Quick answer: Singapore’s Korean food scene goes way beyond your usual BBQ joint. Whether you want a premium charcoal-grilled feast (Seorae), late-night all-you-can-eat with your kakis (Don Dae Bak), fresh Korean sashimi and raw crab (Pohang), or hearty Korean-Chinese comfort food (MukJja), there is a spot here that fits the meal you have in mind. Nana Bunsik keeps things casual and wallet-friendly in the west, while Charim and Wang Dae Bak deliver generous barbecue sets in Tanjong Pagar and Holland Village.
Singapore’s Korean food scene has moved well beyond the usual bulgogi and kimchi stew. Now you can queue for galmaegisal seared over live charcoal, brave live octopus sashimi, or tuck into jjajangmyeon made the old-school way. This list picks out the spots where the cooking feels different enough to justify the trip – and the spend.
For the full picture, Best Korean Food in Singapore collects 10 guides on this subject.
Seorae Korean Charcoal BBQ
Seorae Korean Charcoal BBQ sits on the second floor of Plaza Singapura, and it is one of the few places in town that built its name around galmaegisal – that rare, flavour-packed pork skirt meat. The kitchen runs proper charcoal grills, so every cut picks up a deep smokiness you just cannot fake. Their hay-smoked pork belly, finished in traditional Korean onggi pots, rounds out a meal that feels like a proper treat. Set menus start around $98++ for two to three people and come with a generous spread of banchan.
Address: 68 Orchard Road, #02-01, Plaza Singapura, Singapore 238839.
Phone: +65 9181 2709
Hours: Sun–Thu 11:30am–10pm (last order 9pm); Fri, Sat & eve of PH 11:30am–12am (last order 11pm).
Set meals from ~$98++ for two.
seorae.com.sg
This is the spot to bring the in-laws for a birthday dinner, or anyone you really want to impress with a grill that does the heavy lifting for you. No need to pretend you know your way around a pair of tongs – the team handles it, and the meat comes off the grate tender every time.
Related: Best Korean BBQ Restaurants in Singapore — when the table wants to do its own grilling.
When you want your Korean barbecue to feel like an occasion, not a refuel, this is the pick. The galmaegisal is the whole point – come for that cut and let the charcoal do the rest. Order the hay-smoked pork belly as a follow-up and soak in the smoky air. Ideal for a date or a small group who appreciate their pork cuts.
Charim Korean BBQ
Charim Korean BBQ runs out of a shophouse on Tanjong Pagar Road, a Korean mum-and-daughter effort that took off on TikTok during the pandemic and never really slowed down. Their charcoal-grilled sets for two or three people are easy on the wallet, and the salted pork neck lands somewhere between bacon and pure joy. One thing you should try is the DIY sushi rice platter – plonk a fresh-off-the-grill strip of meat on top, add a spoon of their house sauce, and wrap.
Address: 65 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088486.
Contact: Instagram @charimsg
Hours: Tue–Fri lunch 11:30am–3pm (last order 2:30pm), dinner 5pm–1am (last order 12am); Sat 11:30am–1am (last order 12am); Sun 11:30am–12am (last order 11pm); closed Mon.
Barbecue sets are budget-friendly – check their Instagram for the latest.
Charim Korean BBQ on Instagram
For more Korean barbecue joints on the same street, see our list of Korean Food Destinations in Tanjong Pagar.
Casual, budget-friendly Korean barbecue with a personal touch defines this spot. Go for the DIY sushi rice platter – it turns your grilled pork neck into a hands-on lunch affair. Feels like a well-kept Tanjong Pagar secret, perfect for a weekday treat with a friend.
Don Dae Bak Korean BBQ
Don Dae Bak Korean BBQ is tucked away on Kreta Ayer Road in Chinatown, and it stays open until five in the morning – if your supper game is strong, this is where you end up. The 90-minute barbecue buffet at $34.90++ covers free-flow pork, chicken and a little beef, plus unlimited side dishes, so you can round up the kakis and grill until everyone throws in the towel. Their Rose Tteokbokki ($34++) is a creamy, tomato-based departure that works better than it sounds.
Address: 35 Kreta Ayer Road, #01-01, Singapore 089000.
Phone: +65 6226 1727 | WhatsApp: +65 8459 0889
Hours: Daily 11:30am–5am.
90-min BBQ buffet $34.90++.
