If you’re a fan of grilled fish at an affordable price, Charcoal-Grill & Salad Bar Keisuke is a spot you shouldn’t miss. Located in Paya Lebar Square, this Japanese eatery by Keisuke Takeda—the mastermind behind the famous Keisuke ramen chain—focuses on serving authentic sumiyaki-style grilled fish paired with an all-you-can-eat salad bar. Each set meal includes rice, miso soup, an onsen egg, water, and access to a free-flow salad bar.
The Charcoal-Grilled Fish Experience
Unlike typical Japanese restaurants that spotlight sushi or ramen, Keisuke’s concept here is simple yet brilliant: fresh fish, grilled over binchotan charcoal to achieve that perfect smoky char. Each set meal comes with:
✔ A choice of grilled fish – Options include barramundi, mackerel, salmon belly, yellowtail, and even unagi.
✔ Unlimited access to the salad bar – A well-stocked counter offering a variety of fresh greens, potato salad, soba, onsen eggs, pickles, and more.
✔ Miso soup & Japanese rice – Comforting and well-balanced, rounding out the meal nicely.
During our visit, we ordered the Mackerel Fish Set, Homemade Fishcake Set, and Teriyaki Chicken Set. While waiting, we explored the salad bar, which featured a variety of options like cold soba, curry macaroni, tuna pasta, marinated bean sprouts, cherry tomatoes, and romaine lettuce. The selections were appetising, prompting multiple returns.
The Teriyaki Chicken Set arrived first, showcasing grilled chicken thigh with charred skin and teriyaki sauce. However, the chicken lacked juiciness, possibly due to being frozen.
The Homemade Fishcake was thin and had a starchy, potato-like texture, differing from typical fish cakes or Japanese oden. This item might benefit from reevaluation.
The Mackerel Fish on the other hand was grilled nicely and had the inherent smokiness from the charcoal grill. Would recommend to just order their fish set meals if you plan to visit.
Conversely, the Mackerel Fish was well-grilled, imparting a pleasant smokiness from the charcoal. For future visits, the fish set meals are recommended.
To conclude the meal, we enjoyed coffee jelly topped with creamer, balancing its bitterness, along with orange and watermelon slices. The salad bar stood out as the meal’s highlight, offering a wide and appetising variety.
At under $20 per meal, Charcoal-Grill & Salad Bar Keisuke delivers Japanese-style grilled fish at a fraction of the price you’d pay at high-end restaurants. The free-flow salad bar is a huge bonus, making it a value-for-money dining experience.
Rating: 3 / 5
Charocoal-Grilled & Salad Bar Keisuke
60 Paya Lebar Rd, #B1-16 Paya Lebar Square, Singapore 409051
Google Maps Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/JjgyQiRYzLRKTQZU7
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