How to Navigate an Izakaya Singapore Menu Like a Pro

Neon Pigeon
Jun 13
4 min read

Please imagine, you’re at an izakaya. The sake’s flowing, the place is buzzing, and you’re ready to eat. The only problem? The menu reads like a puzzle. Half the words sound poetic. The other half sound dangerous. Do you play it safe with chicken karaage, or say yes to something you can't pronounce?

Skyline view of illuminated skyscrapers at dusk, with a rooftop bar in the foreground. People sit at tables, and a boat is on the river. — Where city lights meet river nights—Boat Quay serves skyline views, flowing cocktails, and a buzz that lasts long after sunset. ©Image Credit: *Southbridge*

Welcome to the wonderful chaos of izakaya dining. And if you’re doing it at Neon Pigeon — a restaurant at Boat Quay and a strong contender for the best izakaya Singapore has to offer — you’re already in good hands.

But just to make sure your night out is more legendary than lost, here’s your guide to navigating the izakaya menu like a total pro. No awkward ordering. No food envy. Just bold flavours, strong drinks, and zero regrets.

First Rule: Don’t Order Like You’re at a French Restaurant

There are no starters, mains, or sides here. Everything is meant to be shared. You eat, you sip, you order more, and then you do it all over again. It’s like tapas — but with more umami and way better drinks.

Cozy bar with wooden decor, shelves of colorful bottles, and round tables with stools. Warm lighting creates an inviting atmosphere. — Minimalist wood, moody lighting, and walls lined with sake—this is where quiet nights turn into unforgettable ones. © Image Credit: *UmeSan100*

Begin with “Bird Feed” — It’s Not Just a Cute Name

At Neon Pigeon, the small plates are called Bird Feed. It sounds cute, but these dishes have serious attitude.

Tokyo Hummus (made with edamame, not chickpeas) comes with crunchy curry chips and tastes like a Japanese-Middle Eastern mashup you didn’t know you needed.
Duck Gyoza with foie gras and orange-ginger ponzu? That’s not appetiser energy. That’s "I came to slay" energy.
Miso Bone Marrow on red chili toast? Hot, sticky, indulgent, and the reason you’ll never look at bone marrow the same way again.

These are the dishes you order to look cool, then secretly order again because they’re that good.

A bowl of dip topped with sesame seeds and herbs is on a speckled plate with toasted bread slices, set on a wooden table. — A Japanese twist on a classic—Tokyo Hummus topped with furikake, umami crunch, and served with crispy toast for the perfect scoop.

Then Get Fired Up with the Robata Grill

If you hear sizzling and smell smoke, it’s not your imagination. That’s the robata grill — the heart of the izakaya. Slow charcoal grilling. No shortcuts. Maximum flavour.

Smoked Duroc Pork Ribs are glazed in miso mustard BBQ sauce and cooked to absolute perfection — rich, savoury, and packed with deep, smoky flavour.
The Bone-In Iberico Pork Chop is a showstopper. Tender, juicy, and full of umami, it’s the kind of dish that turns heads and silences the table in all the right ways.
And the Chilean Sea Bass with black garlic? Buttery, balanced, and beautifully bright. It’s the elegant curveball that proves izakayas can do refinement just as well as firepower.

A Love Letter to Bao

This needs to be said: the KFC Bao might be one of Singapore’s greatest modern food inventions. Karaage chicken, gochujang aioli, soy glaze, fluffy steamed bun. It’s chaos in the best way.

Then there’s the Menchi Katsu Bao — wagyu mince, curry mayo, katsu sauce. Imagine if a cheeseburger took a trip to Tokyo and came back transformed.

Get two. You’ll thank yourself later.

Grilled lamb chops topped with greens on a textured plate, garnished with a half lemon. Wooden table background adds warmth. — Charred, tender, and sliced to share—served with grilled lemon, fresh herbs, and a bold swipe of sauce ---- Iberico Pork Chop

Yes, the Vegetables Slap

If you usually skip the veg, rethink that strategy here.

The Grilled Broccolini with wasabi pesto and crispy garlic? It’s bright, bold, and weirdly addictive.
Caramelised Brussels Sprouts come tossed in kombu vinegar and furikake — crunchy, salty-sweet, and one of the most underrated dishes on the menu.
And the Truffle Mushroom Rice? Creamy porcini, king oyster mushrooms, egg yolk. This is comfort food for people who wear black and listen to house music.

Raw, Rolled, and Ready

No izakaya meal is complete without something fresh. But this isn’t your regular sushi set.

The Wasabi Scallop sashimi comes with hana wasabi and tapioca chips — spicy, sweet, and crunchy in the same bite.
The Futomaki Roll is a maximalist’s dream: tuna, salmon, hamachi, tobiko, yuzu soy.
And the Soft Shell Crab Roll? Crispy, creamy, a little spicy, and totally unshareable once you’ve had your first bite.

Drinks: Choose Your Level of Trouble

Neon Pigeon’s drink menu is kind of genius. Whether you’re going all in (full-proof), keeping things easy (half-proof), or skipping the booze entirely (zero-proof), there’s a cocktail for every kind of night.

Calamansi Cooler (zero-proof): citrusy, herbal, refreshing — like a spa day in a glass.
Pornstar Martiki (half-proof): tropical, fizzy, and fun without being silly.
Enzo Nine Negroni (full-proof): bitter, bold, spirit-forward. This one means business.
Pitcher of Fish, Fog & Cut: For when everyone wants to drink, but no one wants to decide what to order.

This is one of the reasons Neon Pigeon isn’t just a place to eat — it’s one of the best izakaya Singapore cocktail spots too.

The Desserts Are a Plot Twist

We’re cool 鳩（はよ）that love desserts. And not just any desserts — we’re talking final-course flavour bombs with serious main-character energy.

Take our Breakfast for Dessert and eat in every fun night you would have in Neon Pigeon. Sounds innocent, right? Soy and oat milk panna cotta, topped with miso granola and fresh strawberries. But don’t be fooled — this is not your gym buddy’s overnight oats. It’s creamy, delicate, and just savoury enough to keep things interesting. Think breakfast if it got a glow-up and went clubbing.

A plated dessert with yellow mousse, berry sauce, and crumble in a textured bowl with brown patterns, set on a wooden table. — A bold twist on the classic — miso marshmallow, white chocolate ganache, and just the right amount of crunch. S’mores, but make it Neon.

Then there’s the Smores, which absolutely do not care for tradition. We’re talking torched miso marshmallow, white chocolate ganache, and a graham cracker base that crunches just right. It’s nostalgic, messy, and somehow elegant — like your favourite campfire memory, but with a Tokyo streetwear remix.

These aren’t afterthoughts. They’re full stops. And yes, we’ve seen guests order them first — no judgment. When it tastes this good, rules don’t apply.