Singapore – We love our Korean food, be it Korean BBQ, Korean fine-dining or Korean Samgyetang. Here are some of our favourite Korean restaurants to check out in Singapore.

Cote Korean Steakhouse
The award-winning restaurant is one of New York City’s most coveted restaurants and America’s first Korean Steakhouse, which opened in Como Orchard. Cote Singapore is the only international outpost of the world’s first and only Korean Steakhouse with a Michelin star, in partnership with Como Group.  The Butcher’s Feast is great value and a good option for first timers, where you get an assortment of meats along with delicious banchan and side dishes like the fluffy Korean steamed egg. Combine that with an American chophouse chic dining vibe and it is a winning formula. Worth a return for me for sure. [Read more here for our full review]

Address: 30 Bideford Road, Level 3 COMO Orchard, Singapore 229922 

NAE:UM
As one of the best contemporary Korean restaurants in Singapore, the Michelin one-starred NAE:UM reopened last month after a complete revamp of its space. The inspiration of NAE:UM’s new space stems from the hanok – a traditional Korean house – where the interior takes on a soft neutral tone with an exposed beam ceiling in the main dining hall. For its menu, Chef Louis presents ‘Contemporary Korean cuisine’ through stories instead of episodes previously. Standouts for me include the Seabream with lemon and daikon; chef’s signature Buckwheat noodle with white kimchi and morel dumpling; and Samegarei fish with a rich maeuntang butter sauce in a spicy seafood broth. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: 161 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068615   

Bomul Samgyetang
We all love our Samgyetang, also known as Korean Ginseng Chicken soup. Meet Bomul Samgyetang, a new casual Korean restaurant located in CHIJMES. Bomul Samgyetang boasts the largest range of samgyetang in Singapore, with 10 variations of the soup: from detoxification to spicy cure, collagen-rich, anti-ageing, rejuvenation, vitality, and even modern interpretations such as black truffle. Try their house-made ginseng ice cream at the end of the meal. [Read more here for our full review]

Address: 30 Victoria Street, #01-11/12, Chijmes, Singapore 187996 

Gwanghwamun Mijin
If you work in the CBD and love Korean food, then the newly opened Gwanghwamun Mijin Singapore should be on your radar. Located in the heart of CBD at Far East Square, Gwanghwamun Mijin Singapore spots a minimalist interior with wood accents and a clean, contemporary design. It is a 90-seater space with both indoor and outdoor seating where the restaurant focuses on cold buckwheat noodles. A brief history about Gwanghwamun Mijin is that it is a 70-year-old Korean restaurant from Seoul which has earned the Michelin Bib Gourmand award every year since 2018. This is also the brand’s first international debut in Singapore. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: 47,48,49, Pekin Street, #01-01, Singapore 048779 

Anju
The contemporary Korean restaurant Anju’s name is a Korean term for dishes served with alcohol, and it is the brand’s ideology in redefining a more elegant Korean cuisine experience and break away from the traditional conception of Soju as Korean alcohol. I love the skylight in the glass ceiling, virtue of its shophouse space. The neutral and woody tones used for the finishing also exude an elegant and homely dining ambience. Go for the Hogam Jeon, Yangnyeom Cauliflower and Bossam. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: 62 Tras Street, Singapore 079001 

Modu
Located in Mandarin Gallery along Orchard Road, Modu is Singapore’s first Samgyetang (Korean ginseng chicken soup) specialty shop. It is by the original founders of Drim Korean Steakhouse in Mandarin Gallery, where its name means “made for everyone”. With a diverse menu, expect the likes of Collagen Herbal Samgyetang, Perilla Seed Samgyetang, including unique specialties like Black Sesame Samgyetang and Black Chicken Samgyetang. For sides, there are options like Minari Pancake, Potato Pancake, Tofu SamHap, and HwangTaeChae. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: #02-37, Mandarin Gallery, 333A Orchard Road, Singapore 238897
 

GU:UM
Located on the buzzing Keong Saik enclave, GU:UM (which means ‘to grill’ or ‘to cook over fire’) is a Korean-touched contemporary grill concept by NAE:UM Group, and it is not a Korean BBQ restaurant. Instead, you can expect Korean flavours in their dishes with a contemporary twist, where the dishes are prepared and cooked in an open kitchen. Standout dishes for us on the a la carte menu include the Yukhwae Jeon (S$32), a potato ‘jeon’ pancake topped with a Korean-style hand-chopped beef tartare; Korean Fried Cauliflower (S$26); and for mains, the Iberico Pluma ($118++ per 300g) where you can choose one of the 4 marination choices: galbi, chilli gochujang, or fermented fish sauce or simply salted. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: 29 Keong Saik Road, Singapore 089136  

Na Oh 
One of the most exciting restaurants in the west of Singapore. Na Oh, which means ‘moving from inside out’ in Korea, is a collaboration between Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) and world-renowned Three-Michelin-Star Chef Corey Lee. The restaurant, located at Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre Singapore (HMGICS), brings a modern touch to traditional Korean cuisine, marking Lee’s debut project in Southeast Asia. Chef Lee’s 4-course prix fixe menu includes the option to choose Jinjitsang, a traditional Korean meal served with various side dishes. The menu will be updated throughout the year, highlighting creative dishes based on Korean fermentation and seasonal ingredients. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: 2 Bulim Avenue, HMGICS, Level 3, Singapore 649674 

Meta 
This is Meta’s third location, a One Michelin Star restaurant in Singapore. The space of Meta Restaurant helmed by Chef owner Sun Kim is gorgeous. I love the whole neutral tonality of the interior which features a main dining hall with a view of the open kitchen.  Combining Chef Sun’s Korean heritage, Japanese culinary techniques, and Western culinary training, the cuisine at Meta is innovative and it incorporates a myriad of seasonal produce and ingredients. There are only set menus here where lunch goes for S$248++ per diner (only available on Friday and Saturday) while dinner is priced at S$298++ per diner. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: 9 Mohamed Sultan Road, Singapore 238959

Sodeng Korean Charcoal Grill Restaurant 
With two outlets in Telok Ayer Street and Amoy Street, Sodeng Korean Charcoal Grill is one of those Korean BBQ restaurants in Singapore which I will return again. It follows the Korean traditional way where Sodeng’s Duck and Beef is fermented in a very special and optimal way to be served with Banchans (Korean side dishes). The quality of the beef shines for me along with the personalised service of the staff. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: 88 Amoy Street, Singapore 069907 

Um Yong Baek 
One of the hottest and most popular Korean restaurants in CBD, Um Yong Baek Korean restaurant located at Boon Tat Street is well-known for its pork and rice soup during lunch time, and also for its three-way aged pork. There are two Um Yong Baek outlets, one at Boon Tat Street and the other at Telok Ayer Street. Dinner is a grilled meats affair, and pork is a big deal here more so than beef where Um Yong Baek style of grilled pork leans towards the Jeju-style. Pork options include cuts like the Tongmoksal Jumeokgogi (S$28/150g), which is the most popular cut of meat – Pork Collar. [Read more here for our full review] 

Address: 27 Boon Tat Street, Singapore 069623

Ranted by The Ranter