Ever found yourself craving for Korean food?
No need to plan a new trip to this green country, not when there are tons of restaurants right here in Singapore that serve traditional Korean dishes.
What’s a Typical Korean Food?
For the love of Korean food, the craving that kicks in after watching a ‘K-Drama’ is real. Fortunately, there are great varieties of remarkable Korean restaurants in Singapore. Before delving into our recommended Korean restaurants, let’s learn about what a typical korean food would look like.
A typical Korean meal consists of a bowl of rice, a bowl of soup or stew, and some side dishes as accompaniments. These side dishes include kimchi, bean sprout, radish, cucumber, eggplant, spinach etc. Koreans have many extraordinary ways to keep pickle vegetables and wild greens for long storage. Besides vegetables, they also use raw fish and raw meat for side dishes.
Despite keeping their food for a long period, Korea has some of the healthiest foods in the world. Their emphasis is on vegetables, with their meat cooked so simply and with minimal amounts of essential oil. Because of their emphasis on vegetables, Koreans have wild obsession with fermented veggie kimchi – a traditional side dish that’s a staple in their cuisine.
Throughout the years, Korean cuisine has been evolving with time, following cultural changes. However, it’s still considered a major aspect of their national identity.
History of Korean Food
The history of Korean cuisine changes from home style cooking to Western favourites such as kimchi. Kimchi is the richest historical food in Korea and other countries.
The origin of kimchi dates back to 37 BC. This was during a historical period when Koreans were highly skilled in producing fermented foods such as fermented fish and wine. Such good skills made the preservation of foods possible, especially when there were no refrigerators in the olden days to prolong their lifespan.
As Buddhism slowly travelled down to Korea during the Silla dynasty, the use of vegetables became even more famous as the nation adopted a vegetarian lifestyle.
Originally, kimchi wasn’t meant to be spicy. It started only when the Portuguese traders had introduced a new consumption of chilli peppers from the Americans. As decades passed, kimchi is gradually introduced as a “banchan” or side dish in Korea.
How Korean Food Differs from Other Asian Food
All Asian dishes are usually served at once to share, rather than in courses. On the other hand, Korean dishes have perfected the art of preserving food. Besides their main dishes, they are usually served with many side dishes. These sides dishes are often minimal, fermented, salted, reddish and spicy. An example will be kimchi – Korea’s famous spicy cabbage, which has more than a hundred of varieties using different vegetables.
Koreans love to add ginger in their dishes, while other Asian foods tend to lean more towards herb spices such as lime leaves, coriander, lemongrass, galangal, basil, and cilantro. Also, while other Asian countries love to cook with rice noodles, Koreans are infatuated with sweet potato glass noodles. As other countries mostly use vegetable or palm oil for cooking, Koreans prefer to use sesame oil instead.
In short, the main differences between Korean and other Asian food are the use of spices. While Korean food uses a lot of spices, Asian food uses cooking ingredients that are more natural with just a minimum of added artificial flavour. Just like what most has seen in Korean eating shows, hot, reddish and spicy dishes are popular in Korea, but not in other Asian cuisines.
Why You Should Try Out Korean Food
Time to forget about famous Korean food (the likes of Kimbap, Bulgogi, and tteokbboki) and focus on real traditional Korean dishes, which carry a lot of interesting stories and symbols.
Generally, Korean food packs a strong smell, and that’s mostly because up to 70% of their flavours consist of fermented food.
So, why should anyone try out Korean food?
Balance Is Key
Koreans don’t just make food. Everything has to be proportionately balanced. You shouldn’t take too much of any particular ingredient or nutrient, one thing that Koreans tend to be so concerned about. Each ingredient must have a role to nourish and make your body stronger.
Korean food is all about balance. It goes back to the yin and yang of food. This is why most Korean dishes comprise of many banchan, or “half-dishes.” Together, they comprise a nutritious, delicious and well-balanced meal — balanced in terms of taste, texture, colour, smell and temperature.
Health Benefits
Scientific research has proven that Korean food contains good medicinal value. This is synonymous with the Korean saying, “Food is the best medicine.” It stresses how careful Koreans are with what they eat – you’d be surprised by the number of plants and herbs that they use as side dishes.
Korean food helps you to consume sufficient amount of vegetables, which helps to discharge cholesterol and increase positive health activity. Typical cooking techniques for Korean dishes such as stewing and grilling also use less oil. Moreover, consuming Korean food helps to stimulate better digestion, stronger bones and healthier skin.
