Sodam Korean Restaurant Review: Legit K-BBQ That Opens Till 6AM In Tanjong Pagar

Sodam Korean Restaurant opens till 6am in Tanjong Pagar

Tanjong Pagar is full of Korean BBQ restaurants, many of which are open till midnight or even three in the morning. But very few remain open till 6am while offering high-quality eats. As far as I know, Sodam Korean Restaurant is the only eatery in the area that fits this bill.

Beyond just barbecue, the restaurant offers a pretty diverse range of classic Korean eats, such as kimchi stew, marinated raw prawns, pork ramyeon and more. We were recently invited to try the fare, and came away from the experience thoroughly impressed.

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Food at Sodam Korean Restaurant

Of course, we had to start with the KBBQ. Upon settling down at the restaurant, two platters of meat promptly arrived: the Ice Aged Pork Belly ($29++) and Beef Short Ribs ($48++).

The pork belly was everything you’d want from that cut of meat. Each slice was thick and succulent, with a good meat-to-fat ratio.

The staff member who helped us with the barbecuing managed to grill it just right, imparting a good smokiness to the meat while retaining its juiciness.

While the pork belly was great, we enjoyed the beef short ribs even more.

Cooked till medium rare, every chunk of beef was melt-in-your-mouth-good and had a deep, beefy flavour. And thanks to the grill, the charcoal scent it had made it all the better.

To add more flavour to the meat, you can add a dash of salt, or dip it into the umami ssamjang sauce. You can also wrap it in some lettuce for some crunch with every bite.

On a side note, Sodam uses a charcoal BBQ grill that’s designed to suck up smoke quite effectively, so you won’t have to worry too much about your smelling like grilled meat once you’re done with your meal.

Following our K-BBQ course, we were served a few Korean dishes. The first of these was the Kimchi Jjgae ($18++). Served piping hot and filled with bits of tofu, pork, and enoki mushrooms, this comforting yet flavourful stew really hit the spot after eating all those grilled meats. Its rich and tangy taste cut through whatever leftover grease was still on my palate.

Next up was the Army Stew (price TBD), which, at the time that we visited the restaurant, was yet to be officially made available. It arrived in a pot chock-full of ingredients such as hotdog, fishcake, mushroom, instant noodles and more. I thought this was one of the weaker dishes we tried here for several reasons. One, the kimchi-based broth was less rich—and dare I say, more watered down—than the one in the kimchi jjgae, and two, the slices of fishcake present throughout the stew were a little too floury for my liking.

We also got to try the Marinated Raw Prawn ($42++). Those who shy away from raw seafood may wince at the idea of this dish, but after trying it I can safely say that the ones here are excellent. They were wonderfully fresh and without any fishy taste, while the savoury soy-based marinade went well with the natural sweetness of the prawns.

Ambience at Sodam Korean Restaurant

With two floors and a large private dining room, Sodam Korean Restaurant can accommodate many groups of diners and is spacious enough that it is unlikely to ever feel congested. The interiors are simple and clean, allowing you to enjoy your K-BBQ in a comfortable environment.

Sodam Korean Restaurant is a three-minute walk from Maxwell MRT Station.

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The verdict

Sodam Korean Restaurant offers an excellent K-BBQ experience along with several delicious a la carte dishes. If you’re looking for a restaurant to try in the Tanjong Pagar area, Sodam makes for a great recommendation.

For more Korean eateries in the area, read our best Korean Restaurants in Tanjong Pagar and CBD guide. For KBBQ buffets, have a look at our best Korean BBQ buffets in Singapore guide.

Address: 48 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088469
Opening hours: Daily 5pm to 6am
Tel: 8363 6476
Website
Sodam Korean Restaurant is not a halal-certified eatery.

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Photos taken by Kaedynce Chew.
This was a media tasting at Sodam Korean Restaurant.