The Place Tanjong Pagar is synonymous with Korean food and the latest addition to the dining scene here is Daejim restaurant. The name Daejim is derived from the Korean word ‘Dwaeji’, which translates to pork, a meat choice that Daejim has an abundance of on its menu on top of quality beef such as Wagyu. Daejim is inspired by the pojangmacha street food vendors which is a staple in the food scene in Korea, where the interior of the shophouse restaurant exudes an industrial vibe. 

The Food Korean BBQ is the main theme at Daejim and other than meats, the menu also offers air-flown fresh Korean seafood – including abalone, octopus, scallops, squid and oysters, which is uncommon in other Korean BBQs.  

There are quite a couple of BBQ sets to choose from which is quite value for money as all sets come with Steamed Egg, Soup, Sundubu Jjigae, Cream Cheese Croquettes and Cheese Fondue. 

For a start, some delicious serving of banchan. 

I actually enjoyed the complimentary side dishes with the BBQ set I had. The sundubu jjigae is not too spicy, while the steamed egg is delicious. The cream cheese croquettes are crispy and cheesy enough. 

I had the USDA Beef/Pork Set (S$98) which comes with Prime Beef Finger Rib, Sliced Beef Brisket, Pork Belly and Pork Collar. 

The pork collar was slightly over-cooked and hence the meat was too tough. 

Comparatively, I much enjoyed the Pork Collar. 

That said, the beef fared better for me than the pork where it is well-marinated and flavourful. 

I also had the Korean BBQ Scallop (6 for S$40) where you can opt to have with or without cheese. 

From the raw dish selections, there is also the Ganjang Gejang (S$40) which is soy-marinated raw crab, a dish not commonly found is most Korean BBQ restaurants. I personally find this delicacy too exotic for me, as I am not used to having raw crab. 

For beverages, there is a wide selection such as soju, makgeolli, beers, liquors and non-alcoholic beverages. I had the Honeycomb Makgeolli (S$38) which is good for 2 pax. 

Rants It was relatively smoky at my own table during the BBQ. Just be prepared to smell smoky after your meal.

Will I Return Again? If you are a seafood lover, Daejim should suit your palate for Korean BBQ. For me, the banchan and side dishes standout more in terms of flavour as compared to the BBQ meats.

This was an invited tasting, though all opinions expressed are our own.

Make your reservations instantly at Daejim here.

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 3.5/5
Hole in the pocket: 3.5/5
Ambience: 3.5/5
Overall Experience: 3.5/5

Daejim 
4 Craig Road 
Singapore 089664 
Tel: +65 9796 9593 

Opening hours 
Monday to Sunday: 12pm to 3pm; 5pm to 2am 

Ranted by The Ranter