The elegant setting here will make you want to stay for as long as possible and the food will entice you to go back for more. The high-quality ingredients are flown in three times a week from the famous Tsukiji market in Tokyo so you know the flavours are going to be authentic.

There’s a wide range of sushi to choose from, as well as a host of other options like sashimi, maki, noodles and rice. Pair your meal with some sake; all of the labels are hand-picked to complement the menu.

#01-11/12, 1 Farrer Park Station Road (access via One Farrer Hotel & Spa), Owen Link

If you prefer non-pretentious dining experiences, this is the spot for you. The prices won’t break the bank either so that’s a big plus too. It’s a popular joint so there’s a crowd at times but the food is definitely worth the wait.

The menu changes often too so each trip here could potentially offer a different gastronomic experience, which is another reason why we love it.

#05-35 Ngee Ann City and #04-28 Far East Plaza

Emporium Shokuhin is an integrated Japanese Emporium with a live seafood market, a gourmet Japanese grocer and nine unique dining concepts, all under one roof. Senmi Sushi is a sushi bar located here and it’s known for its exquisite and flavourful dishes.

The giant chirashi and super California-style maki are must-try items. And, if you want to sample really fresh seafood, pop in on Mondays and Fridays, as that’s when they get their shipment of bluefin Nagasaki tuna – all 50kg of it!

#01-18, New Wing @ Marina Square Mall

Ideal for special occasions, Sushi Jiro is the fine-dining experience that takes sushi to a new level. The fresh, hand-picked produce used here is flown in four times a week, and chef Kenji Nakagawa has gained a loyal following, thanks to his simple but delightful creations.

This restaurant is renowned for its exquisite sushi and omakase courses and you can choose an omakase course or a lunch set or a set of assorted sushi or sashimi. A la carte options are available too and it’s a good way to get a taste of the food here.

#04-600 Marina Mandarin Hotel, 6 Raffles Boulevard

With both of its locations in the heart of the CBD, it’s no wonder that this place is often packed during lunchtime. It might be casual but it’s also trendy, thanks to the well-dressed financial district crowd that mill around here.

Koji only serves sushi and sashimi and the menu is simple but the fresh ingredients and wallet-friendly prices make it an ideal stop for a quick bite. And, if you want to pop by in the evening, you’ll get something totally different – an omakase menu that’s served with sake and shochu.

#01-32, Chevron House and #01-42 Pickering Street

One of the advantages of dining on sushi is that you can have a quick meal and the concept of ‘standing sushi bars’ is popular in Japan for this reason. You can try it right here in Singapore too, at one of this chain’s outlets, although there are some seats available too.

The lunch and dinner sets are great value for money and they have excellent promotions often too, such as Maki Madness, which gives diners 50 per cent off their signature sushi rolls at all branches on Wednesdays.

Various locations, check website for details; http://standingsushibar.com 

Owner and chef Tomoo Kimura has worked as an executive chef in several Michelin-starred sushi-yas before setting up shop here so he brings with him invaluable experience in refined dining. It’s not just the venue that’s designed well, the sushi is sometimes too beautiful to eat (but you’ll still scoff it down) and, made from fresh, wild-caught seafood, it’s also a delight to devour.

Every ingredient in the sushi here is carefully selected; for example, the Special A-grade Tsuya-hime organic rice is imported from a family farm in Yamagata prefecture, which is then cooked in top-quality Hokkaido spring water.

#01-07 Palais Renaissance; http://sushikimura.com.sg 

This rustic eatery serves more than just sushi but the range of nigiri sushi (all handmade) and makimono (rolled sushi) available here is definitely something to write home about.

What we love most – apart from the food – is the ambience, which is part old-world and part urban. It’ll make you feel as if you’re dining in a little alley in Tokyo and not on a lively street in Singapore. They also offer a special omakase menu, which is offered with optional sake pairing.

#01-01, 9 Mohamed Sultan Road

Text:  Balvinder Sandhu/Herworld