Tucked into the ground floor of an HDB block at 43 Holland Drive in Queenstown, Goro Japanese Cuisine serves what it calls a taste of happiness: premium Japanese cooking at affordable HDB prices, for dine-in and islandwide delivery.
The kitchen is led by Chef Goro, a first-generation, Japan-trained Singaporean chef with almost 40 years of experience in Japanese cuisine. His menu blends traditional Japanese technique with vibrant local inspirations, guided by three ideas the team sums up as harmony of flavours, nourishing body and soul, and dishes crafted for sharing. Fresh ingredients arrive almost every day, and the kitchen favours healthful, antioxidant-rich ingredients and sustainable options.
The spread covers sashimi, donburi and chirashi bowls, steak sets, bento, noodle and curry dishes, maki, a build-your-own kaisen don, pre-order omakase and sake. Best sellers include the Chirashi Don, Bara Chirashi Don, Steak Set and Unagi Set, with customers praising thick-cut, fresh fish and generous portions. The cosy outlet adds a few outdoor tables and hosts private events, birthdays and gatherings for up to 30 pax, while trained drivers deliver islandwide with hot and cold items packed in separate thermal bags.
On the ground floor of an HDB block at 43 Holland Drive in Queenstown, Goro Japanese Cuisine goes by a simple promise: a taste of happiness, served beautifully. The small, cosy outlet plates up premium Japanese cuisine at what it calls affordable HDB prices, welcoming everyone from solo lunch regulars to families, colleagues and whole birthday celebrations.
Cooking at the helm is Chef Goro, a first-generation Japan-trained Singaporean chef with almost 40 years of experience in Japanese cuisine. Fresh ingredients arrive at the restaurant almost every day, and his menu blends traditional Japanese techniques with vibrant local inspirations, guided by three ideas the team sums up as harmony of flavours, nourishing body and soul, and dishes crafted for sharing. Health matters here too — the kitchen prioritises antioxidant-rich ingredients and sustainable options.
The spread runs the full length of a Japanese favourites list: sashimi, donburi and chirashi bowls, steak sets, bento, noodle and curry dishes, maki, build-your-own kaisen don, sake and a pre-order omakase. Regulars say the freshness shows. Reviews single out thick cuts of salmon and tuna, generous portions for the price, and sashimi fresh enough to keep fish-lovers coming back.
The best sellers tell the story. The Chirashi Don has been called best in class by customers particular about their fish, the Bara Chirashi Don piles chopped sashimi generously over rice, and the Steak Set and Unagi Set round out the house favourites. Order the Steak & Sashimi Set and you get nicely medium-done beef, thinly sliced and drizzled with the chef's special sauce, crispy garlic slices alongside, plus lobster salad, miso soup and rice. There is ramen as well — the Seafood Ramen arrives loaded with akaebi, baby scallop, white clam, tako and wakame — and Japanese porridge that regulars plan their next visit around.
The newest arrival is a kaisen don you design yourself. Choose your base — Japanese white rice, red cargo rice or a mix of the two — then pick three ingredients from the main selection and one signature sauce, with a default garnish tying the flavours together. It comes in a small single bowl or a large double.
For a chef-led experience, omakase is available by pre-order: there are lighter mini omakase formats, while the full omakase course requires at least one day's advance notice. Sake drinkers have their own reason to visit — reviewers describe the pours as smooth, palatable and affordable, a nice match to the sashimi — and any 720ml bottle currently comes with a free kawahgi appetizer. The sashimi plates run as 1-for-1 promotions: the five-kinds set pairs salmon, tuna, yellowtail, salmon belly and scallop, and a second identical set arrives free.
Goro is built for company. The dining room is warm and humble, served by owners and staff customers describe as lovely, and a few outdoor tables are set up for those who prefer the open air. The team hosts private events, family and friend gatherings, birthday parties and business get-togethers for up to 30 pax, with food meant to spark conversation and leave everyone feeling nourished.
Can't make it in? Goro delivers islandwide with trained drivers who transport every order by car. Hot and cold food is separated into different thermal bags straight from the kitchen and delivered in the shortest time possible. Orders also run through GrabFood and foodpanda, or directly via WhatsApp. Hours are daily, Mondays through Sundays, from 11.30am to 3pm and again from 5.30pm to 10pm.
Whether you settle in for an omakase, split a 1-for-1 sashimi platter or build your own kaisen don bowl, the idea stays the same — food that delights the senses and deepens the moment. Gather your people; Goro will take care of the rest, one exquisite bite at a time.