NY Char Grill Review: Affordable Charcoal K-BBQ With Kimchi Mac And Cheese At Jewel

NY Char Grill has affordable barbecue meat sets at Jewel

Newly opened at Jewel Changi Airport is NY Char Grill, a Western barbecue restaurant that incorporates Korean and Japanese techniques. With so many different cultural influences, I was curious to see how they’d come together.  

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Food at NY Char Grill

Something that’s not commonly spotted at DIY barbecue joints is the availability of wood chips for smoking, which is one of NY Char Grill’s specialties. For $5++ per 30 grams, select from Apple, Cherry, Hickory, or Pecan Wood to add to your charcoal barbecue for that extra smoky flavour. 

Taking a page out of the book of Korean cuisine, diners are served banchan before their meal. Here, this includes small bowls of cucumber salad, potato salad, and kimchi. Like most Korean restaurants, these appetisers are unlimited. 

While the cucumber and potato salads were nice and refreshing, the kimchi was incredibly piquant and moreish. My colleague even commented that it had a homemade flavour, just like the ones in Korea. 

Following this were the sides. We started with the Kimchi Mac And Cheese ($5++). There isn’t any actual kimchi in this, but gochujang has been added to the cheese mixture to give it a sweet and spicy twist. While I prefer traditional mac and cheese, fans of Korean food might love this rendition. 

Mushroom Tempura ($5++), on the other hand, is a Japanese-inspired side comprising shimeji mushrooms coated with tempura batter. The batter was probably the highlight of this dish, as it was well-seasoned, light, and crispy. 

The same tempura batter is used in making the Tempura Young Corn ($12++). While it looked unassuming at first, the crunchy tempura batter and flavourful Cajun seasoning made it an unexpectedly addictive snack. This was, surprisingly, my colleague’s and my favourite side dish. 

Moving on to the meats: one item available from their ready-grilled meats menu is Grilled Pork Skewers. Seasoned with a punchy chilli powder and sweet-spicy glaze, the pork was soft, succulent and came off the skewer with ease. For $5++ a stick, though, it is one of the pricier items here. 

DIY grilled meat sets include Pork Set Premium ($13.90++/100g). Consisting of a few slices of pork belly and thin strips of Iberico pork jowl, this set was fatty and indulgent. 

The pork belly slices were thick and chunky, whereas the pork jowl had an even marbling that helped it stay tender, even after we’d left it on the grill for longer than intended. 

As for beef, there is the Trio Set Premium ($16.90++/150g), which features three different cuts: skirt steak, prime ribs and beef brisket. 

While all three of them were tender and juicy, my favourite cut was the skirt steak. Although skirt steak is usually on the tougher side, the ones served here appeared to be marinated and tenderised to the point where it was almost melt-in-your-mouth tender. 

Carb-lovers will be pleased to know that each meat set at NY Char Grill also comes with a bowl of white rice and side salad, as well as a small serving of shiitake mushrooms and broccolini. 

Feel free to pair your meats with the Korean-inspired dipping sauces provided too. Served in a small divided saucer, the sauces comprise a nutty sesame oil, salt and pepper mixture, and gochujang-based paste. There are also some garlic slices that you can grill with your meats, if you so choose. 

Apart from their premium meat selection, NY Char Grill also offers some decent pasta. We tried the Beef Bolognese Rigatoni ($15++), featuring rigatoni that was cooked to just the right firmness, and cooked in a pleasantly tangy sauce.

Ambience at NY Char Grill 

NY Char Grill is located on the third floor of Jewel, which is a little tricky to find for those who don’t frequent the place. 

The decor is said to be barnhouse-inspired, with an overall modern yet rustic vibe. Overlooking the mesmerising Jewel Rain Vortex, diners can also admire the indoor waterfall and its surrounding greenery while enjoying their meal. 

The verdict

While it’s on the pricier side, NY Char Grill does have a great selection of meat cuts, delicious sides and a rather unique fusion barbecue dining concept. I recommend checking them out if you’re in the area and don’t mind spending a little more on your meal.   

If you’re looking for more good eats at Jewel, drop by Elfuego for affordable eight-course omakase! Otherwise, head downstairs and end your meal on a sweet note with fried ice cream from famous Taiwanese chain Frozen Heart. 

Address: 78 Airport Boulevard, #03-227/228, Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore 819666
Opening hours: Daily 11am to 10:30pm
Tel: 8772 4227
Website
NY Char Grill is not a halal-certified eatery.

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Photos taken by Kaedynce Chew
This was a media tasting at NY Char Grill.