Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa Singapore: A Taste of Authentic Japanese Unagi at Raffles City

If you are a fan of Japanese unagi, there is a new spot in Singapore worth adding to your dining list.

Werecently attended a tasting at Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa Singapore, which is opening its second outlet at Raffles City Singapore on 1 October 2026. Following the success of its first Singapore restaurant at Shaw Centre, the Nagoya-born unagi specialist is bringing its signature live eel dishes to a new location in the heart of the CBD.

And there is something rather special on the menu here too — the Unagi Mountain, an outlet-exclusive creation available for a limited time.

Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa at Raffles City Singapore

For those unfamiliar with the name, Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa is a MICHELIN Selected restaurant and one of the world’s largest live unagi restaurant chains, with 50 locations worldwide.

The brand traces its roots back to Nakasho Shoten, a Japanese unagi wholesaler established in 1932. Founded in 2017 by fourth-generation owner Kikukawa Yuhei, the restaurant group has grown rapidly while continuing to focus on the traditional craft of sourcing and preparing live unagi.

The new Raffles City restaurant seats 84 diners and offers a setting suited to everything from business lunches to more relaxed dinners.

Located at 252 North Bridge Road, #B1-75, it is also conveniently situated within Raffles City, making it an easy option for a Japanese meal in the city.

The Unagi Mountain — Two Whole Eels in One Dish

The highlight of the new Raffles City menu is undoubtedly the Unagi Mountain ($88++).

Available exclusively at Raffles City from 1 to 31 October 2026, the dish features two whole kabayaki unagiarranged over warm rice in a dramatic tower-like presentation.

It is designed as a centrepiece for sharing, and it certainly makes an impression when it arrives at the table.

For serious unagi lovers, this is quite a substantial serving of the restaurant’s signature ingredient — essentially taking the classic unagi rice bowl and turning it into a much more indulgent experience.

If you are dining with friends or family, this would be the dish I’d be particularly curious to order, especially while the Raffles City-exclusive promotion is available.

Kabayaki Ippon Jyu Set

Another of the restaurant’s signatures is the Kabayaki Ippon Jyu Set ($48++).

This comes with a whole premium eel that is butterflied and grilled over binchotan charcoal. The grilling process gives the eel a lightly crisp exterior while keeping the flesh tender and juicy.

The eel is served with the restaurant’s house tare sauce, which is described as a closely guarded recipe passed down through generations.

I also liked the attention to detail in the presentation. The dish is served on handcrafted Minoyaki tableware from Gifu Prefecture, adding another layer of Japanese craftsmanship to the experience.

Hitsumabushi — Three Ways to Enjoy Unagi

If you are new to Japanese unagi or simply want a little more variety from your meal, the Hitsumabushi Set ($37++)is another option.

This Nagoya speciality comes with generous portions of grilled unagi and warm rice, and the fun lies in eating it in three different ways.

First, enjoy the unagi and rice on its own.

Then, add condiments such as wasabi, seaweed and spring onion for a different combination of flavours.

Finally, pour over dashi broth to turn it into ochazuke.

Each method brings out a slightly different character from the grilled eel, making the Hitsumabushi a nice introduction to the Nagoya style of enjoying unagi.

What Makes Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa Different?

Beyond the dishes themselves, much of the restaurant’s story is rooted in its approach to sourcing and preparation.

With more than 90 years of experience through its origins as an unagi wholesaler, the brand has generations of knowledge when it comes to selecting live eel.

Each eel is selected based on its quality, size and thickness, before being prepared and grilled to order over binchotan charcoal.

The intense heat helps create the slightly crisp and smoky exterior while keeping the meat tender and succulent. It is then finished with the restaurant’s signature tare sauce.

The rice is given just as much attention. Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa uses Koshihikari rice from Uonuma in Niigata Prefecture, prized for its sweetness and aroma.

It provides a delicate contrast to the richer, smoky flavours of the eel and helps balance the dish.

A New Japanese Dining Option at Raffles City

The opening of Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa’s second Singapore outlet also adds another Japanese dining option to the Raffles City dining scene.

The restaurant joins Les Amis Group’s existing concepts at the destination, including NamNam and Mui Kee, bringing another Asian dining concept to the mall.

For those working around City Hall, Raffles Place or the CBD, its central location makes it particularly convenient for a lunch or dinner featuring Japanese unagi.

Final Thoughts

My tasting at Unagi Yondaime Kikukawa Singapore was a good introduction to the brand’s focus on traditional Japanese unagi and the craft behind preparing it.

For first-timers, the Hitsumabushi Set offers a fun way to experience unagi in three different styles, while the Kabayaki Ippon Jyu Set keeps things classic with a whole grilled eel.

But if you’re visiting during October and want something a little more extravagant, the Unagi Mountain is the dish to look out for. With two whole kabayaki eels served over rice, it is certainly made for sharing — and for the camera.

The Raffles City outlet officially opens on 1 October 2026, with the Unagi Mountain available exclusively from 1 to 31 October 2026.