17 authentic Korean restaurants in Singapore run by Koreans [Nov 2024 update]
I know exactly why I was assigned this article; Korean cuisine has long embedded itself into my heart, and I still get that familiar pang of wistfulness every time soon dubu jjigae hits my palate.
More than just downright delicious, Korean fare always takes me back to happier, simpler times—when the only thing I had to worry about was which city to visit next. I’m sure many share the same adoration towards the cuisine as I do, for reasons that are unique and valid in ways of their own.
This is why I’m bringing you 17 authentic Korean restaurants in Singapore that are run by Koreans so you don’t have to look too far the next time you find yourself longing for legitimate jjajangmyeon that hits the spot.
1. Ju Shin Jung
This restaurant needs no introduction—Ju Shin Jung’s popularity speaks for itself in the form of long queues and ever growing reservation lists. It promises to satisfy even the hungriest of diners with free-flow meats.
For the full authentic Korean dining experience, opt for the traditional seating with floor cushions and a low table. Though if you’re 25 but practically 52, then your aching back might desperately cry for chairs with support, and I don’t blame you.
With the restaurant famous for its generous banchan (small side dishes) spread, guests of Ju Shin Jung will never go hungry nor be short of options. Their unlimited barbecue options are quite the show stopper too, with 7 different menu items up for grabs—woo sam gyup (beef belly), bulgogi (seasoned sliced beef), sam gyup sal (pork belly), mok sal (pork collar), daeji (marinated pork), dak (marinated chicken), and saewoo (prawn).
Enjoy your feast paired with a simple bap (rice) or in the ssam (wrap) style, which is barbecued meat wrapped in a lettuce leaf alongside other ingredients like seaweed, kimchi, and bean sprouts.
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Refer to locations, contact numbers, and opening hours here.
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2. Kim Dae Mun
Ah, a popular one with students and those on a budget. Kim Dae Mun was a household name amongst my peers back in my uni days, when we’d often hop on a bus down to the restaurant from SMU to catch a quick Korean lunch fix.
Located on the first floor of Concorde Shopping Mall, Kim Dae Mun is not only popular for its convenience. Its price list alone is enough to attract many from far and wide, each hoping to get a taste of Korean fare that won’t hurt the wallet.
You have options such as Spicy Pork (S$11.50), Bibimbap (S$11), Dumpling Soup (S$7) and Chive Pancake (S$5).
It won’t blow your mind, I’ll be the first to admit, but Kim Dae Mun is where you’ll go for that fast and affordable hint of Korean flavours for when you’re looking to satiate that craving on a budget. Think of it as authentic Korean food with the price tag of food court grub, and it makes everything better.
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100 Orchard Road, Concorde Hotel Singapore, #01-03D, Singapore 238840
Tue to Sun: 11am – 8pm
Closed on Mon
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3. Hanwoori Korean Restaurant
A no-frills establishment, Hanwoori Korean Restaurant sits in a corner of Serangoon Gardens and is helmed by a Korean lady who has quite the character, as some endearingly recollect. Don’t expect to be called ‘ma’am’ and ushered around here—Hanwoori is where you grab a couple of beers and unwind with friends after a work week that was five days too long.
The Haemul Tang (S$22), or seafood soup, has been lauded as the dish to try here. Gyeran Jjim (S$15), which is steamed egg, will always be one of my favourite sides at any Korean establishment simply because of how classic and unfailingly tasty it is, no matter where you are.
76 Serangoon Garden Way, Singapore 555972
+65 6283 6339
Mon & Wed to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm & 5.30pm – 10pm
Sun: 5.30pm – 10pm
Closed on Tue
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4. Bigmama Korean Food
Like Tanjong Pagar, Tiong Bahru is another ‘hood you can definitely count on for some good ol’ Korean fare, or just a variety of cuisines in general. And that’s exactly where Bigmama—home to Singapore’s only suyuk place—is located.
