Top authentic Korean food spots in Singapore you need to try

Chef Louis Han's newest venture sees international experiences and Korean heritage converge to offer a fusion of tradition and innovation. Named Gu:um, the restaurant transforms nostalgic barbecue gatherings into an elevated grill experience.

At Gu:um, dishes are prepared and cooked at an open kitchen, emphasising immediate enjoyment. The cuisine, a blend of Korean flavours with global influences, showcases Chef Louis' contemporary take on familiar tastes, employing various cooking techniques by a skilled Nae:um alumni team adept in both Korean and Western culinary methods.

Completing the epicurean journey, Gu:um offers a selection of boutique Korean and international liquors, including South Korea's pioneering craft gin.

29 Keong Saik Road. Visit guum.sg.

Renowned as one of South Korea’s largest and most cherished craft beer and fried chicken chains, Daily Beer boasts over 370 outlets across Korea and a dedicated following, including notable celebrities like Xiumin of EXO, the cast of SBS’s Running Man, actors Kim Da-mi and Cho Yeo-jeong, and popular Korean YouTubers such as Sanghaegi and Pungja.

Luckily for us in Singapore, the chicken chain’s first international location is situated right here on our island – in the vibrant Telok Ayer district to be exact, just opposite Amoy Street Food Centre.

In collaboration with local F&B operator Katrina Group, Daily Beer’s Singapore establishment offers a tantalising selection of seven craft beers, each poured fresh from the tap and featuring exclusive flavours unique to the Singapore outlet.

Various locations islandwide. Visit dailybeer.com.sg.

At Meta, Chef Sun Kim masterfully blends his Korean heritage with Japanese and Western culinary techniques, resulting in a fusion of flavours that has earned the Keong Saik Road establishment a coveted Michelin star. Through intricate tasting menus, chef Kim showcases his unique east-meets-west cuisine, paying homage to his Korean upbringing.

9 Mohamed Sultan Rd, Meta Restaurant, Singapore 238959. Visit metarestaurant.sg

With nine outlets islandwide, O.BBa BBQ & Jjajang is one of the top Korean restaurant chains in Singapore for good reason.

If you’re craving for Korean-Chinese fare, indulge in their flavorful jajangmyeon and fiery jjampong, which is known for their perfect balance of savoury and sweet. The menu's highlight is the tangsuyuk, featuring crispy deep-fried pork pieces accompanied by an irresistible blend of sweet and sour sauce, making it a must-try for Korean food enthusiasts.

If you are a Korean BBQ lover, the Korean BBQ portion of the menu is expansive, and features premium meats like prime beef and iberico pork.

Various locations islandwide. Visit obba-sg.com.

Critics and connoisseurs alike have lauded Chef Louis Han's innovative approach to contemporary Seoul cuisine, blending traditional Korean flavours with modern Western techniques. This culinary philosophy earned Naeum its Michelin star in 2022 and 2023.

Nestled in a cosy 28-seat setting, guests are invited to embark on a culinary journey reflecting the chef's personal experiences. Seasonally-inspired episodic menus are a hallmark of the chef’s culinary repertoire, showcasing the freshest seasonal ingredients with each release.

161 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068615. Visit naeum.sg.

If you find yourself wondering around Tanjong Pagar, you’ll probably be spoiled for choice with the wide array of Korean restaurants that you’ll find along the stretch. But if there’s one place that you can count on for authentic Korean dishes, look over to Todamgol. This cosy restaurant offers an extensive range of food delicacies from the classic bibimbap and army stew to grilled mackerel as well as spicy sea snails — a great option if you’re looking for a dish with a kick.

27 Tanjong Pagar Road Singapore 088450, tel: +65 6224 7077. Visit https://www.facebook.com/todamgol.sg/

When it comes to Korean food staples, you’d best believe that the iconic Korean Fried Chicken would have to be at the top of anyone’s list. Found in the heartlands of Toa Payoh, this restaurant serves a wide assortment of fried chicken including one that’s reminiscent of the yangnyeom chicken in Korea. Some of the popular flavours that you can find also include plain, soy sauce, sweet and spicy, and honey butter. But if you’re swinging by for some wings, be sure to come a little earlier to avoid the crowds especially during lunch and dinner.

Various locations islandwide. Visit https://www.facebook.com/wakerchicken/.

If bibimbap is your favourite Korean dish, this is the place to go, as it offers a modernised version of this popular food. This restaurant chain is the brainchild of Jong Won Paik, one of the most successful celebrity chefs in Korea. The first restaurant in Singapore opened in 2013 and there are seven outlets here now. You’ll find modern interpretations of the traditional dish here and the bibimbap is served with a hearty serving of fresh vegetables so you won’t feel guilty indulging in this. And, if you prefer noodles to rice, there are noodle dishes too, such as Paik’s Bibim Warm Noodles with Soy Sauce, which is packed with savoury soy minced meat and lots of vegetables.

