Flavoursome Korean cuisine without the hefty price tag?
From sizzling BBQs, Korean Fried Chicken to comforting stews, and from street food favourites to hearty rice bowls, this guide is for foodies seeking authentic Korean tastes on a budget.
Join DFD as we explore hidden gems and popular haunts alike, all serving up delectable Korean fare that promises to delight your palate without emptying your pockets.
O.BBa Jjajang Express
Koufu HQ Foodcourt Stall #02, 1 Woodlands Height #01-01, Singapore 737859
Opening Hours: 10am – 8:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Popular Jajangmyeon From Tanjong Pagar With Express Outlet
The O.BBa group has opened an O.BBa Jjajang Express kiosk located within the Koufu HQ food court at Woodlands Height.
The Koufu HQ food court stall serves up Korean-Chinese favourites including Jajang Bab ($8.50) which is black bean sauce with rice, ($8.50) Jajangmyeon with Egg ($8.50), Jjamppong Rice ($9.90), Jjamppong with Egg ($10.90), Jjammppong ($9.90), and Tangsuyuk ($13).
There are also other K-items of Kimchi Fried Rice ($8), Kimchi Fried Rice with Egg ($9), Korean Ramen ($6.50), and Cheese Ramen ($7.50).
These are along sides of Pork Dumplings ($2.50 for 2 pcs), Kimchi Dumplings ($2.50 for 2 pcs), Fried Pork Dumpling ($3.50 for 3 pcs), and Galbi Dumplings ($3 for 2 pcs).
Noted that while prices are more affordable than at the restaurants, they seem a little higher for a Koufu food court.
Read more at: O.BBa Jjajang (Woodlands)
Kimchi Jib Express
33 Lor Liput Singapore 277744 (Holland Village)
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Mon – Sun)
Authentic Korean Stews & Soup Under $10 Found At Holland Village
This competitive pricing makes Kimchi Jib Express an appealing option for those seeking economical dining options without compromising on authenticity.
One other good thing is that some stews and dishes traditionally cater to group servings, but are available in individual portions here.
Central to their menu is the Original Kimchi Jjigae, a staple in Korean cuisine. Other dishes are Seafood Sundubu Jjigae ($8.50), Doenjang Jjigae ($6 – $8), Kimchi Bacon Fried Rice ($6.50), LA-Galbi ($9), and many more.
Kimchi Jjigae comes in the Original version ($6.50) and with toppings of Beef, Mackerel, Pork Belly, or Tuna ($8.50). One of the standout aspects of Kimchi Jjigae is the use of house-aged kimchi.
The maturation process of the kimchi introduces a nuanced flavour profile, characterised by a deeper fermentation tang, adding more sourness and layers of depth to the stew’s overall taste.
Budae Jjigae or Army Stew ($9.50) has a multi-faceted taste profile with more savoury-sweet flavours. I found the base with a sweeter note than the other Kimchi stews.
Read more at: Kimchi Jib Express (Holland Village)
Hangawi Korean Food
Fortune Centre #02-18, 190 Middle Road, Singapore 188979
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 4pm, 5:30pm – 8pm (Tues – Fri), 10:30am – 4:30pm, 6pm – 7:30pm (Sat – Mon)
Extensive Menu At Fortune Centre With Wallet-Friendly Prices
The small shop is packed with tables and seats near one another. If it gets too crowded, there is also another extension on the same level where you can dine.
Doing away with any fluff justifies the unbeatable price point, with almost all dishes (except one) coming in under $10. The menu is limited, but it is not lacklustre.
The stews and soups seem to be a speciality here. Every soup is cooked in the stone pot directly over the flames and then served straight on your table, so every spoonful remains scalding hot.
The Spicy Tofu Soup Set ($6.90) is a warming embrace in a bowl. The soup is rich for its price, and harmoniously melds the softness of tofu with the robustness of meat. A subtle hint of clam, paired with the cooked egg, elevates the experience.
Sometimes I just like a comforting Ramyeon ($6.50) even though I could jolly well cook one at home. But eating it out with extra “liao” with strong heat is just a little different.
The broth is flavourful but not overly salty, with a hint of spice making it a slurp-worthy affair. The inclusion of kimchi provides that quintessential Korean tang.