Every Korean meal includes plenty of vegetables, most commonly in the form of kimchi-robustly flavored, spicy and fermented vegetables. These ingredients provide significant amount of phytonutrients and fiber. In fact, kimchi supplies lactobacillus and other “good” bacteria that some experts mentioned that it can help boost our immune system. Kimchi is also often strongly seasoned with garlic, scallions and plenty of chile pepper, which supplies capsaicin, an element proven to protect blood vessels and improve metabolism. Just like any other vegetables, kimchi is associated with lower cancer risks. Since most of the Korean dishes include cabbage and radish-vegetables in the cancer-fighting cruciferous family, they are proven to deliver health benefits effectively.
Dynamic Cuisine
It’s a global era, and Korean cuisine has been adapting to this new reality. However, even as their dishes evolve, three Korean sauces remain staple in their food: fermented soybean sauce, fermented soybean, and hot chili sauce. One last ingredient, kimchi.
In short, we can understand that Korean cuisine often uses a wide variety of meats and vegetables – which are often served uncooked such as kimchi, either in salads or pickles, as well as cooked in various forms such as grilled meat.
Common Misconceptions Singaporeans Have About Korean Food
Dog Meat is Not a Central Part of Korean Cuisine
There will be nothing odd in the food you eat. Nothing like duck’s head, chicken feet, or dog’s meat. The Korean food you eat in Singapore will be prepared from the common ingredients that people all over are using.
Korean Food Consists a lot of Meat
Unlike what most has seen on K-drama, a typical Korean dish contains more vegetables than meats. This misconception may originate from most Korean restaurants’ reviews in the US. Americans who visit Korean restaurants tend to order dishes of meat such as bulgogi.
This holds true for Korean beef, in particular. Korean beef is not expensive in America and most locals are heavy-beef eaters. However, eating beef is not something done all the time in Korea. In fact, Koreans usually eat beef on a monthly basis due to its high cost. The real Korean dish does not focus mainly on meat; but rather on rice, soup, vegetables and side dishes.
Soup, Rice, and Kimchi are Mainstay in Korean Meals
This is partially true. Koreans love rice, soup, and kimchi. But they’re no lazy cooks. You’ll be surprised by the number of ways that Koreans prepare these meals. The first one is where they grind the rice into flour and make rice cakes. They’ll then cook it until soft to make delicious porridge.
At times, they scorch it and eat the scorched rice as some crunchy snack. So yes, they eat rice in most of their meals, but it’s never the same rice that everybody knows.
You’d also be lying to say that their food is mostly rice or noodle-based dishes. They also serve meat and fish dishes such as Sam Gyae tang (simmered chicken served with rice, chestnuts, and ginseng) Cham chi chigae (rich tuna soup).
Korean Food is Spicy
One common misconception is that Korean food is too spicy. Ironically, not all Korean food is spicy despite its boiling reddish colour. Other food cuisines such as Thailand, Indian, Mexican, and even American are spicier. Likewise, kimchi can be hot and a little spicy when it’s young; but it dissipates with age.
The chilies used in Korean dishes, though, have a delayed heat. Americans mentioning about the spicy cabbage and Koreans saying that Americans don’t consume Korean dishes because it’s too spicy may have to be put to rest once and for all.
Therefore, we present to you some of the classic Korean restaurants you will find in Singapore with the best services. These top restaurants are undoubtedly beloved by many locals and foreigners in Singapore. They represent humble fare and friendly gathering for family time and events celebration.
