You can’t beat Korean BBQ for smoky grilled meats, tasty side dishes, and the fun factor of grilling your food right at your table. There are tons of Korean restaurants in Singapore that do BBQ, but some stand out more than others. The places we love have quality food, buzzy atmospheres and unique touches like authentic charcoal grills. When it comes to DIY grilling, these are our picks for the best Korean BBQs in Singapore that will satisfy both meat lovers and vegetarians.
8 Korean BBQ
Dining at 8 Korean BBQ is a treat for meat lovers because they only have premium offerings like Mangalica pork, Argentinian grass-fed beef, Japanese wagyu and USDA prime beef. The name refers to the eight different flavours you can opt for including red pepper paste, wine, curry, and original with nothing added so the meat can be the star all on its own. The restaurant is full service, so the staff will grill your selections at the table for you and ensure everything is cooked to perfection.
8 Korean BBQ, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, The Central #02-79/90, Singapore 059817. p. +65 8692 1188. Open Mon – Fri 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 10:30pm, Sat – Sun 11:30am – 10:30pm & 1 Scotts Rd Singapore, Shaw Centre #04-20/21, Singapore 228208. p. +65 9018 9212. Open Mon – Fri 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 10:30pm, Sat – Sun 11:30am – 10:30pm
Wang Dae Bak
Ask any Korean expat what the best Korean BBQs in Singapore are and Wang Dae Bak will probably make the list. The cosy atmosphere makes you feel right at home and the charcoal grills add an extra layer of flavour. Grill options include the boneless prime rib, spicy marinated chicken, and herb wine pork belly. In addition, each table gets free-flow eggs to cook around the perimeter of the grill. Other classic Korean dishes include the seafood pancakes and claypot beef stew.
Wang Dae Bak, 98 Amoy Street, Singapore 069918. p. +65 6226 0450. Open Mon – Sat 10:30am – 2pm, 5:30pm – 10:30pm & 22 Cross Street, China Square Central #01-64, Singapore 048423. p. +65 6225 2646. Open Mon – Sat 10:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 10:30pm
Bornga
It may be a bit pricey, but Bornga is worth the splurge for the high-quality ingredients and sheer quantity of side dishes you get with each meal. The man behind the chain is celebrity chef Jong Won Paik, who has created special marinades and sauces to enhance the flavour of the meats. Try the signature woo sam gyup, aka thin slices of brisket in a light marinade. Purists can go for unseasoned cuts of beef and pork. Each meal comes with a tray of veggies and an array of ban-chan.
Bornga, 1 Harbourfront Walk, VivoCity #02-123/124, Singapore 098585. p. +65 6376 8268. Open daily 11:30am – 10pm & 3 Temasek Blvd, Suntec City Mall #01-641/642, Singapore 038983. p. +65 6836 3291. Open daily 11:30am – 10pm
Super Star K
If you’re a newbie to the Korean BBQ experience, then Super Star K is a great starting point. The meat selection is decent and very reasonably priced. Options include the seasoned beef ribs, sliced pork belly, and black pepper chicken. Moreover, the servers will help you grill your meat at the table if you need a hand. And of course you get complimentary ban-chan like kimchi, bean sprouts and seaweed salad. Wash it all down with makgeolli flown in from Korea.
Super Star K, 75 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088496. p. +65 6224 0504. Open daily 12pm – 2pm, 5pm – 11pm & 98 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088519. p. +65 6223 6785. Open daily 12pm – 2pm, 5pm – 11pm
Ssikkek Korean Grill BBQ
Ssikkek often has queues going out the door, which is not surprising considering this buffet style BBQ spot has great food at cheap prices and easy-going vibes. You can pick and choose what you want from a varied selection of meats and veggies, then bring it back to your table and throw it on the hot plate. The ventilation isn’t the greatest, but they offer Febreeze on the way out to help with the grilled meat smell. Reservations are available with a two-hour time limit on your stay.
44 Tanjong Pagar Rd, Singapore 088465 (and various locations). p. +65 6220 7119. Open Mon – Thurs 5:30pm – 11pm, Fri – Sun 5pm – 11pm
Nanta BBQ
What sets Nanta apart from the other Korean BBQ spots—and in our opinion qualifies them as one of the best Korean BBQs in Singapore—is their ridiculously addictive cheese deng-galbi. This must-order dish comes in a tray with spicy pork ribs next to a pile of mozzarella. Heat it up on the grill until the mozza gets gooey, then dip the pork ribs in the cheese and twirl them up for maximum coverage. They also do regular BBQ dishes like short ribs and pork belly grilled at your table, as well as stews, rice dishes and whole grilled fish.
Nanta BBQ, 175 Thomson Road, Goldhill Centre, #01-175 / #01-177, Singapore 307624. p. +65 6258 1391. Open daily 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 11:30pm
K.Cook Korean BBQ Buffet
Featuring a fresh modern space that overlooks Orchard Road, K.Cook makes our list of best Korean BBQs in Singapore for its very reasonably priced buffets. Fill up your plate with marinated meats, seafood, veggies, and sides like scallion pancakes and sushi. Meals start at just $16.90++ at lunch and $26.90++ at dinner. Pair your meal with fruity soju cocktails, icy cold Hite beers, or soft drinks. Be sure to ask what promotions they have going on because they often do great value deals on food and drinks.
K.Cook Korean BBQ Buffet, 181 Orchard Road, Orchard Central #01-01, Singapore 238896. p. +65 6884 7282. Open Mon – Thurs 11:30am – 3pm, 5:30pm – 10pm, Fri 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm, Sat – Sun 11:30am – 10pm
Pujim
Located on trendy Amoy Street, Pujim sports contemporary vibes with smooth concrete floors, neon lights, and shiny metal vents. There are plenty of enticing cuts of meat to choose from, but if you have to choose one, we say go for the rib-eye cap. This beautifully marbled piece of meat cooks in its own fat and melts in your mouth. Other options include boneless short ribs, pork collar, and Iberico rib fingers. The bibimbap is also delicious and comes with your choice of spice level and veggies or meat.
Pujim, 82 Amoy Street, Singapore 069901. p. +65 6224 1588. Open Mon – Fri 11:30am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 11pm, Sat – Sun 5pm – 11pm