7 Best Korean BBQ Restaurants in Singapore Right Now

Motivated by its successful 5-year stint in Los Angeles, California, 8 Korean BBQ decided to open two stores in Singapore in 2013. The concept is simple: high-quality pork belly served 8 ways, presented as the signature dish, and which the restaurant is named after. 8 Flavors Pork Belly features the versatile meat in its 100% no-additive glory plus seven complementing flavors that are both healthful and extremely tasty.

8 Korean BBQ is more than just great-tasting pork belly; it also offers premium pork and beef selections for diners who are ready to splurge on a special meal. Oh, and just to let you in on a juicy secret: the Ktown Smash Burger is something you won’t find at any other KBBQ places – or even burger joints for that matter.

Highlights:

MENU: 8 Korean BBQ’s menu is easy to navigate: 4 signature combos to choose from, an ala carte selection of premium pork and beef, an assortment of traditional dishes, and a kickass burger. A lunch specials menu is currently in the works and is surely going to be perfect for employees who fancy a quick indulgence during their break.

MUST-TRIES:

• 8 Flavors Pork Belly
• Prime Beef Combo
• Steamed Kimchi with Pork Stew
• Ktown Smash Burger

LOOK & FEEL:  8 Korean BBQ at The Central has an industrial-chic vibe going, with indoor and al fresco dining options.

NOTE: If you don’t think you should be cooking food that you’re paying for in a restaurant, you can request 8 Korean BBQ’s friendly wait staff to grill your meats for you.

GETTING THERE:

• Buses: 2, 12, 33, 51, 54 (2-min walk from Clarke Quay Station Exit E)
• Nearest MRT Station: Clarke Quay MRT (NE5, take Exit G – The Central)

Hanjip Korean Grill House may be the newest kid on the KBBQ block, having only opened in 2020, but it sure does give its contemporaries a good competition. Hanjip’s top-notch dining experience starts with top-notch meats: Kurobuta Berkshire Pork and delicately aged Australia Wagyu and USDA Prime Beef. Sharing the spotlight with these meats is Hanjip’s rich assortment of freshly-made banchan, courtesy of two Korean chefs who lead the kitchen.

If you dread wasting excellent meat because you’re not a master of the grill, do not fret because Hanjip’s highly skilled wait staff will cook your meats most perfectly – succulent and mouthwatering, just as KBBQ should be.

Highlights:

MUST-TRIES:

• Meat Platter
• Marinated Pork Collar
• Ginseng Chicken
• Braised Pork Trotters

LOOK & FEEL: Hanjip has an Old-World charm to it, with sophisticated black and gold details and marble floor and tabletops that make you feel like you’ve stepped into a secret club. It has a huge dining area where tables are widely spaced from one another. The result? You don’t end up smelling like grilled meat once you step out.

NOTE: Not keen on eating out just yet? Hanjip offers delivery and takeaway service to cure your KBBQ cravings.

GETTING THERE:

• Buses: 147, 166, 197, 51, 80 (1-min walk from Clarke Quay Station Exit E)
• Nearest MRT: Clarke Quay (NE5)

As one of the most successful chefs in South Korea and Asia, having Chef Jong Won Baek at the helm of any restaurant is tantamount to having a seal of excellence. Bornga originates in Korea as a rebrand of the restaurant “Wonjo Ssambabjip” in 2002. Its excellent quality of food at pocket-friendly prices allowed the restaurant to establish more than 50 locations in 10 countries in Asia and even in the USA. Sure, Chef Baek’s celebrity status has served as the restaurant’s passport to its continuous growth, but his stellar food offerings deserve much of the credit.

Bornga’s menu offers an extensive collection of KBBQ meats, stews, and other traditional dishes, but its bestseller remains the Woo Samgyup, thinly-sliced and lightly-marinated beef brisket grilled over live charcoal. It is this dish that catapulted the humble 1993 eatery into a stellar global success and is a definite must-try at Bornga.

Highlights:

MUST-TRIES:

• Woo Samgyup
• Haemul Pa Jeon
• Haemul Dduk Jjim
• Bornga Bulgogi

LOOK & FEEL: Feel free to keep it casual at Bornga to truly enjoy a no-frills authentic Korean dining experience.

NOTE: Bornga’s menu changes from time to time, so don’t be shy to ask the wait staff – you just might be in for a yummy surprise.

GETTING THERE:

• Buses: 10, 143, 61, 97, 97E (3-min walk from Vivo City Shuttle Bus Stop)
• Nearest MRT: HarbourFront (NE1|CC29)

Oppa Korean BBQ Buffet is one of the longest-running KBBQ restaurants in Singapore. Launched in 2008, the key to its longevity is authentic Korean flavors at affordable prices. By “affordable”, we mean an all-you-can-eat Korean feast at only S$16 for weekday lunch and $$26 for dinner, weekends, and holidays.