Don-Dae-Bak
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After midnight, when the Chinatown streets go quiet, this is the late-night Korean barbecue fix for groups who don’t want to think about individual portions. The buffet format means you just chiong through platters of pork belly and chicken, and the Rose Tteokbokki is a creamy bonus.
Wang Dae Bak Korean BBQ
Wang Dae Bak Korean BBQ runs a few concepts around Singapore – Charcoal BBQ, Pocha BBQ, and the Holland Village Grill – and picked up “Best Korean Restaurant” awards in 2021 and 2022 along the way. The Holland Village outlet on Lorong Liput is the one for premium Angus ribeye and pork belly sets, but across the board they do mixed pork knuckle, seafood pancake and fried chicken with equal care. If you are hosting a small celebration and want a step up from the usual barbecue round, this is steady ground.
Address: 22 Cross Street, #01-64, Singapore 048421. (Holland Village Grill: 3 Lorong Liput, #02-77, Holland Piazza.)
Phone: +65 6225 2646
Hours: Daily 11:30am–10:30pm (last order 9:20pm).
Premium sets – price upon enquiry.
wangdaebakbbq.sg
A Korean food all-rounder, you can go premium angus in Holland Village or casual pocha elsewhere. The real sleeper hit is the mixed pork knuckle with a cold beer. Good for big groups where everyone wants something slightly different, and the quality holds across the menu.
Pohang Seafood Butchery
Pohang Seafood Butchery hides on the second floor of Aperia Mall in Kallang, and it is for people who like their Korean food with a cold, fresh edge. They specialise in Korean sashimi and tableside BBQ, and they are one of the few kitchens in Singapore doing marinated raw crab (alkaline-gennari-gejang) and live octopus. The Flat Fish & Salmon Set starts at $170++ for two and arrives with unlimited greens and sauces – a clean, briny meal that pairs dangerously well with soju.
Address: 12 Kallang Avenue, Aperia Mall #02-10, Singapore 339511.
Phone: +65 9010 4781
Hours: Daily lunch 11:30am–3pm, dinner 5:30pm–10:30pm.
Seafood sets from $170++.
No website; best to call or visit.
Live octopus sashimi and marinated raw crab are why you make the trip to Kallang – dishes you won’t find on most Korean menus. The space is quiet and bright, so it works for a curious date or a small group who take their seafood seriously.
MukJja Korean-Chinese Restaurant
MukJja Korean-Chinese Restaurant in Novena Regency is the kind of place Korean expats and office lunch crowds queue up for. The draw is old-school Korean-Chinese cooking – jjajangmyeon with a thick black soybean sauce and crispy pork, spicy jjampong noodle soup, and tangsuyuk sweet-and-sour pork that comes in portions big enough for two. It is casual, yes, but the flavours hit that nostalgic note that makes you want to become a regular.
Address: 275 Thomson Road, Novena Regency, #01-07, Singapore 307645.
Phone: +65 6259 7479
Hours: Wed–Sun lunch 11:30am–2:30pm, dinner 5pm–9pm; closed Tue.
Most dishes are under $15.
No website – walk in or call ahead.
Come here on a weekday lunch when the office crowd is out and queue for a bowl of jjajangmyeon that tastes like it was made by someone’s Korean grandmother. The portions are generous and the tangsuyuk has that proper crisp-then-tender contrast. Perfect solo treat or a quick shared lunch – just chope a table early.
Nana Bunsik
Nana Bunsik sits in NEWest Mall out in West Coast, a retro Korean-run eatery that feels like your friend’s kitchen if your friend made really good street food. Everything is done in-house – the kimchi, the sauces, the kimbap rolls that go from Original to Spam Kimchi. Their cheese-topped tteokbokki and crispy kimchi pancake are the sort of things you order once and then think about all week. With most mains under $20, it is an easy win for a casual dinner when you cannot be bothered to cross the island.
Address: 1 West Coast Drive, #01-84, NEWest Mall, Singapore 128020.
Phone: +65 8061 9618
Hours: Tue–Wed 11:30am–9pm; Thu–Sat 11:30am–1am; Sun 11:30am–9pm; closed Mon.
Most mains under $20.
Nana Bunsik on Facebook
No one bought a spot on this list. If we have overlooked you, say so and we will consider it next time round.
