The ultimate best Korean food guide in Singapore

Annyeonghaseyo! The team at SETHLUI.com has scoured Singapore to compile the ultimate Korean food guide featuring a variety of Korean eateries, restaurants, and cafes. If Korean food ranks top on your list, then stay tuned, because this lengthy article will be worth it.

So, where do you get the best KBBQ? What about the most insta-worthy bingsu? Or the kimchi that’s got that unmistakeable authentic, piquant smell? Whether you’re in the mood for a solid bulgogi, tteokbokki buffet, legit Korean fried chicken or handmade rice cakes to satisfy your ravenous cravings, we’ve got it all here.

All I can say is: get ready your best elastic-waist pants, because it’s about to get real for foodies everywhere.

1. Guiga Korean BBQ Restaurant

korean-guiga

I’ve been to Guiga a few times and each time I leave a happy customer, complete with a tummy so filled with a food baby. Their barbecued ribs are tasty and you could opt for the server to help you out with barbecueing it. Do remember to let them know to what degree of doneness do you prefer, if not, it might be too well done.

korean-guiga2

Say hello to a melt-in-your-mouth slice of Thin Slice Beef Brisket (S$30). Having the waitress help us barbecue it to perfection was just about the best thing for me considering how lazy I am. Well seasoned and rich in flavour, I’d definitely recommend getting this.

korean-guiga-set

The Spicy Beef Soup ($15) contains a myriad of ingredients, complete with vegetables and sweet potato vermicelli. It makes for an appetising and hearty broth. I love the Kimchi Pancake ($22) here, it’s crisp at the ends and when dipped in the accompanying sauce, it becomes tangy while remaining slightly spicy.

The side dishes are delectable and the ambience wonderful, sealing the deal for a memorable experience that you’ll look forward to revisiting even before you leave the place.

134 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088538
+65 6221 3001
Mon to Fri: 11am – 3pm & 5pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11am – 11pm
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2. Singkoba Barbecue

korean-singkoba

Located along Telok Ayer Street, Singkoba boasts of a rather industrial like interior, complete with ventilators to help reduce the smokiness that follows a good KBBQ session. They have a variety of staff that speaks different languages— Korean, English and Chinese, to facilitate the ordering process.

The rice wine was served in a kettle and that was super adorable. Bonus points for being less sweet and boasting a slight fizz, perfect to wash down the feast that’s about to commence.

korean-singkoba2

When you pay a visit, make sure you don’t forget to order their savoury Seafood Pancake ($14), tender Pork Belly ($19), fragrant Kimchi Stew ($13), and wash it all down with a cup of Korean Rice Wine ($20). Isn’t your stomach grumbling already?

The ban chan, especially the kang kong, was delicious, I think we asked for a refill of it three times over. The kimchi stew so spicy and comforting, warming up our souls immediately and the rice cakes are on point.

If you ordered less than two barbecue meats, it will be done in the kitchen, sparing you from the smokiness and hassle. The barbecued pork belly is juicy and savoury while the seafood pancake is packed with a generous amount of ingredients. Also, Singkoba is one of the cheapest Korean BBQ restaurant joint I’ve been to, so extra brownie points.

155 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068611
+65 8429 9523
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm & 5.30pm – 11pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 3pm, 5pm – 11pm
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3. Supulae Korean BBQ

miss korea-7720

All you can eat buffet for $22.90++ weekdays /$24.90++ weekends, Supulae Korean BBQ is a small unassuming joint that remains undiscovered by most people in Singapore. Don’t say good things bo jio, okay?

miss korea-7727

There’s not much tables or even staff for that matter, but the one staff that was present had great awareness and service, serving and cutting up out meats, and recommending us a good spread. I don’t think I’ve ever left without feeling immensely satisfied, and that’s the sign you need to plan your trip there.

80 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088501
+65 6225 2248
Mon to Thu & Sun: 5pm – 1am
Fri & Sat: 5pm – 3am
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4. 8 Korean BBQ

eight korean bbq-8093

Walking into 8 Korean BBQ transports you out of Clark Quay immediately. No passport needed!

