A wide view showcases the spacious interior of an upscale, modern Japanese restaurant featuring warm wooden architectural beams on the ceiling, atmospheric glowing lanterns, and dark wood tables paired with patterned armchairs. Large floor-to-ceiling glass windows at the back look out onto lush green foliage centered around vibrant red-leafed trees, with chefs visibly working behind a long sushi counter in the background.

WAKUDA Singapore Review: Inside the Dedicated Omakase Room at Marina Bay Sands

There is a certain anticipation that comes with entering an omakase room. You are not simply choosing dishes from a menu; you are allowing the chef to guide the evening, one course at a time. The experience becomes less about knowing what comes next and more about appreciating the small details in front of you.

During my visit to WAKUDA Singapore at Marina Bay Sands, that sense of curiosity was what stood out most. While the restaurant’s main dining room carries a lively modern Japanese atmosphere, the dedicated Omakase Room creates a more focused setting where the sushi counter, chef interaction, and progression of courses take centre stage.

First Impressions of WAKUDA’s Omakase Room

An eye-level shot captures a dining room layout set with dark wooden tables, patterned upholstered chairs, and warm paper lantern lights hanging from a decorative grid ceiling. Framed through the glass backdrop in the background is a open counter kitchen where staff in white uniforms prepare food against a garden view with bright pink foliage.

The biggest difference between WAKUDA’s main dining room and the Omakase Room is the sense of focus. The main restaurant has a more social energy, with cocktails, bar bites, and a wider menu of modern Japanese dishes, while the Omakase Room feels intentionally separated from that atmosphere.

Sitting at the counter, the experience becomes quieter and more personal. Every movement behind the counter feels part of the meal, from the preparation of ingredients to the final presentation of each course.

For guests who enjoy watching the craft behind Japanese cuisine, this setting creates a closer connection between the chef, the ingredients, and the dining experience.

The Omakase Room: A More Intimate Sushi Experience

A chef wearing a white uniform and black face mask attentively garnishes a plate of thinly sliced carpaccio at a clean, light-wood sushi prep station inside a Japanese restaurant. In the background behind glass walls, bright red autumn foliage stands out against a deep blue evening dusk light.

The dedicated Omakase Room is where WAKUDA’s sushi-focused experience takes place. Unlike restaurants where an omakase menu is simply added alongside regular dining options, WAKUDA separates this experience into its own space.

The room is designed around a more intimate sushi counter, allowing guests to observe the preparation closely. The limited seating encourages a slower pace, giving diners more time to appreciate the techniques behind each dish.

This format makes WAKUDA feel different from a typical modern Japanese restaurant. It still carries the polished atmosphere of Marina Bay Sands, but the counter setting brings back the personal interaction that makes omakase special.

Sushi Experience: Inside WAKUDA’s Omakase Menu

A close-up shot presents an assortment of fresh sushi arranged on a clear, textured glass rectangular platter lined with a green leaf. The platter holds five pieces of nigiri—including tuna, salmon, and white fish—alongside three crisp-coated maki rolls topped with minced fish, accompanied by pickled ginger and a small dish of soy sauce.

The WAKUDA sushi experience focuses on sushi, sashimi, and seasonal seafood, with menus changing according to ingredient availability. The progression highlights the quality of the seafood while allowing the chef’s preparation style to remain visible.

The menu reflects a balance between tradition and creativity. Guests can expect carefully prepared sushi alongside other elements that showcase premium ingredients, from seafood selections to more luxurious additions such as Hokkaido sea urchin, caviar, and wagyu in the restaurant’s wider offerings.

Rather than following an extremely rigid Edomae format, WAKUDA presents a more contemporary interpretation of Japanese dining. The emphasis is on balance, allowing the ingredients, textures, and flavours to work together throughout the meal.

Chef Tetsuya Wakuda’s Approach to Japanese Cuisine

The identity of WAKUDA is closely tied to Chef Tetsuya Wakuda, whose cooking philosophy is built around quality ingredients, seasonality, and careful technique.