Restaurant Name | Hyangtogol |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.facebook.com/Hyangtogol-Raffles-City-1217928238317496/ |
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| Telephone | (65) 6220-7160 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun Lunch: 11:30am – 3pm |
| As Featured On | World’s top 5 overseas Korean restaurants by Korean Food Promotion Institute |
| Review 1 | “Service was good, side dishes were clearly distinct in taste from the regular Korean places. Had the hot stone bibimbap which allowed you to add your preferred level of sauce, which I liked. Would come back again for sure” – Joshua.C |
| Review 2 | “Korean Cuisine , BBQ & Grill , Korean Stews. Using the freshest premium cuts of Beef with perfect marbling, Hyang-To-Gol provides an unrivalled Korean BBQ experience. Together with other authentic Korean dishes like Bibimbap and Ginseng Chicken Soup, this Korean restaurant brings the taste of Korea to the table.” – Yulei.L |
Restaurant Name | Chang Korean Charcoal BBQ |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | http://changbbq.com.sg |
| Address | 71 Loewen Road, #01-01, Singapore 248847 |
| Telephone | (65) 6473 9005 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun: Lunch: 12pm-3pm |
| Review 1 | “Absolutely Fantastic! Great Food and Excellent Service! A MUST GO! The Broiled Pork with wrapped kimchi, stir fried rice cake & seafood with spicy sauce is A MUST!” – Max.N |
| Review 2 | “I wish I can leave 6 stars! Food was good and what set this place aside was the service. Special thanks to Jenny whom went above and beyond with genuine attention to seeing that my little one wasn’t enjoying her meal. Simple action of asking if all is ok is so fundamental but refreshing. Thanks again for replacing with noodles without spiciness.” – Ray D |
| Review 3 | “Best Korean BBQ I’ve had in Singapore. High quality ingredients and meat, great service, and they cook the meat for you. All you have to do is eat. Order the marinated short ribs. The cold buckwheat noodles are refreshing. Bonus: you won’t leave with your clothes smelling like a BBQ.” – Sian N |
Restaurant Name | Doonji |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | http://www.doongji.com.sg/ |
| Address | 222 East Coast Road, Singapore 428919 |
| Telephone | (65) 6345 4264 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun: Lunch: 11.30am-2.30pm |
| Review 1 | “Honestly the best korean food in the East Area. They gave a lot of seafood in the seafood steamboat and ingredients seem to be fresh and bigger compared to other korean restaurants in general. Definitely recommend. The interior is quite nice too, really love the vibe.” – Xo |
| Review 2 | “One of the best in the east. Must try. I takeaway as well. Lunch sets are good. The sides are good too.” – Caroline. T |
Restaurant Name | Seorae Charcoal BBQ |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.seorae.com.sg/ |
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| Telephone | (65) 9181 2709 |
| Operating Hours | Sun – Thu: 11.30am – 10pm Fri-Sat: 11.30am – 11pm |
| As Featured On | CNN as top 50 World Most Delicious Food |
| Review 1 | “Thick pork belly and tender prime beef!” – Jason.T |
| Review 2 | “Excellent Korean bbq restaurent that I can satisfy my cravings while in Sgp”-Su.L |
| Review 3 | “Good value for money. Staff is friendly and efficient. Service is fast as they have the charcoal ready. Just that side dishes are limited and only lettuce for bbq. Overall good experience and will visit again.” – Adeline |
Restaurant Name | Yun Ga Singapore |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | http://www.jushinjung.com.sg/ |
| Address | 30 East Coast Rd, #03-12, Singapore 428751 |
| Telephone | (65) 6447 9279 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun: 11am-10pm |
| Review 1 | “Easy to make reservations. refillable side dishes” – Jimmy.L |
| Review 2 | “Great variety of appetiser and helpful staff who’ll help us grill the meat. Food tastes as good as in Korea.” – Claire.L |
Restaurant Name | Jangsu Korean BBQ |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.facebook.com/Jangsubbq.sg/ |
| Address | 19 Teck Chye Terrace, Singapore 545725 |
| Telephone | (65) 6289 4104 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun: Lunch: 11.30am – 3pm |
| Review 1 | “Really one of the best Korean restaurants here! Lovely waitresses and yummy food, comes with 6 side dishes (ban chan!). Their mushroom side dish was amazing. Had their spicy seafood noodle and the serving was large :)” – Patricia.T |
| Review 2 | “Super excellent meal, perfect for families…if you need an authentic Korean cuisine, this is the right place!” – Hyung.W |
| Review 3 | “Super awesome for gathering. Price is super worth it. Spread of food is good and its child friendly! Would definitely go often!” – C.Chng |
Restaurant Name | Gold Ocean Korean Seafood & BBQ |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://golden-ocean-korean-seafood-bbq.business.site/ |
| Address | 865 Mountbatten Rd, Katong Shopping Centre #01-41/43, Singapore 437844 |