Ravenous diners will be glad to know that their BBQ Pork Belly servings are a lot more substantial and generous as compared to the photos on the menu. I mean, who’s complaining?!

eight korean bbq-8103

They’ve got a Keto Set for 4 (S$118) which comes with four strips of Pork Belly, Pork Neck, Pork Jowl, Keto Japchae, Soy Chicken Thigh, and stew. You get to choose from flavours of pork belly ranging from curry, miso, garlic, and more. It’s a feast worth the cheat day, and that’s a promise.

Go all out with their Japanese Wagyu (S$88), where your tastebuds will be treated to 200g of melt-in-your-mouth ribeye boasting of a rich, umami flavour.

Make a reservation at these 8 Korean BBQ outlets: Shaw Centre | The Central

ChopeDeals: Save 10% at 8 Korean BBQ (The Central)

6 Eu Tong Sen Street, The Central, #02-79/90, Singapore 059817
+65 8692 1188
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
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5. Seoul Restaurant

Situated within the five-star Regent Hotel is Seoul Restaurant and we naturally had high expectations of the place. The layout and furniture were all very new and clean, matching up to the top-quality layout and amenities of the entire Regent Hotel. If you’re looking for somewhere good for your next date night, this might be the top contender.

Seoul Restaurant interior

The menu was rather comprehensive and when I say that, I’m meaning that they practically offered everything belonging to the Korean cuisine, ranging from charcoal barbecue, semi-course menu, rice and noodle dishes to appetising a la carte dishes.

They offer both Lunch and Dinner buffets. Their Lunch Buffet includes three variations – Normal (S$79++), Without Beef (S$69++), and Premium (S$119++), boasting more than 30 dishes. Their Dinner Buffet also includes the same three variations – Normal (S$89++), Without Beef (S$79++), and Premium (S$119++). Feast our heart out!

Yukhoe Bibimbap

Made up of fresh carrots, cucumbers, seaweed and wild mushrooms, the flavours in this dish are definitely top-tier. There is a good blend of tastes and definitely qualifies a healthier choice. I highly recommend this Yukhoe-bibimbap ($21.90) as a must-try dish at Seoul Restaurant.

Kimchi Jjigae

The Kimchi-jjigae ($15.90) here is rich in flavour with generous servings of tofu and glass noodles. Though not the most amazing out of the lot, I’d still have a go at it whenever I crave for something comforting and hearty.

Chapssal Hobakjeon

Thin in texture, the Chapssal-hobakjeon ($14.90) a.k.a. Korean pancake is made with julienned zucchini and has a pleasant salty taste to it. It is fried to a golden brown and definitely a must-try if you’re a fan of savoury food.

The Regent Hotel, No. 1 Cuscaden Road, #03-02, Singapore 249715
+65 6338 8548
Daily: 12pm – 2.30pm & 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Website

6. Super Star K

Super Star K Interior

This one’s not going to be unfamiliar to my fellow KBBQ lovers out there. Super Star K was rather snug with its relatively small, metallic tables and there was sufficient space for everyone to sit comfortably and for all the dishes to settle down nicely onto the table.

Super Star K meal

The food served at Super Star K appealed to all my senses and left me wholly satisfied. The Kimchi Jjigae ($11.80) came piping hot, spicy and well-substantiated with glass noodles, toufu and soft kimchi.

The Bulgogi ($11.80) was beautifully done with the sweet sauce paired with the tender meat. And lastly, the Kimchi Pancake ($20) had a crunchy exterior and lovely doughy inside. Everything tasted more exceptional than its predecessor, and it’s not difficult to see why Super Star K has garnered the number of fans that it has.

