By The Table desk · Last verified 28 September 2026
Omakase is Japanese for “I leave it to you”. You sit at the counter and the chef decides the menu, usually a run of small courses and sushi served one piece at a time. In Singapore, lunch starts at about S$60 to S$68++ at the accessible end, mid-range meals run S$100 to S$200++, and top counters charge S$230++ and up. On top of that, budget for the ++, drinks, and a card guarantee.
Quick facts
- The chef chooses the dishes; you choose the price tier.
- Lunch usually costs much less than dinner at the same counter.
- The rough tiers are under S$100, S$100 to S$200, and over S$200, all ++.
- Drinks, sake pairings and supplements cost extra.
- Most counters hold your card at booking and charge for late cancellations.
- Eat each piece as soon as it’s served.
How does it work at the counter?
You sit facing the chef, who serves each course as it’s ready. A typical lunch runs from appetisers and assorted sashimi through a couple of cooked dishes to sushi, soup and dessert. Eat each piece of sushi as soon as it’s put in front of you, because the chef times every piece for the moment it lands.
What does it cost in Singapore?
| Tier | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Casual omakase-style sets | From about S$20 |
| Entry-level lunch | From about S$60 to S$68++ |
| Mid-range | About S$100 to S$200++ |
| Top counters | From about S$230 to S$280++, and up |
Lunch is where the value is. One CBD counter charges S$108++ at lunch and S$178++ at dinner, and the dinner adds a few more courses. Remember the ++: a S$168++ menu is S$201.43 on the bill, and S$280++ is S$335.72, before a single drink. At the other end, a casual Tokyo sushi import offered omakase-style sets from S$19.90 when it opened in Singapore in 2026. Those are a counter experience, not a chef’s full menu.
What’s included, and what isn’t?
The courses on the menu are included. Drinks, sake or wine pairings, and supplements such as extra uni or wagyu usually aren’t, and the ++ goes on everything. Ask the price of any supplement the chef offers before you nod.
How do I book?
Online or by phone, usually with a card held as a guarantee. Many omakase counters charge half the menu price for cancellations inside 48 hours and all of it inside 24 hours, and count a smaller party as a cancellation. Tell them about allergies or foods you don’t eat when you book, not at the counter.
Counter manners
- Arrive on time; many counters serve every seat together.
- Eat nigiri promptly, and fingers are fine.
- Go easy on the soy, because the chef has often seasoned the piece already.
- Skip strong perfume; the counter is small and the fish is delicate.
The WahLiao Verdict
Go at lunch: it’s the same chef and the same counter at a much lower price. Only book what you’d be willing to pay for if you had to cancel on the day.
Questions people ask
Is omakase always sushi?
No. Singapore also has sukiyaki, shabu-shabu, hot pot and French-Japanese omakase menus.
Can I say what I don’t eat?
Yes. Do it when you book, so the chef can plan around it.
Do I tip the chef?
No. The service charge is already on the bill.
Is sake included?
Usually not. Pairings are priced separately, and some counters allow corkage.
Sources: middleclass.sg, omakase restaurants for every budget; Eatbook, best omakase restaurants in Singapore; Women’s Weekly Singapore, affordable omakase; Daniel Food Diary on a casual Tokyo sushi counter’s Singapore opening (May 2026); e-housing.jp on counter etiquette.
Read next: How to Book a Restaurant in Singapore · What ++ Means on a Singapore Menu · Corkage in Singapore · Back to The Table
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