change, so it’s worth a quick check or a reservation before you make the trip. A little planning saves a wasted way there.

Who Should Visit Yorimichi Yakitori Izakaya?

This is a place for a specific kind of evening, and I think it’s honest to say so. It suits friends catching up, casual dates, after-work dinners, and anyone who simply loves yakitori done with care. If you’re chasing a sleek, fine-dining experience with white tablecloths, this isn’t quite that. Set those expectations aside and you won’t be disappointed. But if you value warmth, character, and the easy flow of time over polish, Yorimichi is exactly your kind of spot in Singapore.

The Detour Worth Taking

I keep returning to that word, yorimichi, the detour on the way home. Some of the best meals come from places you weren’t searching for, found by slowing down and looking past the obvious entrance. Diners often note the welcoming nature of the staff, and Yorimichi is known for its friendly and attentive service. Yorimichi Yakitori Izakaya rewards that patience. It asks you to wander a little, settle into the charcoal smoke and warm light, and sit for a proper meal with people you like. The izakaya atmosphere is reminiscent of Tokyo’s alleyways. So next time you’re located near Golden Mile Tower, take the detour. Order the skewers, don’t skip the garlic fried rice, and stay a while. For more spots worth the trip, browse Singapore’s Best Yakitori and keep wandering.

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