75 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088496
+65 6224 0504
Daily: 12pm – 1.30am
Facebook | Website

7. Bornga 본가

Bornga_korean (1 of 3)

From a popular, established chain of barbecue restaurants in Korea, Bornga by Celebrity Chef Jeong Won PAIK opened the Singapore’s very first outlet. At Bornga, you can find quality meat marinated in Chef Jeong Won’s specially seasoned sauces that sets their barbecued meat apart from the usual.

Bornga_korean (2 of 3)

You can choose to cook the meat yourselves or ask the staff for help. What impressed be was their myriad of side dishes that accompanied the BBQ meats. They are also extremely generous with their vegetables, to help ease the heavy savouriness of the meats.

Service is excellent as well, with attentive and patient floor staff especially this particular manager who diligently bbq the meat for us and recommended delicious meats. Bornga also serves other traditional Korean dishes like Tofu egg jjigae.

Bornga_korean (3 of 3)

My main gripe is that the food here falls on the pricier side, but if you’re willing to splurge a little more on some quality BBQ, this is the place to go.

Make a reservation at these Bornga outlets: Suntec City | VivoCity 

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8. MyungGa

MyungGa_Korean (1 of 2)

A nondescript and slightly ulu restaurant at Bukit Timah Plaza, MyungGa is easy to miss but once you’re here, you probably won’t forget it again. MyungGa is a simple homely korean restaurant that serves easy home-cooked Korean dishes like Kimbap, Jjajeonmyeon, Bibimbap, Kimchi Fried Rice etc.

But it’s simplicity and warmth is what makes MyungGa great. Though the sign states ‘Korean BBQ’ it appears that people visit Myung Ga for their non-BBQ dishes.

MyungGa serves a small variety of favourites but in really generous portions. The staff there are warm, patient and able to recommend you dishes according to your personal preference.

MyungGa_Korean (2 of 2)

Their Seafood Pancake (S$18) is one of their specialties which I can vouch is totally worth the specialty title. The serving is pretty big, with a generous load of fresh sotong and prawns with a fragrant crisp base that crunches with each bite. The pancake itself was more than tasty enough without the dipping sauce.

The Kimchi Bokkeumbap (S$15) provides welcome acidic relief. The acerbically spicy and sour mixture of kimchi fried rice is one of the best gastronomical representations of my grouchy moods, and this one is no different. It’ll turn any hangry frown into a beaming smile within minutes, and that’s a promise.

A thing to note about MyungGa is that their lunch and dinner menu are different, which means that your favourite Korean food might not be available at the time you’d prefer to dine there.

1 Jalan Anak Bukit, #B1-55, Bukit Timah Plaza, Singapore 588996
+65 6469 5123
Tue to Sun: 11.30am – 4pm & 5.30pm – 9pm
Closed on Mon
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9. Dal In

Dal In interior

Walking into the restaurant, it is heartening to see Koreans themselves choosing to dine here: it’s a sign that’s clear as day affirming the authenticity of the Korean fare here, isn’t it?

Kimchi Jeongol

We had the Kimchi Jeongol ($50) a.k.a. kimchi hotpot and the seafood pancake. The Kimchi Jeongol was fragant and spicy, and I love the thinly-sliced pieces of rice cake it contained, complete with glass noodles that were good in absorbing the soup base of the jeongol. On top of that, the chicken cooked together in the hotpot was tender.

Seafood Pancake

The Seafood Pancake ($20) was an added savoury treat to our meal. The portion was huge, and definitely value for money. It was hard to believe that a seafood pancake could cost 20 bucks, but when the portion is as generous as this, nobody’s going to complain. 

The pancake had a pleasant garlic flavour that went well with the fresh crab meat hidden between its layers. The chilli sauce added a slight spicy taste that paired well.

Ranging from casserole hotpot to different flavours of pancake and different conjuring of noodles, I’ll definitely bring a friend back here to try out their other dishes. 

17 Boon Tat Street, Singapore 069618
+65 6225 1006
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm & 5.30pm – 11.30pm
Sat: 5pm – 10.30pm
Closed on Sun
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10. Wang Dae Bak Korean BBQ

wang dae bak-

Dinnertime is prime time at Wang Dae Bak Korean BBQ, no matter which outlet you visit. We reached at 7.15pm and were placed on an hour-long wait on the waiting list, so I’d suggest beating the crowd at it by reaching earlier.