Various locations islandwide. Visit www.facebook.com/paiks.bibimsg/.

Stepping into this BBQ restaurant will make you feel like you’ve travelled to Seoul. It harks back to the days when people used to meet to eat, drink and talk, and aims to remind diners of that communal spirit that brought friends and family together. It uses real charcoal for its BBQ (which adds to its flavour) and only high-quality meats are served here. Take your pick from a variety of marinated and non-marinated meats or you can go for its set menus too. Other items include kim chi pancake, ginseng chicken soup, Korean style instant noodle and spicy chicken stew.

Various locations islandwide. Visit www.wangdaebak.com.sg.

Candy Namgung Ji Young is a former tutor who spent years cooking for Korean students studying in Singapore, then decided to open her own restaurant in 2012. Not surprisingly, the menu here is filled with homestyle dishes and she makes them with a little help from her mum’s recipes. The no-frills look of the restaurant gives it a more authentic, ‘homely’ look, so it actually adds to its charm. The specialties here are suyuk (steamed pork belly) and dakgalbi (pan-fried chicken), which isn’t served in many Korean restaurants here. Some of the dishes have been tweaked to suit Singaporean tastes but if you’ve ever dined at someone’s home in Korea, you’ll appreciate the food here. It gets busy very often so it’s best to make a reservation before you head here.

2 Kim Tian Road, Singapore 169244, tel: 6270 7704. Visit www.bigmama.sg

If pork is your meat of choice, this is the place to go. It serves thick slices of Mangalitza pork belly, which is often referred to as ‘the Kobe beef of pork’. The Mangalitza Hog is a rare pig of Hungarian origin and its meat is lower in cholesterol, and has higher levels of zinc, copper, iron and oleic acid. Order the 8 Colours Set and you’ll be served the pork belly in eight flavours – wine, original, ginseng, garlic, herb, curry, miso paste, and red pepper paste. Beef aficionados will love this restaurant too as there’s a choice of Argentinian grass fed, USDA prime and Japanese Wagyu beef. The Korean Grilled Squid is a good choice from the seafood selection and other popular dishes here include Army Stew, Seafood Pancake and Black Ginseng Chicken Soup. It’s a full-service BBQ restaurant so all you have to do here is enjoy your food after it’s been expertly prepared at your table.

Various locations islandwide. Visit www.8koreanbbq.com.

Anyone who has lived in the Serangoon Garden area will know that there’s tons of good food to be had here and you can find a plethora of cuisines too. Hanwoori is one such exciting eatery here, and it’s a low-key establishment that’s mostly known to those who frequent the area, or if you’re a big fan of Korean food. There are BBQ meat dishes and bibimbap but a must-try is the Kimchi Hotpot. Lunchtime is a good time to dine here as they serve a number of $10 nett options then, and these items are rotated often too. But probably the most exciting attraction here is the ladyboss, who is quite a character, to say the least. Pop in and experience her friendly chatter and you’ll definitely be back for more.

 76 Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555972, tel: 6283 6339.

Tofu fans should head here as there’s a variety of dishes to choose from. The signature dish here is the Soontofu Soup (‘soon’ means soft) and it’s made from white soybeans imported from South Korea, then boiled, curdled and pressed for just the right taste and texture. Every soontofu dish is handmade fresh daily in the restaurant’s kitchen and the 10-ingredient soup broth is made from a secret recipe. After boiling, the broth is left to set for a couple of days so the flavour is brought out naturally, instead of having to add any artificial flavouring. Choose your spice level – mild, medium, spicy and crazy hot – then pick the soontofu that takes your fancy, including oyster, kimchi biji, seafood, original beef and original pork. There are other dishes to try here too, such as Grilled Chicken (spicy or teriyaki sauce), LA Galbi (BBQ short ribs) and Cockles Bibimbap (rice with spicy cockles and seaweed). The restaurant also serves Korean puffer fish, and claims to be the first Korean restaurant in Singapore to do so.

Various locations islandwide. Visit https://sbcd.com.sg.

Also owned by Korean celebrity chef Jong Won Paik, this popular chain from South Korea has a couple of outlets in Singapore too. The restaurant’s specialty, Woo Sam Gyup, is a must-try. It’s Chef Paik’s recipe of thinly-sliced beef, seasoned with a top-secret marinade. Eat the juicy meat by itself once it’s cooked or dip it in the accompanying spicy sauce, or why not roll it up with some vegetables too? If you prefer to stay cool and not have a grill with sizzling meat in front of you, try the Born-Ga Naeng Mun – buckwheat noodles served in an icy-cold broth, with vegetables, pear and beef slices, and topped with a hard-boiled egg. Cold noodles might not be something we’re used to but this just might surprise your taste buds – in a good way.

Various locations islandwide. Visit www.facebook.com/Borngasg/.

Additional reporting by: Latisha Sonia Shaymentyran