Hey guys, please pass the jap chae and kimchi! I’m intensely craving Korean food all the damn time as I watch the next hit K-drama. While this has been in all possible ways, both savoury and sweet, terrible for my waistline, it has nevertheless been an absolute treat for my tastebuds. I share my favourite Korean restaurants and cafes to grab a flavoursome bite (or make that a thousand bites) of Korean cuisine the next time a Korean craving in Singapore hits.
Table of Contents
- Masizzim Singapore
- Chicken Up
- Todamgol Korean Traditional Restaurant
- Hyang-to-gol Korean Restaurant
- Vatos Urban Tacos
- Bingki Korean Dessert [Permanently Closed]
- Ice Lab Singapore
This article was originally published on 01 May 2016 and updated on 11 September 2023 with a Table of Contents for easier reading. Updated with new address details. Review content remains the same.
1. Masizzim Singapore
The Best Freaking Spicy Beef Stew

Obviously being late to the K-fever party has its advantages, such as most of my friends are already in the know of the best places for Korean munchies to fill our tummies. One of the best recommendations to sort out my Korean craving in Singapore is Masizzim. The damage from eating here, on a normal day, would be off-putting, but because I was determined to get my Korean fix, I said, “Why not?” and discovered just exactly what I’ve been missing out on!
The star dish from Masizzim is their Beef Rib Stew ($18 for one person/$32 for 2 people) which you can order at various levels of spiciness depending on what you’re comfortable with or to stick with the soy stew base. I highly recommend taking the heat and rolling with the spicy punches. You can also choose between udon or glass noodles.
Each bowl of stew is made with marinated Australian Beef Ribs that have been slow-cooked till they become so tender, that the meat practically falls off the bones. I ate this dish without add-ons like Korean Sliced Rice Cake (Tteok-bokki) and Cheese and found it already extremely hearty, flavourful and tasty in a comforting way.
Masizzim Singapore Address and Details
- 313 Orchard Road, #B3-02, 313@Somerset, Singapore 238895
- Open Sunday to Thursday from 11 am to 9.30 pm
- Open Friday to Saturday from 11 am to 10 pm
2. Chicken Up
KFC Got Rekt When Korean Fried Chicken Arrived

I cannot believe I once loved 4Fingers. I have finally realised the errors of my ways upon tasting Korean Fried Chicken (one-half of the popular Chimaek phenomenon or Chicken and Beer) from Chicken Up. It’s so bloody good. It brings to mind the familiar feeling of chomping down on chicken breasts and thighs from those neighbourhood Tenderfresh stalls at the good ‘ol kopitiams of yore, but it tastes even better. KFC has got nothing on Chicken Up.
There’s a 12-hour marination process, fat is removed from the skin (who would have thought), and as done in Korea, all chicken is double-fried to really lock in the flavours. The deep-fried chicken from Chicken Up is juicy, tender and crisp on the outside. The batter is thin and crisp, making it addictive without being overwhelming.
A weekday mid-week visit is definitely good because it gives you the opportunity to order the Set Menu ($39) which includes my all-time favourite sides like Kim-Mal-E, deep-fried glass noodles and seaweed rolls coated with batter, two pieces of Crispy Chicken, two pieces of Yangnyum Chicken, two pieces of Soya Chicken Wings, carrots, cucumbers and Kimchi Fries. This is good for two (or even three if you’ve got dainty eaters as friends).
Chicken Up Address and Details
- 48 Tanjong Pagar Road, #01-01, Singapore 088469
- Open Monday to Sunday 4.30 pm to 1 am. (Last order at 12 am)
Todamgol Korean Traditional Restaurant
Leftovers never tasted so good than in Budae Jjigae
I’ve tasted a couple of Budae Jjigae and honestly, it’s really hard to go wrong with this. After all, its Korean Army Base Stew was aptly named because it was typically made of leftover canned and frozen food brought in by the Americans during the Korean War. Ingredients like hotdogs, canned beans and spam, along with Korean sliced rice cakes, kimchi and instant noodles. It’s a mish-mash of everything stew and I’m not particularly a big fan because it’s really expensive in Singapore to eat it here.
Now and then though, I do get a craving attack for something Korean, familiar and soupy, and that’s when I think of where I should get this common Korean staple. A friend pointed me to Todamgol when I asked her where I could get a good pot of Budae Jjigae. Todamgol’s rendition is sour and mildly spicy with just enough flavour. It’s not too savoury, spicy or saltish.
I got a whole bunch of refillable sides (banchan) in five or six varieties and really on-point service at Todamgol when I ordered a Budae Jjigae ($35). Ultimately, that was what I really liked about the experience. I swear, I could get filled up just on the banchan, especially the delicious spicy beancurd and awesome kimchi. It helps that the place is also frequented by Koreans and is often referred to as one of the better Korean restaurants in Singapore.
3. Todamgol Korean Traditional Restaurant
Leftovers Never Tasted Better Than in Budae Jjigae