The interior was cosy, clean and neat for a barbecue restaurant. The staff were very friendly and polite in attending to our requests, and took much initiative in helping us in managing the equipment for barbecuing.

I must mention that I am really thankful for the staff who proactively came up to cut off the fire for me when I carelessly overcooked a piece of prime rib.

wong dae bak

Cooked using charcoal barbecue, the barbecued meat at Wang Dae Bak do seem more fragrant in terms of their taste. The Marinated Pork Shoulder Loin ($18) was very chewy upon bite.

The pork loin was a good combination of flab and meat that was exudes bounciness between chews of it.

Similarly, the Marinated Boneless Prime Rib ($35) was juicy and chewy. Thanks to the charcoal barbecue that was able to whip up a well-done degree of cook that is fragrant at the same time, in terms of taste. One of the best Korean BBQ I’ve tried so far, in Singapore.

22 Cross Street, #01-64, Singapore 048421
+65 6225 2646
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm & 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Facebook | Website

11. Nunsaram

bingsu-nunsaram

The selection at Nunsaram is rather comprehensive, probably one of the few serving black sesame pat bing su. The shaved ice on their Black Sesame Pat Bing Su ($15.90) is soft and smooth in texture. It’s also not too sweet and they’re very generous with their toppings.

bingsu-nunsaram2

One thing worth mentioning is also how it doesn’t melt that easily, which allowed me to slowly savour the icy goodness and not having to worry about not finishing it in time.

3 Gateway Drive, K4 Westgate, #04-37, Singapore 608532
+65 9664 2574
Daily: 11am – 10.30pm
Instagram | Facebook

12. Oma Spoon

bingsu-omaspoon2

I never understood how does one finish a bing su by him or herself, so I guess it was really refreshing for Oma Spoon to serve petit bing su. They also offer a mega serving of bing su called OMG Bing Su, good for a pax of 4 – 6 to share.

Chocolate always goes well with banana, so this Chocolate Banana Bing Su ($13.90) ticked all my boxes. It’s almost like a banana split save for the extra large serving of shaved ice, which I welcome with open arms. Though it is cheaper than Ice Lab, it is still considered expensive.

bingsu-omaspoon

But, here’s a shout out to their dedication, for adding another layer of chocolate bits in the depths of the bing su. The usual bing sus can get rather milky and boring midway since it is literally a mountain of shaved ice, Oma Spoon understood that pain and made sure we didn’t have to go through it. The shaved ice is really smooth as well and not overly sweet too.

313 Orchard Road, 313 @ Somerset, #04-20/32, Singapore 238895
+65 6333 0995
Mon to Thu & Sun: 11am – 10.30pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 11pm
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13. Ice Lab

bingsu-icelab

Think white walls and definitely laboratory-like, their servers are donned in lab coats– committed to the aesthetic for sure! Right in the middle of the cafe, it’s ‘snowing’ with shaved ice. Really fancy, maybe that’s also why their bingsus are more expensive.

bingsu-icelab2

I had the Matcha Bingsu ($17.20), which was fully adorned with pumpkin seeds and other nuts, which gives an interesting texture and makes me feel a tad bit healthier than I should while having a dessert. Compared to Oma Spoon, the shaved ice is definitely much smoother but it also melts faster. Make sure you get your photos in quick!

164 Rochor Road, Bugis Village, Singapore 188439
+65 6980 6322
Mon to Thu & Sun: 11am – 11pm
Fri & Sat: 11am – 1am

Instagram | Website 

14. Pocha!

Pocha - interior

The recently opened authentic Korean restaurant located at the basement of Northpoint City, Pocha! is pretty easy to spot with its gleaming signboard, bright red accents and fairy lights streamed across its ceiling.