How to choose
The first thing to ask yourself is what kind of meal you are really after. If it is a special occasion and you want charcoal-grilled premium cuts with zero effort on your part, Seorae and Wang Dae Bak’s Holland Village Grill are your best bets. For a rowdier, eat-all-you-can session that stretches into the wee hours, Don Dae Bak’s late-night buffet is hard to beat. Charim sits nicely in the middle – affordable, sociable BBQ sets in a buzzy Tanjong Pagar row. When seafood is the craving, Pohang is the only one on this list doing raw marinated crab and live octopus, so that narrows things quickly. MukJja fills the Korean-Chinese comfort-food corner – think jjajangmyeon and tangsuyuk at hawker-centre prices – while Nana Bunsik covers the casual Korean street-food angle for west-siders. Price-wise, you can get a solid meal for under $20 per person at MukJja or Nana, a decent BBQ buffet around $35, and set meals that climb past $100 at the seafood or premium beef end. If you are specifically hunting for the crispiest Korean fried chicken, our roundup of Korean Fried Chicken in Singapore has you covered.
| Restaurant | Specialty | Price Signal | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seorae Korean Charcoal BBQ | Galmaegisal & hay-smoked pork belly | Set meals from ~$98++ for two | Special occasions, premium charcoal BBQ |
| Charim Korean BBQ | Budget-friendly charcoal BBQ sets, DIY sushi rice platter | Affordable sets, check with the business | Small groups, value-conscious BBQ |
| Don Dae Bak Korean BBQ | All-you-can-eat BBQ buffet, Rose Tteokbokki | 90-min buffet $34.90++ | Late-night eats, big groups |
| Wang Dae Bak Korean BBQ | Premium Angus ribeye, pork knuckle, multiple concepts | Premium sets – price upon enquiry | Celebrations, award-winning BBQ |
| Pohang Seafood Butchery | Korean sashimi, raw marinated crab, live octopus | Flat Fish & Salmon Set from $170++ | Seafood lovers, adventurous eaters |
| MukJja Korean-Chinese Restaurant | Jjajangmyeon, jjampong, tangsuyuk | Check with the business | Korean-Chinese comfort food, quick lunches |
| Nana Bunsik | Kimbap, cheese tteokbokki, kimchi pancake | Most mains under $20 | Casual street food, West Coast dwellers |
Summary
Korean dining in Singapore covers a lot more ground than just barbecue, and these seven spots span the whole map – from premium charcoal-grilled galmaegisal in Orchard to late-night buffet runs in Chinatown and fresh raw crab in Kallang. There is a place here for a date night, a rowdy supper, or a quiet weekday jjajangmyeon fix. Pick the one that matches the meal you actually want, and you will walk away full and happy.
Disclaimer: All information provided here has been compiled from publicly available sources and verified where possible. Details can change, so do confirm with the business before heading down. We are not liable for any inaccuracies or omissions. If you spot an error, let us know and we will fix it promptly.
Frequently asked questions
Nana Bunsik is the cozy Korean eatery you want in your own neighbourhood. The retro vibe and in-house everything make it feel like a little Seoul snack bar. Come for the cheese-topped tteokbokki and stay for the kimchi pancake – it’s all under twenty, so you can order with abandon. Great for a solo makan or a chill group feed.
Which Korean restaurant on this list is best for a big group dinner?
Don Dae Bak Korean BBQ works especially well for large groups – their 90-minute all-you-can-eat buffet at $34.90++ lets everyone eat at their own pace, and they stay open until 5am, so there is no rush.
Are there Korean seafood options besides the usual barbecue?
Yes, Pohang Seafood Butchery focuses on Korean-style sashimi, raw marinated crab and live octopus. It is a different experience from the BBQ joints, with seafood sets starting from $170++ for two.
Do any of these restaurants serve Korean-Chinese dishes like jjajangmyeon?
MukJja Korean-Chinese Restaurant on Thomson Road specialises in exactly that – expect jjajangmyeon, jjampong and tangsuyuk at affordable, hawker-centre-style prices.
Is there a Korean spot in the west of Singapore worth visiting?
Nana Bunsik at NEWest Mall in West Coast does homestyle Korean street food like kimbap, tteokbokki and kimchi pancakes, with most mains under $20. They are open into the late hours on weekends, too.
What is galmaegisal and where can I try it?
Galmaegisal is a special cut of pork skirt meat, prized for its texture and flavour. Seorae Korean Charcoal BBQ at Plaza Singapura is known for being among the first in Singapore to grill it over charcoal.
Which of these places is the most affordable?
MukJja Korean-Chinese Restaurant and Nana Bunsik both keep most mains under $20 per person, while Charim Korean BBQ offers value-for-money charcoal BBQ sets that are easy on the wallet without skimping on portions.
