Wa-En Wagyu Yakiniku

Wa-En Wagyu Yakiniku is a Japanese barbecue restaurant inside Jewel Changi Airport. You grill A4 and A5 wagyu from Miyazaki Prefecture yourself, right at your table. Wa-En is a concept by EN Group, and this is its first Singapore outlet.

The brand started in Hong Kong, where its flagship has been open for more than ten years. The restaurant says that branch was recommended in the Michelin Guide in 2016 and 2017. In Singapore, the yakiniku dining room sits alongside a bar with its own drinks and small plates.

What to order

To count as Miyazaki wagyu, beef must come from Japanese Black cattle born and raised in the prefecture, and be graded 4 or 5. Wa-En serves it in many cuts, from karubi (short rib) and chuck roll to sirloin and ribeye. Beef platters are the easiest way to try several at once. There are also lean cuts, beef tongue, pork, chicken, seafood and vegetables for the grill.

Away from the grill, the signatures include:

• Miyazaki Wagyu Beef Tartare, in yangnyeom sauce with an Okinawa egg yolk
• Seared Miyazaki Wagyu Sushi with Sea Urchin, lightly torched and topped with uni
• Premium Wagyu Steak Jyu, wagyu steak on rice with uni, ikura and an onsen egg
• Wagyu Suji Inaniwa Udon, stewed wagyu with thin udon in bonito broth
• Morioka Cold Noodles, chilled noodles with kimchi and namul

Set courses for two or more give a good spread, with starters, grilled meats, a rice or noodle dish and dessert. There is also a weekday lunch menu, a weekday value course and a wagyu buffet menu.

The setting

The room uses Japanese wood tones and a clean, simple layout. Booth seats and private rooms give groups some privacy. The grills are imported from Japan and pull smoke downward, which keeps cooking smells low.

The Wa-En Bar is a separate space within the restaurant. It pours wine, Japanese whisky, sake and cocktails, and serves Japanese small plates to go with them.

Getting there

Wa-En is on level 1 of Jewel Changi Airport, at unit #01-224. Jewel is open to the public, so you do not need a flight to visit. It also makes a good meal stop on a long layover, and our Singapore layover itinerary helps you plan the time. Menus are on the Wa-En website.

Nearby

Make time to explore the rest of Jewel Changi Airport. For a quicker bite, Shake Shack is in the same building. If you need a bed, YOTELAIR is inside Jewel too, and Crowne Plaza Changi Airport is close by. Flying home after a shopping trip? Read our GST refund guide. You can also browse more steakhouses and grills or restaurants in Changi and the airport.