Suyuk (S$30), literally translating to ‘water meat’, refers to meat slices that have been boiled and processed, and is meant to be enjoyed with soya sauce, vinegar, cucumbers, celery, and spicy soybean sprouts, if one so pleases.
The establishment’s backstory comes as a rather heartwarming tale, with the restaurant set up by former caretaker and tutor Candy Namgung Ji Young who used to cook for her Korean students while they were studying in Singapore.
Swing by for a taste of the elusive suyuk, and don’t forget to say hi to Ji Young if you happen to cross paths.
2 Kim Tian Road, Singapore 169244
+65 6270 7704
Tue to Sun: 11.30am – 3pm & 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Closed on Mon
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5. Kim’s Family Food
Long considered one of the OGs of communal-style Korean BBQ joints, Kim’s Family Food is known to serve up authentic Korean cuisine along Beauty World.
Order with caution because their serving portions are notoriously big, but that’s music to your ears if you’re an unabashed, meat-chomping diner. In that case, knock yourself out.
Many regulars who frequent the place constantly rave about the extensive banchan options—12 different dishes, at that.
Savour budae jjigae (army stew) (S$36 for 2 to 3 pax) and slurp on japchae (sweet potato glass noodles) (S$15) at this homely Korean establishment that feels like you’re dining straight out of a hanok.
177 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068625
+65 6221 0401
Mon to Sat: 11.30am – 2.30pm & 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Closed on Sun
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6. Guiga Korean BBQ Restaurant
Garnering only raving reviews from many who have visited, Guiga Korean BBQ is where you’re looking for if variety is what you seek. Belonging to the slew of Korean restaurants around Tanjong Pagar Road, Guiga stands out from the rest through the best cuts of meats grilled to perfection.
Relish the Wagyu Prime Set 450g (S$160), consisting Wagyu sirloin, Wagyu oyster blade and prime beef rib. The key to any great grilled meat lies in the marinade—and the well-seasoned slices at Guiga will more than please.
Just like any other Korean BBQ experience, however, be prepared to walk out smelling like pork bellies and beef slices; but then again, how else would you know you’ve had an absolutely lip-smacking meal?
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134 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088538
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 3pm & 5pm – 12am
Sat: 11.30am – 12am
Sun: 11.30am – 11pm
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7. Woorinara Korean Restaurant
Just a neighbourly wave away from Kim’s Family Food, Woorinara Korean Restaurant is famed in the area for their crunchy, succulent Korean fried chicken. Their Soy Garlic Chicken (S$16/S$30) and Cheese Fried Chicken (S$18/S$34) are must-tries if this is your first time venturing there. To complement the side, we strongly recommend a sharing of Cheese Seafood And Kimchi Pancake (S$23) or Spicy Sausage And Ham Stew (Army Stew) (S$28/S$38) to truly immerse yourself in an authentic Korean meal.
There’s also a lean BBQ section to choose from, such as Grilled Pork Belly (S$30) and Boneless Short Ribs Meat (S$40). Whatever your fancy, you won’t tire of Woorinara’s fare, even if you tried.
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19 Lorong Kilat, #01-02, Singapore 598120
+65 6464 9282
Daily: 11am – 3pm & 5pm – 11pm
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8. Meokja by JUNGGA
Opened on
9 Oct 2022 at GR.iD, Meokja by JUNGGA is a truly authentic halal Korean spot. Meokja by JUNGGA is helmedby Chef Jung Sangwoo, a Korean-Muslim revert. He decided to start Meokja by JUNGGA, which was initially a home-based business online, when he realised many Muslims couldn’t experience proper halal Korean food when he first arrived in Singapore.
It offers several interesting Korean street foods such as Kimchi Jeon (S$7), TteokBokki (S$9/S$18), Eomuk Tang (S$7) and Yangnyeom Chikin (S$7.50). It also caters to those looking for essential Korean dishes like Kimchi Bokkeum Bap (S$11), JjamPpong (S$14), Bibim Guksu (S$9) and Bulgogi (S$15.50).
