Singapore has garnered a reputation for being the food capital of Asia, and it is common to find many foreigners who love to indulge in our multitude of local delicacies. Some of our local cuisines finds its way overseas, bringing a piece of Singaporean culture and tradition along with it!
One such country is South Korea, where our dishes have won over the palates of many locals through the emergence of Singaporean cuisine and eateries! Some of these are local brands that have set up shop in Korea, while others are owned and operated by Koreans who fell in love with Singaporean food.
Here are some restaurants and food establishments where you can get a taste of Singapore in Korea!
Bee Cheng Hiang
Bee Cheng Hiang made its first foray into South Korea in 2010 and found rapid success, opening 21 outlets within the span of two and a half years. Many Koreans fell in love with the taste of Bee Cheng Hiang’s freshly barbecued dried pork, most commonly known as “Bakkwa”. Sweet, salty and smoky, Bakkwa soon caught on in Korea. Bee Cheng Hiang even has a factory in Korea where it freshly makes its Bakkwa using local products, before delivering it to its retail outlets where it is barbecued and sold to customers. Bee Cheng Hiang currently has 28 stores throughout the country that sell its signature Sliced Pork and Sliced Beef as well as some other goodies like Pork Floss.
Bee Cheng Hiang
Lotte Department Store Main Store
서울 중구 을지로 30 롯데백화점 지하1층
B1, Lotte Department Store, 30 Eulji-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Nearest Subway: Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2), Exit 8
Dessert Merlion Singapore Cafe
Situated in the Hongdae neighbourhood in Seoul, Dessert Merlion Singapore Café is the brainchild of Mr Ng Keng Leng. Formerly an office worker who travelled frequently to Korea, the desire to introduce Singaporean food culture to Koreans led Mr Ng to set up Merlion Café in 2014. The café serves up classic Singaporean beverages, toasts and desserts, and does a great job of replicating authentic Singaporean flavours. They even import ingredients directly from Singapore! Some of the beverages include Singaporean-style Kopi, Yuan Yang and Milo Dinosaur. Other favourites include the Kaya Toast Set, which comes with slices of kaya toast, soft boiled eggs and a drink of choice, as well as other classics like Pork Floss Bun and Pandan Chiffon Cake. Local desserts such as Pulut Hitam are also available from time to time! Check them out on Facebook and Instagram.
Dessert Merlion Cafe
마포구 서교동 346-20
Mapo-Gu Seogyo-dong 346-20, Seoul
Nearest Subway: Hongik University Station (Line 2), Exit 9
Kitchen Shiok
Kitchen Shiok is located in Jung District, home to many cultural sites like Deoksugung and Namdaemun. The aesthetic design of Kitchen Shiok certainly fits in with the elegant architecture of the buildings in the area. It features a monochromatic theme that’s super Instagram-worthy! There is also an outdoor patio dining area that features a small statue of a Merlion. One of the highlights at Kitchen Shiok is their chicken rice which comes with the classic condiments authentic to the Singaporean version – chilli, ginger garlic sauce and dark soy sauce. They also have local favourites like Prata with Curry, a Kaya toast set with soft boiled eggs, Beef Char Kway Teow and ‘Shiok’ Fries with Chilli Crab Sauce. Follow them on Instagram to see more!
Kitchen Shiok
서울 중구 다산로20길 33 1층
1st floor, 33 Dasan-ro 20-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Nearest Subway: Yaksu Station (Line 3, 6), Exit 3
까이식당 Singapore Restaurant
까이식당 (Kkai Shik-Dang) Singapore Restaurant is a unique spot in Seodaemun that serves Singaporean-style chicken rice. It is located in close proximity to Ewha Women’s University and as such, students around the area frequent this joint for a quick and affordable lunch. The restaurant seats only about 10 people and can get quite crowded especially during peak hours, but many locals are willing to queue up to enjoy a meal here. A plate of chicken rice here will set you back roughly 8,000KRW (roughly S$8.50), but the portions served are sizeable. ‘까이’, which is pronounced as kkai is an adage to the Cantonese term for chicken, ‘gai’ – a familiar term that many Singaporeans who visit this restaurant will chuckle at. Check them out on Instagram!