| Telephone | (65) 6282 7592 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun: 12pm-12am |
| Review 1 | “Authentic Korean food.. Great taste.. Reasonable price.. Awesome raw fish bibimbap” – Ben.S |
| Review 2 | “Amazing food – and they actually serve live octopus here! Which is pretty uncommon in SG and it was my first time trying it. Have been here multiple times and would definitely recommend :)” – Anna.T |
| Review 3 | “very delicious Korean style raw fish dishes” – Hee.S |
Restaurant Name | Oven & Fried Chicken Restaurant |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | http://ofcsingapore.com |
| Address | 102 Guillemard Rd, Guillemard Village #01-01, Singapore 399719 |
| Telephone | (65) 6440 7707 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Fri: 11:30am–2:30pm and 5:30–10pm Sat: 11:30am–2:30pm |
| Review 1 | “We had the spicy boneless chicken and I loved how crisp the skin was. The sauce was really spicy, but the spice was more of a slow burn, which was great because it meant that I was able to put off sipping my cup of ice cold water until much later.” – Caroline.M |
| Review 2 | “Fried chicken is really crunchy, crispy and delicious!! And also i love tteokbokki here! One of my fave Korean restaurant !!”- Jessica.P |
Restaurant Name | Don Dae Bak |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | http://www.dondaebak.com/ |
| Address | 35 Kreta Ayer Rd, Singapore 089000 |
| Telephone | (65) 62261727 |
| Operating Hours | Mon – Sun: Lunch: 11:30am – 3pm Dinner/Supper: 5pm – 1am |
| Review 1 | “Enjoyed the food and their services. Loved the lunch buffet!” – Clement.H |
| Review 2 | “Very very good service! Constantly there to help! Meat is thick/well marinated. Atmosphere is very nice and cozy. One of the best Korean BBQ out there!”- Tanxwe.T |
Restaurant Name | I’m Kim Korean BBQ |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | www.kingdomfood.sg/im-kim-korean-bbq/ |
| Address | 1 Zubir Said Dr, School of The Arts #01-04, Singapore 227968 |
| Telephone | (65) 62387218 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun: 11:30am – 3:30pm 5:30pm – 10:30pm |
| Review 1 | “Craving for Korean bbq so we decided to go I’m Kim. We didn’t make reservation but was able to get tablet for 6. Wide varieties of meats and cooked food. The fingers licking good Korean fried chicken is a must eat must try! Kimchi is nice too. Overall a very pleasant dining experience. ❤”-Axis |
Restaurant Name | Seoul |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.seoul.com.sg/ |
| Address | 1 Cuscaden Road, The Regent Hotel #03-02, Singapore 249715 |
| Telephone | (65) 6338 8548 |
| Operating Hours | Lunch: Mon-Fri: 12pm-2.30pm Sat-Sun & PH: 12pm – 3pm Dinner: |
| Review 1 | “6 out of 5 stars for meat lovers 💯 the short ribs from the buffet menu were intensely marbled and deliciously cooked over an open charcoal pit that gave everything a slightly smoky WOKHEI flavor! Squid was fresh, prawns were huge and the sides were also excellent. Would come back again 👍🏻” – Jun |
| Review 2 | “Amazing marbled short ribs, fresh and tender squid and great service to boot. Truly a delectable experience and highly recommended for any meat lover!! 👍👍👍” – Vivienne.T |
Restaurant Name | Jang Won |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.jangwon.com.sg/ |
| Address | 44 Mosque St, Chinatown Complex #01-01, Singapore 059522 |
| Telephone | (65) 6532 6949 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun: 11:30am – 2:30pm 5:30pm – 10:30pm |
| Review | “Very friendly and polite staff. The food portions are very generous and the quality is great. I love the cold dishes and the unique taste of the salad sesame sauce. The Korean tea is free flow as well. Will be back to try other dishes.”-Yu.O |
Restaurant Name | Bigmama |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.bigmama.sg/ |
| Address | 2 Kim Tian Rd, Singapore 169244 |
| Telephone | (65) 6270 7704 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun: 11:30am – 3pm 5:30pm – 11pm |
| Review 1 | “This place is good place to relax. They serve the best dishes and also the place was great! This restaurant sells foods that suits to your budget and that satisfies your hunger! Also the staff was nice, neat and clean! Their foods were also healthy and you might forget that you’re in a diet! The ambiance here is nice and you can release your stress in here. This is a once in a lifetime experience so try it now” – Joanne.D |
| Review 2 | “The food is so good! Loved the dakgalbi and fried rice after!!! Hehehe. And first time I’m having a Kimchi pancake that actually has seafood inside for Oblique 18 bucks! SUPER WORTH IT” – Shermaine.T |
Restaurant Name | Ju Shin Jung |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.jushinjung.com.sg/ |
| Address | 102 Guillemard Rd, Guillemard Village #01-01, Singapore 399719 |
| Telephone | (65) 6440 7707 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun: 11:30am – 2:30pm 5:30pm – 10:30pm |