Read more at: Hangawi Korean Food (Fortune Centre)
Kim Dae Mun Korean Food
Concorde Shopping Mall #01-03D, 100 Orchard Road, Singapore 238840
Opening Hours: 11am – 8pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Value-For-Money Korean Food At Orchard Road
Kim Dae Mun Korean Food is one of the worst-kept secrets when it comes to not breaking the bank. Long queues are a feature during lunch and dinner hours.
Entirely owned and run by Koreans, the foods coming out of the kitchen are authentic for their price. The no-frills style of dining requires you to order, pay upfront, and collect your food yourself.
For each order, a side dish of your choice will be served, one of pickled cucumbers, kimchi, or anchovies. What an affordable steal!
Spicy Shredded Chicken ($9.50) and Spicy Pork ($10.50) are good alternatives, though can be slightly salty. Goes better with the rice and soup.
Ramyeon ($6.50) is comforting as it would come sizzling hot. Soups are very affordable too, with the Kimchi Soup (Pork), Bean Paste and Vegetables Soup, and Beancurd Soup all going for just $9.
The Kimchi Soup packs a good punch through the spicy kimchi base. The soup is stuffed with plenty of ingredients, so get it with rice or get it to share.
Read more at: Kim Dae Mun Korean Food (Concorde Shopping Mall)
Meokja by JUNGGA
GR.iD #02-03, 1 Selegie Road, Singapore 188306
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm (Mon – Tues, Thurs – Sun), Closed Wed
Muslim-Friendly Korean Restaurant With Jjajangmyeon And Tangsuyuk
The concept came about because the owner, Jung Sang Woo, is a Korean who reverted to Islam after he arrived in Singapore and soaked in the culture.
Meokja began as a home-based business, which was popular online. Later, building on the loyal customer base, the business transformed into a sit-down space for a fuller experience.
The items on the menu are considered lean for now, with JjaJang Myeon ($12), JjaJang Bap ($12), which is the rice version, JjamPpong ($14), Tang Su Yuk ($14), Bibim Guksu ($9), Bulgogi ($15.50), and Kimchi Jeon ($7) aka Pancake.
Jjajangmyeon ($12) is a quintessential Korean-Chinese dish that many Korean eateries serve while gaining popularity in Singapore. Supposedly, it is also the dish that first brought Meokja to fame.
The black bean sauce coating the noodles was rather sweet than savoury. I enjoyed that it came piping hot with soft chewy noodles, though I would personally wish for a thicker sauce.
Jjamppong ($14) is all about springy noodles in a spicy seafood soup with a generous amount of seafood given the price. I wished the soup base to be slightly more layered.
Read more at: Meokja by JUNGGA (Selegie)
Jade’s Chicken (옥‘s Chicken)
125 Lor 1 Toa Payoh, Block 125 Johnson Eatery #01-523, Singapore 310125
Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm, 5pm – 8:30pm (Mon, Wed – Sun), Closed Tues
Affordable Yet Tasty Korean Fried Chicken At Toa Payoh
Just less than two years ago, the same spot was known as Waker Chicken. Now, Jade’s Chicken is the branding at this place, although everything else looks the same.
Whatever it is, Jade’s Chicken is still run by Koreans and offers the same affordable and tasty fried chicken spot that draws long queues on busy days.
The fried chicken comes in Half ($15) or Whole ($29), with the former getting you 7 pieces and the latter getting you 14 pieces. Ask for Original Crispy, Sweet Spicy, Soy Sauce, or Honey Butter.
Their Soy Sauce Korean Fried Chicken is considered a crowd-pleaser. Delicately crispy on the outside, the chicken remains incredibly juicy and tender on the inside.
Marinated in a balanced blend of sweet and savoury soy sauce, the chicken is double-fried and super ‘saucy’ – drenched in more sauce than usual.
The Honey Butter flavour becomes the most popular for a good reason. Apart from how the honey butter powder looks like snowflakes on the chicken, its delicate flavour accentuates the taste of the chicken very well.
Read more at: Jade’s Chicken (Toa Payoh)
Daebak Korean Restaurant
Wilkie Edge #01-18, 8 Wilkie Road, Singapore 228095
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Inexpensive Korean Fare At Wilkie Edge
“Daebak” means awesome in Korean, which truly represents this affordable food place. Being a restaurant run by Koreans, the authenticity of the food is without a doubt.
It has a typical casual setup for a Korean restaurant in a ‘shopping mall’, so do not expect much fanfare. Some of the best dishes are BBQ Chicken/Pork/Beef ($10), Bibimbap ($11), and Kimchi Fried Rice ($11).