Pocha - sundubu

If you’re a fan of silky tofu, go for their Sundubu (S$14.90) which will hit the spot! Other favourites include the Tteokbokki (S$10.90), Hangari Bokkeumbab (S$9.90), Gochujang Broth Ramyeon (S$9.90), and Corndogs (S$6.90 per stick)!

1 North Point Drive, Northpoint City (South Wing), #B1-181, Singapore 768019
+65 8660 3391
Daily: 11.30am – 9pm
Instagram | Facebook | Website

15. Eonni Korean BBQ

Eonni - image of menu

Located at Bedok North Avenue 2, the sister stall (and neighbour) of Noona Korean Kitchen, Eonni Korean BBQ serves authentic Korean BBQ and army stew at a fairly decent price.

Eonni - image of meat

Decisions, decisions. At Eonnie, you will be spoilt for choice with the ample (and well-organised) selection of self-marinated meats, seafood, and vegetables. You may also opt to add an additional portion of Free-flow Egg (S$3) and Cheese (S$3) to the mix.

Trust me when I say the quality of the food here’s better than some Korean restaurants out there. Besides K-BBQ, their sister stall, Noona, sells delicious a la carte dishes too!

418 Bedok North Avenue 2, Jin Piao Coffeeshop, #01-55 , Singapore 460418
+65 8488 6768
Daily: 3pm – 11pm
Instagram | Facebook

16. Bosong Rice Cake

Bosong rice cake - owners posing

If you’re a dessert person, this next one’s for you. Located on the second floor of Beauty World Plaza is Bosong Rice Cake.

bosong rice cake - bake selections

Ran by a native South Korean ajumma from Yoju, they serve out different kinds of handmade tteok (rice cakes) with several kinds of traditional fillings and flavours, at a flat rate of S$5

bosong rice cake - flower tteok

bosong rice cake - honey sesame insides

From cherry blossom-shaped Kkot Tteok (S$5 for 4) to Honey Rice Cake (S$5 for 9) to a fluffy Mujigae Tteok (S$5 for 2) to Pumpkin Pat Siroo (S$5 for 2), trust this place to have it all!

Fair warning, take it easy as they can fill you up in record speed.

140 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Beauty World Plaza, #02-04, Singapore 588176
+65 9106 1849
Thu to Sat: 11.30am – 7pm
Closed on Mon to Wed & Sun
Instagram

17. Waker Chicken (와커치킨)

Image of stall front

Do you consider yourself a huge fried chicken fan? Fret not for I’ve got your back! Over at Waker Chicken, you’d be in for a treat as you indulge in, quite possibly, the best Korean fried chicken I’ve ever tasted.

They’ve plenty of stalls around the Island, too!

Image of four chicken sets

Over here, there are four distinct flavours to try: Original Crispy (S$13 for seven pieces, S$25 for 14 pieces), Sweet Spicy (S$14 for seven pieces, S$27 for 14 pieces), Soy Sauce (S$14 for seven pieces, S$27 for 14 pieces), and Honey Butter (S$15 for seven pieces, S$28 for 14 pieces).

For those who prefer their chicken boneless, they also have Chicken Tenders, Chicken Fillets with rice, along with sides like Wings and Sweet Potato Fries.

My personal favourite, the Sweet Spicy, is the main reason why I always find myself coming back here.

+65 9763 2619
Instagram | Facebook

18. Chelabela

Chelabela - storefront

Last on the list is none other than not-so-new kid on the block, Chelabela. The stall is ran by a father-daughter duo with an interesting background.

Chelabela - army stew, bbq chicken and tteokpoggi

Expect to find dishes like the Army Stew (S$18), three different types of tteokpokki: Tteokboggi (S$5)Pork Tteokboggi (S$7) amnd Chicken Tteokboggi (S$7), BBQ Chicken (S$6), and much more!

Blk 603, Ang Mo Kio Ave 5, Singapore 560603
Tue to Sun: 11am – 2.30pm & 4.30pm – 7pm
Instagram 

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