Dutum Korean BBQ – Lotte Wagyu Beef and Dutum Pork

Dutum Korean BBQ Restaurant (“Dutum”) is the latest Korean BBQ joint in Singapore K-Town, Tanjong Pagar. LD and I were supposed to try its sister restaurant, however, as that restaurant has a long waiting list, they referred us to try Dutum. To our surprise, Dutum is owned and operated by John, an old friend that we know from another K-BBQ joint. After completing his National Service in South Korea, he got married and return to Singapore with his family.

Dutum Korean BBQ

Dutum only opened its doors in July 2024. The restaurant looks clean and classy. The copper gold exhaust pipes and signboard make it look “atas” and give you the confidence that you will be well looked after here.

Dutum Interior

Here are some of the items that we have tried for the past 2 visits. Premium Beef Set [$145] – Wagyu Ribeye, Wagyu Oyster Blade, DUTUM Prime Beef. Complimentary 1 Vegetable stick & Steamed Egg.

Banchan and Sauces

Dutum uses Lotte Wagyu Beef that are raised on Hanwoo Diet. For those who have been to Korea, you will know that Korean Beef (Hanwoo) is one of the best premium beef in the market. The marbling of the beef is superb and you can expect a #Beefgasm experience. Luckily, Dutum also provide a full service, meaning the service staff will bbq the meat for you on your table.

Premium Beef Set

Dutum also uses Korean charcoal for their BBQ, to ensure consistency of the fire. The beef set is cooked on cast iron grill plate, that helps to seal the juice in the meat. All the beef are cooked to the point of medium rare. The ribeye is just fantastic. Juicy and melts in your mouth. The oyster blade has a lovely bite to it, where you can taste the flavour of the meat more. Not forgetting the prime beef, for the explosive flavour. Yummy!!

Wagyu Ribeye

Wagyu Oyster Blade

DUTUM Prime Beef

Premium Pork Set [$90] – DUTUM Pork Belly, DUTUM Pork Neck, Pork Finger Rib. Complimentary 1 Vegetable stick & Steamed Egg. Dutum’s Fire-Oven Pork undergoes a preliminary cooking process at 500 degrees C in a fire oven to achieve a succulent and crispy texture. Subsequently, it is further cooked with charcoal, on a steel mesh grill to enhance its flavour with a smoky essence.

Premium Pork Set

DUTUM Pork Belly

The pork belly has a crisp exterior, followed by juicy and succulent meat. What a #Porkgasm experience. The pork neck is leaner compared to pork belly, but it is still packed with flavours. However, my favourite cut of the pork is the pork finger ribs. Just think of a prime cut from the pork ribs. It is juicy, bouncy, full of flavours. Unlike pork belly which can be overwhelming, these pork finger ribs are just perfect for bbq. Don’t forget to eat the pork with the housemade ginger and spring onion paste. It looks similar to wasabi, but it tastes totally different. Drool!!

Pork Finger Rib

Potato Pancake, Pork Finger Rib, DUTUM Pork Neck

Steamed eggs are complimentary from the premium beef set and premium pork set. They are fluffy and bouncy (Toing!! Toing!!).

Steamed Egg

Soy Marinated Crab [$48]. Housemade by John’s Mother-In-Law. LD totally vouches for this. The crabs are fresh and the soy marinated is spot on, you just won’t stop. Unlike the factory-made version, that usually very salty, LD does not need any rice to enjoy this Ganjang-gejang. A must-order for crab lovers.

Soy Marinated Crab

Spicy Chicken Feet Set [$70] - Fish Roe Rice Ball & Steamed Egg. LD and her friends enjoy this. True to its name, spicy chicken feet can be one of the spiciest items in Korean food. That numbing spicy flavour is accompanied by the crunchy and chewy texture of the chicken feet. Even though, they are all “blowing fire” by the spiciness, they simply cannot stop themselves.