Food is self-collected and prepared quickly. Sundubu Jjigae ($10) is priced equally for Chicken, Pork, or Seafood. It came with rice and kimchi for a complete meal.
The broth is said to be made up of 26 ingredients including garlic, ginger, chilli and more. Accordingly, the special recipe formulated helps them bring out the more traditional Korean taste.
Even at its pricing, there were several seafood and vegetables including prawns, cuttlefish, and mushrooms, complete with tofu, egg and glass noodles.
Compared to other Sundubu which I felt are generally richer, this had a cleaner taste and was not so thick in terms of the base.
Read more at: Daebak Korean Restaurant (Wilkie Edge)
Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu – Ang Mo Kio
Food Loft, 732 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8 Stall 8, Singapore 560721
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu – Punggol
671 Edgefield Plains, Happy Hawkers #01-01, Singapore 820671
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Express Stalls With Sundubu Jjigae From $6
It is good to see a restaurant opening up express stalls to offer popular Korean foods at more wallet-friendly prices. Buk Chang Dong offers Soon Tofu for $6 – that’s the vegetable set.
Other set variations include Seafood ($8), Pork ($7), Beef ($7) and Assorted ($8). Each set is served with seaweed, kimchi and rice. Unfortunately, you cannot choose your level of spiciness.
”Soon” in “soon tofu” generally refers to soft. Accordingly, the tofu used is handmade fresh in the SBCD kitchen, using specially imported soybeans from Paju, South Korea.
The Soontofu here is prepared using a 10-ingredient secret recipe soy paste (“dadaegi” in Korean), which makes it flavourful without using artificial flavourings.
The base is moderately flavourful and mildly spicy, but lacking in robustness and body. Also, it seemed a little diluted than expected. The beancurd was smooth, though I wished for more quantity.
Surprise, surprise… my favourite item turned out to be the Mandu Dumplings ($4.50 for 3pcs, $6.50 for 5pcs) with pork or kimchi & japchae fillings.
Read more at: Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu (Ang Mo Kio)
Koryo Jeong 고려정
International Plaza #01-50, 10 Anson Road, Singapore 079903
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 6pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun
Street Food Eatery With Authentic Tteokbokki, Corn Dogs And Eomukguk
Less of a restaurant but more of a takeaway stand, Koryo Jeong 고려정 makes popular small bites that transport you to the streets of Seoul.
There are some seats though if you come during an off-peak hour. Out front, big trays of prepared food are lined up for both your viewing and dining pleasure.
Bright orange Tteokbokki ($6), spicy rice cakes, is their main selling point. They come in a little cup for easy takeaway. The sauce tends to be the sweeter side, which makes it satisfying to eat.
Fishcakes with Soup ($5) are easy and convenient. I found their Eomukguk broth very tasty – a light, savoury broth with that touch of seafood sweetness that is ultra-comforting to the belly.
Make a lighter lunch for yourself by ordering Kimbap ($8), Japchae ($8) or a range of lunch pre-packed boxes. Freshly-fried Korean Corndogs come in Original ($5.50), Mozzarella ($5) and Half and Half ($5).
I thought the Corndog could do with a fluffier dough that is less dense, although street snacks are just what they are – you are not looking for true gourmet quality.
Read more at: Koryo Jeong 고려정 (International Plaza)
Pink Candy
Beauty World Food Centre #04-60, 144 Upper Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 588177
Opening Hours: 10:30am – 2:30pm, 5pm – 9:30pm (Mon, Wed – Sun), Closed Tues
Casual Rooftop Dining with a View At Beauty World Food Centre
Pink Candy which specialises in Korean dishes and kimchi, gained quite a sizable following after viral social media posts.
What is special is you can dine in the al fresco garden area, with a rooftop view across the nearby Bukit Timah area and can get quite cooling at night.
Opened by Helena Kim, the stall serves up home-style Korean dishes such as Bibimbap ($8.90), Ginseng Chicken ($8.90), Spicy Rice Cake ($8.90), Pancake ($14.90), Kimchi Fried Rice ($8.90), Cold Noodles ($9.90), Jjajang Noodles ($8.90) to Army Stew ($24.90).
Get the recommended Chicken Wings ($14.90 for 9 pieces) available in original, soy sauce or spicy sauce. For its price, I thought it was decently crispy and juicy, though I wished the meat was more marinated within.
I would suggest coming off peak because they can get short-handed (especially during the weekends) and the wait can be long.
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