The Place The latest kid on the block on Duxton Road is The House Chungdam, a new contemporary Korean barbecue dining concept in a shophouse setting. I love how modern the space of The House Chungdam is, which occupies the unit along Duxton Road very close to the adjacent Craig Road. 

There are two distinct Korean grilling experiences here – a traditional charcoal grill at the bar counter seats for an authentic flavour, or the modern gas-powered iron plate grill at the regular tables. This is also the only Korean restaurant in Singapore offering both methods at the moment, where the interior of the restaurant is designed by acclaimed architect Jenie W. Jung. There are also two private rooms for big groups.

The Food The menu consists of set menus and ala carte options. 

My meal started with the Tartar (S$37) which features house-made raw beef tartar served with avocado and topped with snow flower cheese. You can have it as its own which is delicious, or wrap it around the lettuce provided as part of the complimentary banchan. 

The highlight of the meal for me has to be the grilled meats. I had the Cotesal Boneless Short Rib (S$144/2pax, S$72/pax) which uses Australian Wagyu beef and the staff are happy to help you grill the meats if you prefer. 

The marination of the beef is flavourful and you can expect a tender and rich taste of the beef.

There are a couple ways to enjoy it, either as is, or you can dip it with the accompanying condiments like sea salt, curry powder, sesame oil sauce, or wrap it with the lettuce. 

For soup, I had the Pork Bone Soup (S$29) which showcases Busan-style clear broth pork soup (Dwaeji Gukbap). The broth is simmered over medium-low heat for an extended period to achieve its clear flavour. Overall, it is quite a light broth and the pork is quite tender too. 

A great snack to share is the Cheese Potato Jeon (S$27) which is made with fluffy-textured potatoes sourced from the mountains of Gangwon. Have it along with the accompanying soya sauce with onion and jalapeño. 

The last savoury dish I had was the Jinju Cold Buckwheat Noodles (S$19), a refreshing cold noodle dish adorned with a lavish array of toppings, blending coastal seafood and farm-fresh ingredients. 

For dessert, there is the Red Bean Bingsu (S$10) which is homemade, featuring slowly cooked red beans with a subtle sweetness. You can also opt for the Mango Bingsu (S$10) flavour. 

Rants The dinner ala carte prices are relatively on the higher end, and it might be worth considering the set meat platter for better value.

Will I Return Again? It is great that the ventilation system of the restaurant is very good and there is no smell of the grilled meats at all. I love how modern and clean looking the space is, and it is a good addition to the already bustling Tanjong Pagar enclave for Korean food.

TheRantingPanda says:
Taste bud: 4/5
Hole in the pocket: 4/5
Ambience: 4/5
Overall Experience: 4/5 

The House Chungdam 
72 Duxton Road 
Singapore 089531 
Tel: +65 8336 2068

Opening Hours 
Monday to Sunday: 12:00pm to 3:00pm; 6:00pm to 11:00pm

Ranted by The Ranter