| Review 1 | “We had a very good meal! Great option of meals and it is affordable. They have good selection of soup and desserts as well. Recommended.” – Nico.C |
| Review 2 | “Good food 👍👍, easy find the place. High recommend Cool Noodle soup, the taste is really special with me and suitable with hot weather in Singapore” – Nguyen.J |
Restaurant Name | Super Star K |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.superstark1.com/ |
| Address |
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| Telephone | (65) 6224 0504 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun: 11.30am-2am |
| Review 1 | “One of my favourite places for Korean Army Stew now! Loved the cheese add-on and found it to be reasonably priced and portion for sharing.”-Hukuando |
| Review 2 | “The ambiance and service are both great. Free flow side dishes is quite standard for such Korean BBQ places but here all the side dishes are above average at least. The king beef ribs are so satisfying and definitely my favorite thing on the menu.”-Alex.W |
| Review 3 | “This is my favourite korean bbq place. I love their starters, especially their steam egg! Their kimchi and mashed potato are great as well. It’s my to-go place for korean bbq!” -Shuting |
Restaurant Name | Kko Kko Na Ra |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | http://www.kkokkonara.com/ |
| Address | 68 Tanjong Pagar Rd, Singapore 088489 |
| Telephone | (65) 6224 8186 |
| Operating Hours |
Lunch: 11am-3pm Dinner/Supper: 6pm-3am
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| Review 1 | “Very good sweet spicy Korean fried chicken. Menu looks good, multiple selections like cold noodles that is rare in Singapore, and the traditional marinated crab and many more. Opens very late, till 3am.”-Sim.S |
| Review 2 | “Their fried chicken is very crispy and juicy. And I love it that they have the pickled radish as a side.”-Mich |
Restaurant Name | Manna Korea |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | http://www.mannakorea.com |
| Address | 101-109 Telok Ayer St, Singapore 068574 |
| Telephone | (65) 6227 7425 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun: Lunch: 11am-2.30pm Dinner/Supper: 5pm-1opm |
| Review 1 | “Authentic Korean restaurant. Favourite thing about it is how spacious it is inside. Cold buckwheat noodles are great too” – Winston.Y |
| Review 2 | “Great food! Manage to get my beef bone soup here and it taste not bad! The korean BBQ was also really good and the korean pancake was the best! Very spacious and have lots of room.” – Cerise.S |
| Review 3 | “Authentic Korean food and great place for family gatherings.” – Geraldine.L |
Restaurant Name | Kim Dae Mun |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.facebook.com/KimDaeMun/ |
| Address | 100 Orchard Rd, Concorde Shopping Mall #01-03D, Singapore 238840 |
| Telephone | (65) 6737 6857 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun: 11am-8.30pm |
| Review 1 | “Delicious and affordable! In a very comfortable and casual setting! Portions were perfect for the price and you’ll definitely be well fed!”-Shermaine Tan |
| Review 2 | “Excellent place in town! Clean with great food. It’s a family business owned by a family of Koreans which were extremely nice!” – Jolene |
| Review 3 | “Surprisingly good and budget Korean food! I had the pork, which was pretty alright, but could have been more tender. For the overall experience of price, taste, and customer service (great cashier lady who was super nice), it gets a 5 star! Food taste, 4 star”- Rakesh.P |
Restaurant Name | Hyang Yeon |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | http://www.hyangyeon.com.sg |
| Address | 80 Amoy St, #01-01, Singapore 069899 |
| Telephone | (65) 6221 6368 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun: Lunch: 11am – 2.30pm Dinner: 5.30pm – 10pm Tues: Closed |
| Review 1 | “Authentic korean cuisine with enough portions👏👏. Tried Jokbal and Soy bean stew. No wonder why there were a lot of people. The foods were great – recommendable. Will revisit to have Agujjim and grilled dishes.”-문성주 |
| Review 2 | “Best place to eat authentic korean in Singapore. The Banchan is the best I have ever eaten in Singapore and all the menu I’ve tried never disappoints me. I just keep coming back here every time I crave Korean food.” – Tjong.A |
Restaurant Name | Korean Fusion BBQ |
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| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.facebook.com/koreanfusionbbq/ |
| Address | 5 Dunlop Street, #02-00, Singapore 209335 |
| Telephone | (65) 62914468 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sun: 11.30am – 2am |
| Review 1 | “Affordable Korean BBQ with lots of meat marinate selections. The restaurant also serves freshly made waffles with ice cream. Good for big groups and gathering!” – Yinwei.D |
| Review 2 | “The food is super delicious, especially the tokbokki, very good taste. Recommend this restaurant” – Nguyen |
| Review 3 | “Loved the selection, and the prices are very reasonable too! The kids and wife loved it as well!” – Uly.A |
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