LILYAN Singapore: Where Tokyo Soba Meets Modern Japanese Dining

When a restaurant earns its reputation in Tokyo, the bar is already set high before you even walk through the door. LILYAN, the celebrated soba restaurant that made its name in Japan, brings that same quiet precision and ingredient-led philosophy to Singapore. Tucked along Circular Road in the heart of the CBD, this is the kind of place that rewards the curious diner: understated, confident, and genuinely exceptional. Here’s everything you need to know about dining at this Singapore outpost.

Overview:

• Location: 38 Circular Rd, Singapore 049394
• Price Range: $$–$$$ (Mid-range)
• Our Bill: SGD 113.91 for 2 people
• Best For: Cold soba, modern Japanese small plates, date nights, weekday lunches
• Reservations: Recommended

Why LILYAN Is a Singapore Must-Try

LILYAN occupies that quiet, confident space the best Japanese restaurants are known for: no spectacle, no shortcuts, just thoughtful cooking and ingredients that speak for themselves. Born in Tokyo, the restaurant has built its reputation around soba done at the highest level, with a menu of Japanese small plates that complement rather than compete.

The atmosphere is intimate and unhurried. This is a restaurant built for lingering over good food and conversation, and its location along the historic shophouses of Circular Road makes it one of the more charming finds in the CBD. If you’re looking for somewhere a little off the beaten path that delivers genuine quality, LILYAN earns its place on the list.

What We Ordered & Full Review

Nasu – Fried Eggplant with Spicy Sauce ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A strong opening. The eggplant arrived with a beautifully crisp exterior that gave way to silky, yielding flesh inside, a textural contrast that shows genuine kitchen control. The spicy sauce was bold without overwhelming, with just enough heat to keep things interesting. An excellent shared starter and a great indicator of what’s to come.

Kamo – Light Grilled Miso Marinated Duck ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the standout dishes of the meal. The duck was marinated in miso with real finesse, present but not domineering, allowing the natural flavour of the bird to lead. The grilling imparted a subtle char that added depth and smokiness without drying the meat. Each slice was tender, juicy, and deeply satisfying. This is the kind of dish that earns a restaurant its reputation. If you order nothing else from the savoury section, order this.

Mizore-ni – Chicken Tempura in Dashi Hot Pot ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A more unexpected entry on the menu: chicken tempura served in a delicate dashi broth. The tempura coating softens slightly in the hot pot, creating a uniquely comforting texture that sits somewhere between crispy and silken. The dashi itself was beautifully clean and nuanced, exactly what you want from Japanese broth cooking. Warming, restrained, and genuinely satisfying.

Shiso – Rich Shiso (Perilla) Herb Tsuyu Cold Soba ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The dish we’re still thinking about. Cold soba done at this level is rare, and LILYAN absolutely delivers. The soba itself had excellent texture: firm, slightly nutty, with just the right amount of chew. But the star was the shiso herb tsuyu, rich and aromatic, with that distinctive perilla fragrance that lifts the entire dish. There is something about fresh shiso that feels completely alive, and the tsuyu here was built around that quality rather than burying it.

We both loved this. It is the kind of dish that seems simple on paper but reveals real craft on the plate. As a famous soba restaurant from Tokyo, this is LILYAN at its truest. Highly recommended.

Ume Alcohol ⭐⭐⭐⭐

A lovely, clean accompaniment to the meal. Ume (Japanese plum) alcohol offers that characteristic sweet-tart character, fruity and refreshing without being cloying. A natural pairing for the lighter, more delicate dishes on the menu, particularly the soba.

Prices & Value for Money

Our Total Bill: SGD 113.91 for 2 people

For a Tokyo import in the heart of Singapore’s CBD, LILYAN is genuinely honest with its pricing. Every dish felt considered and complete, nothing on the table felt like filler, and the quality of the soba alone justifies making the trip. This is the kind of meal where you leave feeling like you got more than you paid for, which is increasingly rare in Singapore’s dining landscape.

Practical Information

💡 Pro Tip: LILYAN is only open on weekdays, so plan accordingly. Lunch slots fill up quickly with the CBD crowd, so a reservation is worth making in advance.

What to Order: Our Recommendations

LILYAN excels in clean, restrained Japanese cooking with occasional bold flavour moments. Here’s what we recommend:

Must-Order Items:

1. Shiso – Cold Soba with Shiso Herb Tsuyu — We ordered this; the fragrant perilla tsuyu is extraordinary and showcases exactly why LILYAN has its Tokyo reputation. Don’t miss it.
2. Kamo – Miso Marinated Duck — We ordered this; beautifully grilled, tender, and deeply flavoured. The highlight of the savoury dishes.
3. Nasu – Fried Eggplant with Spicy Sauce — We ordered this; a great opening dish with lovely textural contrast.
4. Mizore-ni – Chicken Tempura in Dashi Hot Pot — We ordered this; comforting and delicate, perfect if you enjoy broth-based Japanese cooking.
5. Ume Alcohol — We ordered this; a lovely fruit-forward Japanese drink that pairs well across the menu.

💡 Pro Tip: Order the Shiso cold soba alongside the Kamo duck. The contrast between the warm, smoky meat and the cool, aromatic soba is one of the best flavour pairings of the meal.

Final Verdict

Overall Rating: 9/10

LILYAN delivered one of our most memorable Japanese meals in Singapore. The Shiso cold soba was genuinely exceptional, the kind of dish that shifts your expectations for what a simple bowl can achieve. The Kamo duck was equally impressive, and every other dish showed consistent care and technique throughout.

The atmosphere is calm and intimate, the service attentive without being intrusive, and the Circular Road setting adds a charm that feels distinctly Singapore. For a restaurant that has made its name in Tokyo, LILYAN translates beautifully.

Would we return? Without question, and we’d order the Shiso soba and Kamo again without hesitation.

Best For: Date nights, weekday CBD lunches, or anyone looking for thoughtful modern Japanese cooking away from the noise.

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