까이식당
서울 서대문구 이화여대2가길 24 1층
24 Ewhayeodae 2ga-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
Nearest Subway: Ewha Women’s University Station (Line 2), Exit 3
TWG Tea
TWG Tea has taken the world by storm with its luxury high-tea concept that curates over 800 diverse varieties of teas from across the globe. Since its first outlet in Republic Plaza in Singapore, they have gone global at an unprecedented pace, operating more than 70 stores in over 20 countries as of today. Currently, TWG operates four outlets in Korea, the crown jewel being their flagship outlet located in Seoul’s upscale Cheongdam district. The two-storey café or “tea salon” has both a dining area and a boutique retail section. There are professionally trained tea masters to readily assist you with tea recommendations and lunch set menus to pair with their signature teas. Some of the must-try blends include the Silver Moon, a mix of green tea, grand berry and vanilla, and the 1837 Black Tea.
TWG Tea
Lotte Department Store (Myeong-dong)
서울 중구 남대문로 81 롯데백화점 본점 4층
4F, 81 Namdaemun-ro, Jung-gu, Seoul
Nearest Subway: Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2), Exit 7
JUMBO Seafood
JUMBO Seafood began its operations in Singapore during 1987, striving to provide fresh seafood cooked with distinctive Asian flavours. They are most well-known for serving one of Singapore’s national dishes, chilli crab. JUMBO Seafood manages to balance sweet, sour and spicy in the most well-known rendition of the dish. Their recipe is thus widely regarded as one of the most authentic. Other specialities include Lobster Pao Fan, Mee Goreng, and Nonya Codfish. As of today, JUMBO Seafood has a presence in 9 cities across Asia, including a franchised outlet in Seoul IFC Mall.
Jumbo Seafood (IFC Mall)
서울 영등포구 국제금융로 10, L3
Level 3, 10 Gukjegeumyung-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul
Nearest Subway: Yeouido Station (Line 5, 9), Exit 3
Crystal Jade
Crystal Jade’s humble beginnings date back to 1991, when it was established at the Cairnhill Hotel in Singapore. While initially specializing in serving Cantonese cuisine, they have since widened their expertise and now offer Teochew, Shanghainese, Hong Kong and Korean cuisines as well. They have a total of 13 outlets in Korea, serving the recognisable authentic Chinese recipes that have garnered them a loyal following over the past few decades. Some favourites include Peking Duck, Xiao Long Bao (or Sorongpo as it is dubbed in Korea), Sichuan Beef Soup Noodles and Dandanmyeon (Dan Dan noodles). Their flagship Crystal Jade outlet in Sogong-dong also offers special dishes such as Jjamppong (Spicy Korean seafood soup) and Kkanpunggi (Spicy garlic fried chicken)!
Crystal Jade (Sogong-Jeom)
서울 중구 남대문로7길 16 한국빌딩 B1
Korea Building B1, 16 Namdaemun-ro 7-gil, Jung-gu, Seoul
Nearest Subway: Euljiro 1-ga Station (Line 2), Exit 7
Kopitiam Coffee
Kopitiam Coffee is a café chain in Seoul that serves Singaporean-style kaya toast and beverages. They capitalize on Koreans’ love for kaya by incorporating it into many of their menu items. The highlights include original kaya toast, cheese kaya toast and peanut butter toast, which you can accompany with Kopi or Milk Tea. Apart from their uniquely Singaporean offerings, Kopitiam Coffee also has an all-day brunch and a selection of other beverages. The ambience at Kopitiam Coffee’s outlet in Jongno-gu (located near to Gyeongbokgung palace) is also enchanting, decked out in a modern industrial design with wood and exposed brick walls. It’s not exactly like the Kopitiams we see here, but it has its own Korean twist.
Kopitiam Coffee (Gyeongbokgung)
서울 종로구 자하문로4길 7
7, Jahamun-ro 4-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul
Nearest Subway: Gyeongbokgung Station (Line 3), Exit 3
A Taste of Singapore Food in Korea
There is something that stirs a sense of patriotism when we see a familiar brand or dish when visiting a foreign country! It is heartening to see that Singaporean food is available overseas – it gives others a chance to appreciate our cuisine, while also being a source of comfort for Singaporeans looking for a familiar taste of home. Check out our other article for things you can only find in Singapore.
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