Oppa’s fantastic value-for-money buffet offers a variety of over 40 meats and seafood, soups, side dishes, appetizers, and even fresh fruits for dessert. The place has a small grocery corner where you can get popular Korean snacks and beverages.

Highlights:

MUST-TRIES:

• Black Angus Beef Short Plate (Seasonal)
• Pork Galbi
• Spicy Jjamppong Ramen
• Korean Fried Chicken

PRO TIP: Wear something comfy when you dine-in at Oppa because you’ll be making a lot of trips from your table to the buffet station.

NOTE: Oppa Korean BBQ Buffet loves giving promos and discounts, so be on the lookout for even greater deals.

GETTING THERE:

• Buses: 105, 334, 335, 51, 52, 718, 98 (2-min walk from Jurong Gateway Road)
• Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW24|NS1)

Tanjong Pagar is known as Singapore’s “Little Korea Town” because of its bustling rows of vibrant Korean restaurants, clubs, and groceries. Aside from its history and charming architecture, there is one remarkable thing about this place: the queues of hungry diners waiting outside the eateries. 2D1N Soju Bang is one of those restaurants that have gained a steady following composed of locals and foreigners alike.

2D1N Soju Bang is run by Korean chefs who specialize in classic Korean flavors but also regularly throw in creative modern recipes. Bulgogi fries while waiting for your samgyupsal – sounds delicious, doesn’t it?

Highlights:

MUST-TRIES:

• Wagyu Loin Steak
• Spicy Chicken Feet
• Sea Snail Salad
• Sulguk Hangover Soup

LOOK & FEEL: The frosted glass doors may seem intimidating but once you get inside 2D1N, you will ease into the unassuming brick-lined interiors, all ready to feast.

NOTE: Get more value for your money by asking the staff about their ongoing promotions.

GETTING THERE:

• Buses: 143, 162, 166, 851
• Nearest MRT: Novena (NS20)

The popularity of PUJIM BBQ among foodies and K-culture fans in Singapore has risen to legendary status that the waitlist for a table could take as long as 2 months. All hype? Absolutely not. PUJIM’s claim to fame is its lineup of signature meats: Premium A4 Wagyu, Iberico Bellota, and Duroc. If you think “melt in your mouth” is mere hyperbole, PUJIM’s meats will convince you otherwise.

Another thing that draws in the crowds? The swanky industrial vibe with neon pink detail is an absolute Insta material. The staff also goes the extra mile to ensure that customers have a satisfactory dining experience with simple things such as placing a slice of bread on the grill so that cooked meats stay warm without getting overcooked. That piece of bread tastes heavenly, by the way.

Highlights:

MUST-TRIES:

• PUJIM Shovel (consists of A4 Wagyu ribeye, prime Black Angus boneless short rib, Iberico Bellota pork collar and rib finger, and Duroc pork belly)
• Milmyeon
• Kimchi Jjim
• Yangpunyi Bibimbap

LOOK & FEEL: PUJIM BBQ has an upbeat, youthful vibe to it – a black “unfinished” industrial vibe with neon pink light fixtures that seem to have jumped straight out of the newest K-Pop music video.

NOTE: If you’re intrigued by all the buzz about PUJIM but a bit strapped for cash, go for their affordable lunch sets – start at S$18.20.

GETTING THERE:

• Buses: 10, 655, 97E (3-min walk from Telok Ayer Station)
• Nearest MRT: Telok Ayer (DT18)

There are several criteria for judging the best Korean BBQ restaurants in Singapore, and Ssak3 Korean BBQ ticks three boxes: great-quality meat, affordable price, and superb service. It’s one of those restaurants that easily come to mind when you get a craving because it’s easy on the pocket but heavy on the belly. The friendly price point allows you to order more than just KBBQ, which you should because their ala carte dishes are sensational, too.

If it’s your first time at Ssak3, it is recommended that you order their assorted BBQ set, which consists of beef short rib, Duroc honeycomb pork belly, original pork belly, and beef short plate. Oh, and if you’re a fan of Korean fried chicken, Ssak3 has four flavors of bone-in and boneless chicken. How good is Ssak3’s Korean fried chicken? Delicious enough to attract flocks of our Korean friends here in the country, that’s how.

Highlights:

MUST-TRIES:

• Ssak3 Assorted Set
• Yangnyeom Fried Chicken
• Smoked Duck and Chivas
• Beansprout Tteokbokki

LOOK & FEEL: The overall vibe at Ssak3 is laidback and casual – stark, white walls with framed portraits of Korean celebrities, cutesy decors, and overhead TV sets.

AVERAGE PRICE/PAX: S$22

NOTE: Fancy your KBBQ with some booze? Check for ongoing soju and beer promos! Drink responsibly.

GETTING THERE:

• Buses: 106, 131, 14, 166, 502, 80 (3-min walk from Opp Bencoolen Station Exit B)
• Nearest MRT: Bras Basah (CC2)