Kokoro Izakaya has officially opened at Lau Pa Sat, bringing the convivial spirit of Japanese izakaya culture to one of Singapore's most iconic hawker landmarks. This dual-concept restaurant offers affordable Japanese lunch sets by day and charcoal-grilled skewers with drinks after work, the same format that made its Joo Koon flagship a hit with Westies since April 2025.
Day and Night: Two Concepts in One
Lunch (Day)
Affordable Japanese set lunches make this an excellent option for CBD office workers looking for something beyond the usual hawker fare. Expect bento-style meals, rice bowls and hot plates at accessible prices, with lunch sets starting at SGD 10.90. The lunch menu mirrors the Joo Koon flagship, so fans of the original can expect the same Wagyu Steak Don (SGD 19.90) topped with medium-rare wagyu slices, garlic and a raw egg yolk, and the Seafood Ramen (SGD 19.90) with tiger prawns and Asari clams in a rich seafood broth.
Izakaya (Night)
As the office crowd clocks off and Lau Pa Sat comes alive after dark, Kokoro Izakaya transforms into a lively gathering spot. The evening menu spotlights skewers grilled over premium binchotan charcoal, which imparts a distinctive smoky aroma. Smoky assorted skewers start from SGD 2.90 a stick, with options like Negi Buta (SGD 4.90, pork-wrapped leek), Wagyu with Cherry Tomatoes (SGD 7.90) and Shiitake Mushroom (SGD 2.90). Pair your skewers with Japanese beers, sake and highballs.
The Drinks Line-Up
Kokoro Izakaya's beverage list is built for after-work sessions. The Suntory Kakubin Whisky goes for SGD 9.90 a glass, and the daily Happy Hour Promotion from 3pm to 7pm offers the Suntory Highball at SGD 7.90 (usual price SGD 9.90) and Kirin Draft Beer at SGD 10 a pint (usual price SGD 12). Beyond that, the bar runs weekly drinking promotions, including five free grilled skewers of your choice with every bottle of sake purchased on Mondays and Tuesdays, and one-for-one cocktails for ladies on Wednesdays and Fridays. These promos carry over from the Joo Koon flagship, so CBD diners get the same deals.
Opening Promotion: Sake Night Deal
To celebrate the launch at Lau Pa Sat, Kokoro Izakaya is running a Sake Night Deal at SGD 29.90 for a curated sake-and-skewer pairing. The deal pairs a carafe of junmai sake with a rotating selection of five signature skewers, typically chicken thigh with tare, pork belly, shiitake mushroom, negi buta and asparagus wrapped in bacon. The deal runs daily during dinner service and is available walk-in, though large groups should call ahead.
What to Order on Your First Visit
If you only have one sitting, start with the Aburi Mentai Salmon and Cheese Maki (SGD 14.90 for 8 pieces), a decadent roll with cream cheese and cucumber, topped with torched salmon and ikura. Add the Hamachi Kama Shioyaki (SGD 17.90), a grilled yellowtail collar that is the best-value hot dish on the dinner menu. Finish with the Spicy Miso Fried Rice (SGD 8.90) if you want something carby, but be warned, the mala heat is intense even though it looks mild. If you are coming for lunch, the Wagyu Steak Don is the order that built the brand's reputation in Joo Koon, and it transfers well to the CBD crowd.
The Details
- Location: 18 Raffles Quay, Lau Pa Sat Festival Market, Singapore 048582
- Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer MRT (Downtown Line, 2-minute walk) or Raffles Place MRT (North-South and East-West Lines, 5-minute walk)
- Operating hours: Daily, 11am to 11pm
- Happy Hour: Daily, 3pm to 7pm
- Contact: +65 8758 7024
- Reservations: Available through Chope
Why the Lau Pa Sat Location Matters
Lau Pa Sat is already one of Singapore's most photographed food destinations, with the Satay Street closure on Boon Tat Street every evening turning the surrounding lanes into an open-air satay market. A Japanese izakaya inside the heritage market adds a new dimension to the lineup, giving the after-work CBD crowd a sit-down option with alcohol that the hawker stalls cannot match. The Kokoro Izakaya counter is also one of the few indoor, air-conditioned izakaya seats in the Telok Ayer area, which matters in the late afternoon heat.
If you are planning a visit in the first few weeks, expect queues from 6pm onward, especially on Thursdays and Fridays. The Sake Night Deal is the best value entry point, and the walk from Telok Ayer MRT takes less than two minutes through the covered arcade. After dinner, you can step straight out onto Boon Tat Street for the satay carts, which makes this one of the few places in Singapore where you can do a full Japanese-satay crawl without leaving the block.
