Our food editor Vincent ate here and reviews this extremely value-for-money buffet restaurant with over 200+ great choices of Japanese food items! [Updated 30-Jul-2023]

One of Singaporeans’ all-time favourites is Japanese cuisine. When you combine it with an unlimited buffet, you’ll notice a swarm of people coming to visit with their loved ones.

Singapore’s Shin Minori is a Japanese restaurant chain renowned for its outstanding Japanese buffet. For lunch or dinner, Shin Minori offers an a-la-carte buffet. You can place an unlimited number of orders from a list of more than 200 dishes featuring the likes of gorgeous slices of sashimi, pretty hand rolls, maki rolls, tempura, nigiri, and many other Japanese delights. It won’t be easy to get a table without a reservation at its two branches in UE Square and Katong Square. Checkout our links below for dining discounts and reservations.

Why i decided to eat at Shin Minori on my birthday. Did I regret it?

Japanese cuisine would be my first choice if I had to choose just one to eat exclusively for the rest of my life. I adore how their meals seem so straightforward but taste so good. I won’t ever get bored of it because of the diversity it offers. Even sushi comes in a broad range, with the most popular varieties being maki, nigiri, and uramaki. My spouse chose to take me out for a Japanese buffet lunch for my birthday at Shin Minori’s UE Square outlet since she knows how much I enjoy Japanese food, particularly sushi.

Shin Minori is the best value for money during birthday month when you can get a free lunch buffet with at least one paying adult, or through Burpple or HSBC’s Entertainer APP for 1-for-1 deal. Let’s find out what the excitement is about and if it is worth the fuss.

My observations: Automated dining with QR code ordering via our phones, how ingenious!

Shin Minori has two locations, and we went to the one at UE Square. The restaurant is on the third floor and has a lot of space with a casual feel and comfortable seats. Those who don’t mind sitting up high can watch the chefs prepare each dish skillfully right in front of them.

When you go to a place like this, you should plan your food to get the most out of it. The sashimi will be the most expensive thing on the menu, and you might also want to eat less sushi since the starchy rice fills you up quickly.

Pros: Easy ordering on phone, low waiting time, food arrived quickly

When we sat down, they gave us a piece of paper with a QR code that we could scan to place our orders. We can place orders from more than 25 categories of dishes and get food quickly with a few taps on our phones. Phew! We won’t have to wave wildly to get the waiter’s attention while eating and worrying that the buffet is running out of time.

My review on Shin Minori’s Sashimi: Was it fresh?

As the saying goes, pictures paint a thousand words and I will let them do the talking.

From the buffet’s price point, we were impressed by the freshness of the sashimi, which came in the ideal thickness that was kept consistent for all the sashimi slices. You can order the Sashimi Moriwase, which is a platter of different kinds of raw fish, or you can choose individually from the following raw fish options: Shake (Salmon) Sashimi, Maguro (Tuna) Sashimi, Mekajiki (Swordfish) Sashimi, Ika (Cuttlefish) Sashimi, and Karashi Maguro Tataki (Spicy Seared Tuna) Sashimi.

Pros: Fresh Sashimi

Let’s move onto some Sushi! How was the variety, plating and taste?

With more than 20 kinds of sushi, there is something on the menu for everyone, from chef recommendations like Karashi Maguro Sushi (Spicy Tuna with Avocado and Tobikko) and Aburi Shake Sushi (Seared Salmon) to crowd favourites like Ebiko Sushi (Prawn Roe) and Crunchy Kani Sushi (Crabmeat with Tempura bits). For us, our hearts go to Dragonfly Maki (Soft Shell Crab topped with Eel and Avocado) and Unagi Chizu Tanuki Maki (Grilled Eel with Cream Cheese & Deep Fried Tempura Bits).

Pros: Over 20 Varieties of Sushi

I tried their grills, behold the Yakimono section! Was it any good?