His approach combines Japanese principles with influences from international fine dining. Elements of French culinary techniques can be seen in the way certain dishes are composed, creating a style that feels polished while still rooted in Japanese traditions.

This philosophy can also be seen across WAKUDA’s menu, where modern Japanese classics are presented with a contemporary perspective. The focus remains on the ingredients themselves, whether it is seafood, seasonal produce, or carefully selected premium ingredients.

For diners familiar with Chef Tetsuya’s previous work, WAKUDA feels like an evolution of his style, refined, precise, and centred around thoughtful preparation.

WAKUDA Among Singapore’s Michelin Restaurants

A top-down shot features three crispy nori taco-style bites held upright in a metal holder resting on a gray stone plate over a marble tabletop. Each taco shell is filled with different toppings, including minced red tuna, shredded vegetables with a dollop of green guacamole, and a savory seasoned meat mixture garnished with crispy strands.

Within Singapore’s growing collection of Michelin Guide-recognised restaurants, WAKUDA occupies an interesting position. It is not designed as a traditional sushi-ya, nor does it attempt to recreate a strict Tokyo-style counter experience.

Instead, it represents a more modern approach to Japanese dining. The Omakase Room combines the intimacy of a chef-led counter with the atmosphere of a luxury destination restaurant.

For diners comparing different Michelin Guide-recognised Japanese experiences in Singapore, WAKUDA offers a different perspective: one where contemporary design, hospitality, and Japanese craftsmanship meet.

WAKUDA Omakase Menu and Pricing

The Omakase Room offers several levels of sushi-focused experiences:

  • Sushi Experience: From approximately S$128++ per person
  • Premium Sushi Omakase: Approximately S$198++ per person
  • Premium Sushi Omakase with sake and wine pairing: Approximately S$328++ per person

The different options make WAKUDA suitable for different occasions. The entry-level menu provides an introduction to the Omakase Room experience, while the premium options allow diners to spend more time exploring the restaurant’s higher-end ingredients.

For those looking for a complete evening, beverage pairings and original cocktails from the wider restaurant also complement the experience.

Practical Details: Location, Hours and Dress Code

A long rectangular glass platter resting on a warm wooden dining table showcases a premium assortment of nigiri sushi, featuring fresh cuts of salmon, tuna, sweet botanical shrimp with head attached, scallop topped with caviar, sea urchin (uni) gunkan, and crab leg. Next to the platter sit pickled ginger, a small dish of soy sauce, a glass of water, and a rolled hot towel.

WAKUDA Restaurant & Bar

  • Marina Bay Sands, Hotel Tower 2 Lobby
  • 10 Bayfront Avenue, Singapore 018956

The restaurant is directly connected to Marina Bay Sands, making it easy to reach from Bayfront MRT Station.

Operating Hours

The Omakase Room operates during dinner service, with limited seating availability. Reservations are recommended, especially for preferred seating times. Guests should note the latest seating schedule before visiting, as the final seating and availability may vary.

Dress Code

WAKUDA follows a smart casual dress code.

Guests are kindly requested to avoid:

  • Gym attire
  • Singlets or tank tops
  • Flip flops
  • Hotel slippers
  • Robes
  • Beachwear

Recommended attire includes:

  • Collared shirts
  • Smart T-shirts
  • Trousers or tailored shorts
  • Closed toe shoes

Guests who do not meet the requirements may be declined entry, so it is worth checking the dress code before arriving.

Is WAKUDA Omakase Room Worth Visiting?

WAKUDA’s dedicated Omakase Room works best for diners who want a modern take on chef-led Japanese dining. It may not be the choice for someone searching for the most traditional Edomae sushi counter experience. Instead, its appeal lies in the balance between a luxury setting, contemporary Japanese cuisine, and a more approachable omakase format.

For visitors exploring Marina Bay Sands restaurants, WAKUDA offers something distinct: an omakase room that feels polished but not distant, where the chef’s techniques, seasonal ingredients, and atmosphere come together as part of one complete culinary journey.

It is this combination that makes WAKUDA memorable, not only the sushi on the plate, but the experience of watching each course come together in front of you, solidifying its reputation as one of the best omakase in Singapore.

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