Now and then though, I do get a Korean craving in Singapore for something familiar and soupy, and that’s when I think of where I should get this common Korean staple. A friend pointed me to Todamgol when I asked her where I could get a good pot of Budae Jjigae. Todamgol’s rendition is sour and mildly spicy with just enough flavour. It’s not too savoury, spicy or saltish.
I’ve tasted a couple of Budae Jjigae and honestly, it’s really hard to go wrong with this. After all, its Korean Army Base Stew was named aptly because it was typically made of leftover canned and frozen food brought in by the Americans during the Korean War. American ingredients like hotdogs, canned beans and spam are used along with Korean ingredients like sliced rice cakes, kimchi and instant noodles.
I got a whole bunch of refillable sides (banchan) in five or six varieties and really on-point service at Todamgol when I ordered a Budae Jjigae ($35). Ultimately, that was what I really liked about the experience. I swear, I could get filled up just on the banchan, especially the delicious spicy beancurd and awesome kimchi. It helps that the place is also frequented by Koreans and is often referred to as one of the better Korean restaurants in Singapore.
Todamgol Korean Traditional Restaurant Address and Details
- 31 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088454
- Open Daily from 12.00 pm – 3.00 am
4. Hyang-To-Gol Korean Restaurant
An Authentic Korean Meal Splurge

Reviews of Hyang-to-gol have been erratic. There seem to be inconsistent service standards there despite it catering more to the business lunch and dinner crowd with its high prices.
The restaurant prides itself on its authentic but modern Korean dining experience. Having yet to visit Korea and taste any of the true blue Korean cuisine, I can’t attest to the authenticity and neither can I speak much about the service, but I have to say the meats here, especially the top-grade beef ribs, Saeng Galbi Sal ($40 per 170g), are top notch and the pan-fried seafood pancakes, Haemool Pajeon ($22), is so delicious and done so perfectly – crisp on the outside, fluffy and starchy on the inside. You definitely pay for what you get and it’ll definitely scratch your Korean craving itch.
Hyang-To-Gol Address and Details
- 252 North Bridge Road, #B1-74, Raffles City Shopping Centre, Singapore 179103
- Open Daily from 11.30 am – 9 pm
5. Vatos Urban Tacos
Tasty Ko-Mex (Korean Mexican) tacos

What happens when you put Korean and Mexican food together? An explosion of intense flavours, that’s what! I’ve absolutely fallen in love with Ko-Mex after my first encounter with Vatos Urban Tacos. I’m talking Mexican tacos but with Korean marinated meat fillings. What’s not to love?
I’d like to bring your attention to the Galbi Short Rib Tacos ($17 for 3) which really blew me away. I was expecting some cubes of beef at most and mostly veggies, but these guys at Vatos Urban Tacos don’t scrimp on the meat or delightful marinated sauce.
There’s plenty of sweet and savoury marinated short ribs, ssamjang aioli (which packs a mild spicy Korean-style punch), slaw, so many chopped onions I almost cried with happiness and my favourite herb, cilantro. I could barely keep the ingredients from falling out the tortilla skin because there was just THAT much of it. While not exactly totally Korean, this one still made the list, just because, it was too good. Won over, period. Plus, wait till you see the Kimchi Carnitas Fries ($16). Did I mention there are nachos with house-made tangy dips, provided… on the house?
Vatos Urban Tacos Address and Details
- 36 Beach Rd, #01-03 South Beach Quarter, Singapore 189766
- Open Tuesday to Friday from 12 pm – 3.30 pm, 5 pm – 10.30 pm
- Open Saturday to Sunday from 12 pm – 10.30 pm
6. Bingki Korean Dessert [Permanently Closed]
The Cutest, Most Instagram-worthy Bingsu

The recent hot spell has most certainly gotten me into a real Bingsu binge. While Bingsu is a sweet tooth’s dream and is a great help to cool down, it is also mighty photogenic. That said, if I had to give an award to the most camera-ready of the lot, the medal would have to go to Bingki Korean Dessert. This is one of the cutest ways to get over your Korean craving in Singapore.
I am an Injeolmi Bingsu kind of girl, so it’s not every day that I’d break out of ordering “the usual” and go for a different flavoured Bingsu. Just because the Green Tea Bingsu ($14) was so adorable and I visited with friends, so we could do a second bowl of Bingsu, I ended up with the green tea option. This place doesn’t have the finest ice shavings, but the creative Instagram-worthy presentation does help it score brownie points. Bingki also makes the list because it’s open late.
7. Ice Lab Singapore
Exceptional Injeolmi Bingsu with the Finest Shaved Ice

This place is famous for its cute polar bear mascot and the Singapore outlet which opened at Somerset, has it sticking its tongue out while an ice shaving machine installed into the ceiling drops snow shavings down to create an illusion of snow raining down on that polar bear. Gimmicky as the place already sounds, this has one of the best Injeolmi Bingsu ($14.90) I’ve had the pleasure of indulging in (and trust me, in the past three months since I began a binge of K-dramas, I have really had my fill).
Ice Lab has the finest shaved ice like tiny snowflakes, and soaked perfectly with just the right amount of condensed milk, so you never have to add more. I found it sweet enough without extra milk anyway. The almond flakes are also toasty and fresh, the Korean sticky rice cakes cut into small chunks are just the right size and the soy powder makes for an awesome combination. They also open pretty late till about 11 pm. So even if your Korean craving in Singapore hits after dinner, you have a good option here.
Ice Lab Singapore Address and Details
- 64 Rochor Rd, Singapore 188439
- Open Sunday to Thursday from 11 am – 11 pm
- Open Friday to Saturday from 11 am – 2 am
Do you have your own recommendations to share for times when you get a Korean craving in Singapore?
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