Geumdwaeji Sikdang: Seoul’s Famous Korean BBQ Is Coming To SG

K-BBQ restaurant Geumdwaeji Sikdang to open Singapore branch

Image credit: Yi-Cheng Tsai via Google Maps

If you are one of the many Singaporeans who frequently make the 4,650km trip to Korea’s Seoul, you’ve probably heard of Geumdwaeji Sikdang, also known as Gold Pig Restaurant. Located in the city’s Sindang-dong neighbourhood, this popular Korean BBQ spot is famed for its premium meat cuts, long queues, and even earned mentions in the Michelin Guide.

Image credit: Byungkyu SHIN via Google Maps

But now, you won’t need to travel all the way to Korea to experience it. Instagram account @meatk.official, run by acclaimed Korean chef Lee Young Hee (also known as Olivia Lee), who has played a significant role in promoting Korean cuisine in Singapore, recently teased that the restaurant will be opening its first outlet in Singapore.

While details remain scarce for now, it appears to be only a matter of time before local diners can savour its premium-quality meats without a plane ticket. 

Image credit: Raymond Wong via Google Maps

Meat quality is everything when it comes to K-BBQ, and Geumdwaeji Sikdang certainly delivers on that front. The restaurant first earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2019 and has retained the accolade every year since. Building on its success, it recently expanded overseas, opening its first international outlet in Taipei last May. 

Image credit: Waleo go via Google Maps

Reservations are not accepted at its Korean outlet, where diners routinely brave queues that can stretch for hours throughout the day. The restaurant is best known for its various cuts of premium YBD pork, a prized crossbreed of Yorkshire, Berkshire, and Duroc pigs. Some of the cuts include Samgyeopsal, AKA pork belly, and Moksal, AKA pork neck. 

You won’t need to worry about mishandling your BBQ, as the restaurant’s trained staff will personally grill the meat tableside for you. Carefully cooked and caramelised to perfection, each cut is served at its optimal doneness, allowing diners to enjoy the meat at its very best.

Image credit: buki C via Google Maps

Of course, the sides are just as important. While all the usual suspects are present, the real highlight is the fresh lettuce leaves, which are used to wrap the grilled meat together with a dab of savoury sauce and an assortment of toppings for the quintessential K-BBQ bite. 

There is certainly plenty to look forward to, and we’ll be sure to keep you updated as more details emerge. Until then, all that’s left to do is wait patiently, as this is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated K-BBQ openings in Singapore in recent years.

For other Korean food options, check out our guide to the best cheap Korean spots, or our list of the best K-BBQ restaurants in Singapore. 

Address: TBD
Opening hours: TBD
Geumdwaeji Sikdang is not halal-certified.

Feature image adapted from Yi-Cheng Tsai and Waleo via Google Maps.