Japanese cuisine is one of the most diverse out there. You have sushi, artful in its presentation and masterful in its preparation. There’s okonomiyaki, the seafood-laden crispy omelette that’s a meal in itself, ramen and udon, lunchtime staples, and then there’s teishoku — a style of meal you might not have really heard of.  

Though it might sound new to you, teishoku — a traditional style of set menu dining — is central to Japanese cuisine. One dish is the star, often a protein and carbohydrate, and it’s served with many smaller dishes to compliment it. Think crispy, juicy chicken kara-age, served alongside a little dish of Japanese pickles, miso soup, boiled spinach, and steamed egg custard. It’s a combination you’d likely find on the menu at Japan’s most renowned Teishoku restaurant, Yayoi, which has over 3000 outposts across the world, including one at The Galeries.  

In 1886, the first Yayoi opened in the Nihonbashi District of Tokyo. At the time, it was influenced by western styles of dining, though it was executed with the care, flavours and produce central to Japanese cuisine. It quickly gained popularity across Japan, and has since expanded across the world, with locations everywhere from Thailand to Taiwan and San Francisco. 

Taking its cues from its Japanese counterparts, The Galeries’ Yayoi sits on the centre’s first floor, with floor to ceiling windows flooding the space with natural light. Tablets sit on each table for customers to order from, making the dining experience as seamless and speedy as it could be. If you’re in a rush, grab a dish to dine solo — we recommend the salmon don — or if you’ve got time on your side, settle in for a full set meal. Whether you go it alone or with friends, once you try teishoku, you’ll be wondering what took you so long.  

You can dine at Yayoi on Level 1 for lunch and dinner everyday from 11:30am.