Treats

Dakga: Singapore’s First Chicken-Focused Korean BBQ Restaurant In Maxwell

4 min read

Located only a few minutes from Maxwell MRT is Dakga, a KBBQ restaurant specialising in chicken! The stretch is no stranger to Korean restaurants and KBBQ but Dakga is the first to focus on the humble protein.

Simple, Industrial Interior

The restaurant is best described as modern industrial with a touch of retro.

It has simple concrete flooring and metal chairs, with neon signs and a vintage-looking Korean convenience store sign.

There’s also a bartop counter and more seating behind. We felt like we were transported to a quaint Korean eatery in the 1960s!

Dakga Menu

Dakga translates to chicken in Korean, which is the main focus of their menu.

There are plain and marinated chicken cuts, like the Tenderloin ($17 for 150g) and Chicken Oyster ($24 for 6 pcs) which is a tender cut closer to the thigh. The marinated meats come in a sweet soy yangnyeom sauce including the Marinated Neck Meat ($29 for 150g) and even Marinated Cartilage ($16 for 100g).

They even offer offer innards like Gizzard ($13 for 120g), Heart ($13 for 100g) and even Knee Cartilage ($15 for 100g).

There are also sides like the Dakga Ramen ($12), Chicken Cutlet ($16) and even the Old School Lunchbox/Dosirak ($10).

Like every KBBQ restaurant, there’s an extensive alcohol menu from Jinro soju, beer and even whiskey!

Side Dishes

We tried 5 side dishes, mostly different kind of pickles to help cut through the fat. The selection included 양파 장아찌 (Pickled onions), 무생채 (Korean radish salad) and even pickled perillia leaves.

There is also a trio of sauces you can dip in, including lemon and wasabi, sesame oil and ssamjjang.

Boneless Neck Meat

Dakga’s signature meat is the Boneless Neck Meat ($28 for 150g). It comes simply seasoned with some black pepper before being grilled.

This was easily some of the best chicken we’ve eaten in a KBBQ! The meat was super tender with a slight char from the grill and a natural sweetness. It didn’t have a ‘chicken-y’ taste or smell, but instead a clean flavour.

We think it doesn’t even need much sauce and can be easily enjoyed on its own – which shows how fresh their meat is.

Marinated Bone-In Thigh

The Marinated Bone-In Thigh ($28 for 400g) came with two chicken thighs in a sweet savoury sauce.

Each bite was once again tender, complemented with the caramelisation from the marinade. The sauce had a good balance of savoury and sweet with a notable soy sauce flavour.

The thigh meat made it more hearty and satisfying, and we think it would taste even better if there was a hint of spice.

Gizzard & Heart

Those who enjoy chicken innards will like the Gizzard ($13 for 120g) and Heart ($13 for 100g)!

The gizzard is grilled about 80% of the way through, recommended by the staff to ensure it does not become too tough. It had no gaminess at all and retained a pleasant crunchy texture, making it a good side with alcohol.

Our favourite was the heart, cooked till a nice brown on the outside. It was firm and had a slight richness to it without any pungency.

Dakga Ramen

The Dakga Ramen ($12) came garnished with egg yolk, chicken pieces and a milky broth. The soup was thick and had a sweetness from the chicken, pairing well with the creaminess of the yolk.

Curry Fried Chicken

For sides, we tried the Curry Fried Chicken ($22 for 3). The wings were sizeable and were fully coated in a golden powder.

The batter was crunchy with juicy meat inside, although the seasoning was not spicy. It reminded us more of salted egg seasoning rather than curry. We think it could do with a spicier seasoning!

Bonus: Cheese Fondue with Nachos

If you order more than $50 of food, you enjoy a free Cheese Fondue with Nachos (U.P. $)!

The cheese sauce was quite liquidy but still had a strong savoury cheesy flavour, pairing well with the crunchy nacho chips. We recommend eating the nachos immediately as they lose their crunch easily.

Chicken Barbecue In Singapore

Dakga provided a meal that really highlighted the flavour of chicken, something we haven’t seen in other KBBQ restaurants so far! It’s a good place to bring friends who prefer chicken over the usual cuts like beef or pork.

If you’re looking for more Korean eats along Tanjong Pagar, check out our list! Do note they are only open for dinner! You can make reservations here.