1 Selegie Road, GR.iD, #02-03, Singapore 188306
+65 9067 7077
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
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9. Waker Chicken (와커치킨)
What’s Korean cuisine without fried chicken? And by actual Koreans to boot. Waker Chicken (와커치킨) was founded by 2 Koreans living in Singapore who missed the taste and experience of Korean fried chicken just as they had back home. Their Uncle apparently owned the brand in Korea but gave his blessings for them to open outlets here.
You can choose up to 4 distinct flavours such as Original Crispy (S$13.50/S$26), Sweet Spicy (S$14.50/S$28), Soy Sauce (S$14.50/S$28) and Honey Butter (S$15.50/S$29) which is a hit amongst Singaporeans. Waker Chicken is halal-certified and is available in 7 outlets including Yishun, Bukit Batok and most recently Tampines.
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Refer to locations, contact numbers, and opening hours here.
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10. Mukshidonna
Those who are craving Muslim-friendly army stew should look no further than Mukshidonna. It is based on a popular Korean chain restaurant that originated in Seoul. The name Mukshidonna roughly translates to “Have your food, pay and leave”.
Despite serving only the hearty and iconic Budae Jigae, you can choose from many variations which include Cheese, Mussels, Beef Bulgogi, Chicken Sausage and Mushrooms at S$13.90 each. You can also choose to add other ingredients such as Ramyeon and Yakki Dumpling at S$3 each.
If you’re still feeling hungry, you can order Fried Rice (S$5) and Fried Rice with Cheese (S$7) where your leftover gravy will be used to fry the rice.
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11 Tanjong Katong Road, KINEX, #01-30/31, Singapore 437157
+65 8168 4708
Daily: 11.30am – 10pm
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11. SBCD Korean Tofu House
Founded in
2016 by Chef Nam Kyoung Soo, SBCD Korean Tofu House serves your expected Korean cuisine as well as a traditional Korean soft tofu stew. It is said that the stew uses a 10-ingredient secret recipe with freshly made tofu every day.
Their popular
Soontofu comes in a variety of ingredients such as Ham & Cheese (S$23.90), Original Beef (S$23.90) and Seafood (S$23.90). Each order comes with an egg, Hot Stone Rice and Side dishes. You can even pick the spicy level ranging from Mild to Crazy Hot.
There are also other dishes such as Spicy Baby Octopus (S$29.90), Korean Seafood Pancake (S$27.90) and Pork Belly Tofu Kimchi (S$32.90).
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Refer to locations, contact numbers, and opening hours here.
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12. Chelabela
Manned by Chin Won, a Seoul citizen who migrated to Singapore back in 2006 with his family, Chelabela serves authentic Korean cuisine with a hawker backdrop located at 603 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5. It took 7 to 8 years of R&D, which includes trying other Korean eateries in Singapore by Chin Won, who’s a former logistics manager, to develop his recipes from scratch.
Some of the dishes include Army Stew (S$18), BBQ Chicken (S$6), Pork Tteokboggi and Chicken Tofu Soup (S$6).
Impressively, there were also different forms of homemade kimchi such as the original Kimchi (S$5/S$9), Spicy Radish Kimchi (S$6/S$11) and Non-Spicy Radish.
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Block 603 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 5, Singapore 560603
Tue to Sun: 11am – 2.30pm & 4.30pm – 7pm
Closed on Mon
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13. HAN KKI
Nestled in the heartlands is HAN KKI, a casual Korean eatery opened by Ms Anna Lee, a South Korean chef. In Korean, ‘Hankki‘ means ‘one meal’. Hence, they’ve created a homely space that serves a whole spread of delicious Korean food, reminding you of home-cooked meals.
Dig into authentic dishes like Tteokbokki (S$9), Seafood Pancake (S$13) and Bulgogi (S$11 for Pork, S$12 for Beef). How about a fluffy Steamed Egg (S$7) to get you through your day?