In the Yakimono section, you can discover all the delicious grilled foods that taste as well as they look. They all had a distinct smoky flavour that made them all quite tasty. We heartily endorse the following dishes: Shishamo Yaki (Grilled Pregnant Capelin), Buta To Garlic (Grilled Pork Belly with Garlic Seasoning), Yaki Hotate Teriyaki (Grilled Scallops with Sweet Soy Sauce), and Tori Teriyaki (Grilled Chicken with Sweet Soy Sauce).

Pros: Yakimono Grills were very tasty with a smoky aroma that lingered

And my favourite: Tempura which didn’t disappoint (Not on my birthday please!)

You will adore this if you enjoy tempura, which is delivered hot, fresh, and crispy. I particularly appreciated the Agemono (Deep Fried Dish) because they didn’t ooze oil or smell rancid from previously used oil when I bit into them. Each piece of the Kani Tenpura (mini soft shell crab) is crisply fried, and their Ebi Tenpura (Prawn Tempura) is well battered and freshly fried.

Cons: Waiting time can be long as the restaurant is popular. Chawanmushi was slightly below expectations. If not for the 1-for-1 deal, may be pricey and i may have reconsidered dining here.

Pros: Tempura was crispy, fresh and light in oil

Other dishes that we ordered includes Chuka Idako, Dobin Mushi and Kake Udon.

I ended with some of Shin Minori’s sweets… Balls of Mochi’s and ice cream

We finished our meals with delectable treats like Salted Caramel Brownie Ice Cream and Snow Angel Mochi (Coconut Yogurt Daifuku Mochi)! We had to order more mochi since it was so soft, chewy, and delicious.

Visit Shin Minori’s website to see their full menu.

My summary review: What i liked about Shin Minori. Was it worth $70+?

Overall, we paid around $70+ for our meals, which included a 10% service charge and a 7% GST.

Shin Minori is a buffet restaurant that gives you a lot for your money, especially with the 1-for-1 deal. There are premium cuts of sashimi, as well as a wide range of tasty grilled dishes, sushi, fried dishes, maki, and hot pot. I recommend getting Sashimi, Makimono, Aburi Sushi, Nigiri Sushi, and grilled foods.

The service staff is pretty quick and helpful. The meal we had made a strong impression on us. We’d give a 4/5 for food quality, a 4/5 for value for money (based on 1-for-1 deal we paid), a 4/5 for service, and a 4/5 for the atmosphere.

I’m sure that everyone can find something they like at Shin Minori. I recommend it if you’re looking for a Japanese buffet restaurant with good food and reasonable prices. Check out my ultimate food guide here for more glutton reviews.

Best Review of Shin Minori: [Updated 30-Jul-2023] A year on, Shin Minori’s food quality and services are still as good!

Pros: Completely worth my $70+ spent (ok my wife paid)

Cons: Quite expensive if not for the half-price promotion. The food quality was decent. You get what you pay for.

Discount & Reservation

If you frequently eat out, you’ve probably heard of Burpple, Entertainer, and Chope, three well-known platforms in Singapore that provide dining discounts and 1-for-1 F&B deals.

Burpple Beyond Member’s 1-for-1 Deal

With more than 500 partner restaurants and counting, Burpple claims to be the best food discovery platform in Singapore and Malaysia. New partners and dining deals are added on a regular basis. Depending on which plan you choose to purchase, you have a specific amount of discounts per restaurant available to you as a member: either two for the Lite plan or four for the Premium plan. Memberships are good for a full year.

HSBC Entertainer App 1-for-1 Deal

Visit the ENTERTAINER with HSBC app to discover exceptional global offers on dining, leisure, attractions, wellness, and travel. With your kakis, take advantage of specials like “1 for 1” or “25 off Express Offers.”

Chope Discount & Reservation

Chope simplifies dining. It is the best dining platform in Singapore, bringing together patrons and restaurants for more frequent, enjoyable meals and fantastic savings.