This review covers Kokoro Izakaya at Lau Pa Sat. We look at its concept, menu, pricing, practical details and suitability for different diners. The outlet opened in June 2026. Much of the published dish coverage dates from that launch period, so we separate those earlier prices from the October 2026 offers wherever possible.
Kokoro Izakaya Lau Pa Sat: One Unit, Two Dining Formats
Kokoro Izakaya operates on a day-to-night model. By day, it serves Japanese rice bowls, ramen and udon, with weekday lunch promotions aimed at Central Business District (CBD) workers. By evening, the focus shifts to charcoal-grilled skewers, oden, bar bites and drinks.
The brand began at FairPrice Hub in Joo Koon. We treat the Lau Pa Sat outlet as a separate venue. We have not applied Joo Koon’s facilities or customer reviews to it.
The Setting: An Izakaya Inside Lau Pa Sat’s Festival Market
Kokoro occupies Unit MR20 beneath the cast-iron structure of Lau Pa Sat, a Singapore national monument. The market is busy, particularly during the lunch and evening peaks.
We have not verified Kokoro’s own seating layout, lighting or air-conditioning. Readers expecting a quiet, enclosed Japanese restaurant should note that the surrounding market sets much of the mood.
Weekday Lunch: The October 2026 Promotion
On 1 October 2026, Kokoro introduced weekday lunch mains from S$7.90 nett. The promotion runs Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm. It features the following dishes:
Crispy Chicken Karaage with Garlic Fried Rice
Pork Collar Buta Shogayaki Don
Spicy Miso Fried Rice with Chicken Karaage
S$7.90 is the starting price, not a confirmed price for each dish. Potato salad with hot or cold green tea now costs S$2 nett as an add-on, and three gyoza cost S$3 nett. The June launch sets included potato salad and tea at no extra charge, so this is a meaningful change.
For readers comparing affordable izakaya Singapore options, Kokoro’s published lunch promotion provides a useful price benchmark, particularly when other restaurants’ dine-in prices are less clearly documented.
Kokoro Izakaya Menu Highlights, From Japanese Asari Clam Udon to Rice Bowls
Sautéed Udon with Japanese Asari Clam
This is the best-supported dish on the menu. A September 2026 brand post promoted it as a Lau Pa Sat exclusive. A July tasting described chewy udon tossed in a lightly spicy sauce with asari clams. Its documented price was S$14.90 at that time.
Black Garlic Tonkotsu Chashu Ramen and Wagyu Beef Don
The ramen is served with a pork-based tonkotsu broth, black garlic, chashu and a seasoned egg. Two July publications praised its rich broth. Its price is unresolved: launch coverage listed S$14.90, while an October publication listed S$8.90. We have not confirmed any toppings beyond these, including bamboo shoots.
The Wagyu Beef Don combines wagyu slices, egg yolk, fried garlic, seaweed and rice. Published prices differ between S$23.90 and S$25.90.
Salmon Teriyaki Don
This dish features glazed salmon over rice. It was a launch-period lunch set at S$11.90 nett. We have not confirmed whether it remains on the revised October menu.
Evening at Izakaya Lau Pa Sat: Skewers, Oden and Drinks
The evening menu lists more than 15 skewer varieties grilled over binchotan, a Japanese hardwood charcoal. Examples include tebasaki (chicken wing), hotate (scallop), tori tsukune (chicken and potato) and buta bara (pork belly). September promotions listed skewers from S$3.90.
One July tasting rated the skewer selection 3.5/5, lower than the noodle dishes. Oden, a set of ingredients simmered in dashi broth, was listed at launch from S$3 a piece. A three-item set cost S$7.90 and a seven-item set S$17.90.
Drinks include Japanese beer, sake and whisky highballs. A promotion advertised on 16 October offered two Kirin Ichiban pints for S$25.
Planning a Visit
Address: 18 Raffles Quay, Lau Pa Sat Festival Market, Unit MR20, Singapore 048582
Hours: Daily, 11am to 11pm. Lau Pa Sat itself operates around the clock, but Kokoro does not.
Enquiries: +65 8758 7024
MRT: About 6 minutes from Telok Ayer (Exit A) or 8 minutes from Raffles Place (Exit I)
Dietary note: Kokoro is not halal-certified and serves several pork dishes.
Why It Made Our Coverage
Kokoro qualifies as a genuine izakaya because its evening menu centers on skewers, oden and alcoholic drinks rather than casual mains alone. Its S$7.90 nett lunch offers a level of price certainty that few CBD Japanese restaurants publish. Its location inside a heritage hawker market also sets it apart from enclosed izakayas. Few venues let diners compare a budget lunch and an after-work izakaya session at the same counter.
Our Assessment
Kokoro Izakaya suits CBD workers seeking an affordable weekday lunch. It also suits groups who want casual skewers and drinks after work, and diners who enjoy noodles. It is less suitable for formal dining, quiet conversation or readers who prefer a long review history. Lunch is the clearest value proposition. Evening spending depends on how many skewers and drinks the table orders.
Questions Readers Ask About Kokoro Izakaya
Is the S$7.90 lunch at Kokoro Izakaya available every day?
No. It runs Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm. Weekend diners should expect regular menu pricing.
Which dish best represents the Lau Pa Sat outlet?
We would point to the Sautéed Udon with Japanese Asari Clam. It is promoted as exclusive to this location and was well reviewed at launch.
Does lunch at Kokoro Izakaya reflect the full izakaya experience?
Not entirely. Skewers, oden and drinks belong mainly to the evening menu.
How should we book a table at Kokoro Izakaya Lau Pa Sat?
Call +65 8758 7024. The existing Chope listing appears to refer to the Joo Koon outlet.