Other classic mains to enjoy include Kimchi Jjigae (S$13), Samgyetang (S$24) and Kimchi Fried Rice (S$10).
190 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh, #01-516, Singapore 310190
+65 6908 8908
Daily: 11.30am – 9.30pm
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14. Seoul Noodle Shop
Seoul Noodle Shop was opened by Korean celebrity chef Lee Won-il and specialises in kal–guksu (Korean knife-cut noodles). The noodles were initially sold at a 1-month popup in Market Blue before officially becoming a permanent fixture in Tanjong Pagar.
The Pork Bone Spicy Noodles (S$20.50) are a good choice as they come with a generous amount of pork ribs and silky noodles. There’s even a Singapore-exclusive Busan Shrimp Noodles (S$20.50), served with shrimp, fishballs and scallions. Be blown away by the robust, umami flavours of this soupy dish.
Cheese lovers, go for the Spicy Chicken Cheese Dakgalbi (S$38.50), consisting of stir-fried boneless chicken leg and mixed veggies.
99 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 078520
Daily: 11am – 2.30pm & 5pm – 9.30pm
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15. Jeong’s Jjajang
The beloved Jeong’s Jjajang started out as a humble hawker stall in Bukit Merah, where it amassed a steady fanbase. They later relocated and upgraded to a restaurant outlet along Killiney Road, bringing their authentic Korean dishes to Somerset.
Helmed by Chef Jeong Jun Seong, this authentic restaurant serves all your favourite Korean dishes. The Jjajangmyeon (S$13) is their signature item, featuring noodles topped with a savoury black bean sauce. I personally loved the Kimchi Fried Rice (S$15), which had a strong wok hei flavour and a glorious runny egg on top. If you enjoy sweet and savoury pork, don’t forget to get the Tangsuyuk (S$20), which consists of various pieces of fried pork coated in a sweet sauce.
75 Killiney Road, Singapore 239529
+65 9832 1525
Tue to Sun: 11.30am – 3pm
Closed on Mon
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16. Kelim Dakdoritang
Kelim Dakdoritang is a well-known restaurant chain in South Korea, with over 50 restaurants in the country. In August 2023, South Korean Ms Anna Lee (psst, she’s the owner of HAN KKI too!) and her partner brought the brand to Singapore, making this lesser known Korean dish more accessible to Singaporeans.
The titular Dakdoritang, or Spicy Chicken Stew, is a must-try dish. This huge pot of stew is made using a time-honoured recipe, and is available in 3 portions — Small (S$39.90) is suitable for 2 pax, Medium (S$59.90) is suitable for 3 pax and Large (S$69.90) is suitable for 4 pax. This dish is perfect for anyone who loves intense garlic flavours—every bite is full of pungent, garlicky aroma.
Non-dakdoritang dishes are available too, like Dakttongjip (Chicken Gizzard) (S$15.90) and Jumeokbap D.I.Y Flying Fish Roe Seaweed Rice Ball (S$9.90).
14B Kensington Park Road, Singapore 557265
+65 6241 4241
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm & 5.30pm – 10pm
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17. Sangwoo Street
Sangwoo Street offers an affordable alternative to restaurant food. This humble stall within Kedai Kopi in Yishun is both Korean-owned and Muslim-owned, making it a unique dining location. Prices for mains at Sangwoo Street range between S$5 to S$12.50, making their food relatively affordable, especially when compared to most other Korean eateries.
Definitely go for the Cheese Dakgalbi (S$9.80) if you love both cheese and chicken—the creamy, milky notes of the cheese balanced out the stronger flavours of the sauce well, and paired wonderfully with the tender chicken chunks.
Other dishes include the stuffed Beef Bulgogi Bibimbap (S$9.50) and Fried Chicken Bibimbap (S$8.80).
925 Yishun Central 1, Kedai Kopi, #01-211, Singapore 760925
Daily: 11.30am – 9pm
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