Yakitori Near Me on Circular Road: Yatagarasu Shophouse Skewer Counter

Yakitori Yatagarasu occupies unit #01-01 at 72 Circular Road, nestled directly within the bustling heritage shophouse enclave just behind Boat Quay in Singapore's downtown core. Tucked along this vibrant dining strip where modern financial offices meet riverfront nightlife, Yatagarasu captures the electric, intimate energy of a genuine Tokyo back-alley yakitori joint. The ground-floor space is anchored by a narrow, bustling counter wrapping around an open charcoal pit, where skewered meats sizzle over radiant coals and billows of appetising smoke drift past timber barstools. Celebrated among local Japanese expatriates and late-night culinary seekers since its opening, the tavern has expanded into adjoining shop lots while steadfastly preserving its high-energy counter culture, robust nose-to-tail chicken grilling, and signature vegetable-wrapped pork belly specialities.

Behind the counter, the grilling master orchestrates service with focused precision, constantly turning skewers by their bamboo handles and adjusting their positions along the heat gradient. Small wire racks keep finished skewers resting slightly above the coals so they remain piping hot without overcooking before being placed directly onto the diner's ceramic serving plate.

The menu at Yatagarasu features an impressive breadth of classic yakitori skewers, with individual chicken skewers starting from $3.00 alongside creative pork-wrapped specialities and hearty izakaya mains. Average spending typically ranges from $40 to $80 per guest, allowing diners to sample widely across poultry cuts, pork rolls, and seasonal appetizers. A signature starter is the vibrant coriander salad, heaped with fresh herbs and tossed in a tangy soy-sesame vinaigrette that cuts through the rich char of forthcoming meats.

Poultry purists will delight in the comprehensive nose-to-tail chicken selection. Skewers of tender chicken thigh, crispy skewered skin, savoury liver, firm gizzard, and juicy chicken wings are grilled with clinical accuracy. A standout favourite among regulars is the bonjiri chicken tail skewer, prized for its meltingly tender, fatty richness that crisps into a delicate crackling exterior. The kitchen also crafts succulent tsukune meatballs, lightly seasoned with chopped aromatics and glazed in sweet tare, which pair wonderfully with an optional bowl of steamed Japanese rice.

Beyond chicken, Yatagarasu is renowned across town for its inventive Hakata-style pork belly wraps. Thin ribbons of savoury pork belly are wrapped tightly around fresh ingredients such as crunchy asparagus spears, juicy enoki mushrooms, tender king oyster mushrooms, and fiery green jalapeño peppers stuffed with melted cheese. For diners seeking a satisfying conclusion to their skewer feast, the kitchen serves bowls of chilled cold dan dan noodles priced at $14, topped with minced chicken, crunchy cucumber, and a rich, spicy sesame-peanut broth that refreshes the palate.

The dining room atmosphere at Yatagarasu is casual, boisterous, and thoroughly social. Diners perched along the counter enjoy direct proximity to the kitchen action, where the sizzle of skewers and calls of greeting from the chefs create an authentic Tokyo izakaya pulse. To accommodate the heavy evening demand from neighbouring Raffles Place offices, the venue also offers seating across neighbouring shophouse units, providing slightly larger tables for group gatherings while maintaining the same lively service standards.

An authentic yakitori evening is incomplete without well-matched drinks. Yatagarasu serves ice-cold draft beers and fizzy Japanese whisky highballs served in frosted mugs, which pair naturally with the salty crunch of chicken skin and savoury pork skewers. The drinks menu also features refreshing fruit vinegar sodas for non-alcoholic diners, as well as an extensive line-up of dry junmai sakes and aromatic shochu bottles such as sweet potato Mitake and fragrant perilla Tantakatan served neat, on the rocks, or cut with warm water.

Every skewer served at Yatagarasu celebrates the timeless appeal of Japanese street dining. The harmony of binchotan charcoal smoke, seasoned skewered meats, and vibrant shophouse camaraderie makes this Circular Road counter an unforgettable stop.

Yakitori Yatagarasu is situated at 72 Circular Road, #01-01, Singapore 049426, positioned within a short two-minute stroll from Clarke Quay MRT station on the North East line and Raffles Place MRT interchange on the East West and North South lines. The restaurant operates for evening dinner service from Monday through Saturday, typically opening at 6:00 pm and serving until late, while remaining closed on Sundays and select public holidays. Because counter space fills up rapidly with CBD professionals by 7:00 pm, securing a table or counter booking several days ahead through Inline is highly recommended.

Walk-in diners who arrive right at the 6:00 pm opening or after the main dinner rush around 9:00 pm stand the best chance of scoring available counter seats. The restaurant accepts major international credit cards, contactless mobile payments, and local payment networks.

Circular Road is one of the most characterful nightlife strips in downtown Singapore, bordered by conserved two-storey pre-war shophouses that house wine bars, craft beer taprooms, and late-night noodle shops. After your meal, a leisurely one-minute walk brings you directly onto the scenic Boat Quay river promenade, where historic warehouses look out across the Singapore River toward the illuminated skyline of Parliament House, the Asian Civilisations Museum, and the towering skyscrapers of Marina Bay.