Spicy Chicken Feet

The fish roe rice ball come early before they even start cooking the chicken feet. I always think of this as a deconstructed Gimbab. When you mix it well, you get a “Flavour Bomb” rice balls.

Fish Roe Rice Ball

Fishcake Soup [$35]. This fishcake is tasty and bouncy. What I like about fishcake soup is the pepper broth. The broth gave that warm feeling, just like when we are slurping our Singapore Bak Kut Teh, the pepper version. It also works wonders to open up your appetite or as a final dish. Usually, I will ask for a packet of Ramyeon or two to add to the broth, but we have ordered too much. (Do note: the standard version of this fishcake soup comes with 5 sticks of fishcake).

Fishcake Soup

Potato Pancake [$25]. Korean version of Rosti. It is crispy and delicious. The key to this dish is to let it cool down, don’t eat it immediately. After 10 minutes, the crispiness of the batter and potato will have set. I tried one piece when it just came out, but when I tried the second piece after 10 mins, I was blown away. Yum!!

Potato Pancake

Cheese Bomb Fried Rice [$20]. The fried rice, cheese, fried egg and seaweed are prep on the square box and heated up on the charcoal. It is then shaken and served. While the idea is good, I find it MEH!! The flavours are separated from each other and the cheese all the ingredients together. The heating process also made the fried egg overcooked.

Cheese Bomb Fried Rice

Spicy Rice Cake [$20]. I did not try this but our friends’ feedback, it is spicy and got KICK!

Spicy Rice Cake

Yukhoe Spicy Cold Noodle [$25]. LD found a dish that combines two of her favourite ingredients. Cold Noodle and Raw Beef. The raw beef is fresh, while the spicy cold noodle is awesome and flavourful. The broth is robust, tangy and refreshing.

Yukhoe Spicy Cold Noodle 

I personally like the original Cold Noodle [$18]. Served chilled, the Mul-naengmyeon is just refreshing. The broth is robust and tangy with a hint of sweetness from the sliced pear. The buckwheat noodle is smooth and bouncy. I like the version at Dutum because it is served super chill and the tanginess in the broth is just right to balance the greasiness from the Korean BBQ.

Cold Noodle

Overall, we were impressed by the quality of the food at Dutum. The wagyu beef and pork are memorable, and the taste of the food seems to be suitable with our palate. Not forgetting, the service staff are very experienced and they do also ensure the meat are barbequed to perfection. What else can you ask for. Definitely, our go-to K-BBQ Restaurant from now on. Geonbae!! Cheers!!

Food & Drinks: 9/10

Value: 8.5/10

Service: 8.5/10

Ambiance: 8.5/10

Budget per Person: $51 - $80; $81 & Above

Dutum Korean BBQ Restaurant

57 Tanjong Pagar Road

Singapore 088478

T: +65 9355 8550

F: https://www.facebook.com/dutum.korean.bbq.restaurant/

IG: @Dutumsg

OH:

Tue – Fri: 12.00 – 15.00; 17.00 – Midnight (L.O. 23.00)

Sat – Sun: 12.00 – Midnight (L.O. 23.00)

Closed on Mondays

Gagahoho – Ox Bone Soup Restaurant

Gagahoho Ox Bone Soup restaurant is a Korean restaurant specialising in Ox Bone Soup. One of our fondest memories when we visited Korea was their beef soup. Whether it is in Seoul, Busan or Jeju, there is always an old shop/s that sells traditional soup and we will be happy with just a soup and white rice.

Gagahoho Shop Front

LD found Gagahoho and suggested we give it a try. The front door of the restaurant is decorated like a traditional shop in Korea. The furniture is unique, as some of the tables look like they come with a round hole in the middle, ready for Korean bbq, while the rest are just simple square tables. The most eye-catching decor is the ceiling, decorated with artificial flowers from the entrance to the cashier.

Entrance

Dining Area

The kimchi is unique according to LD. Unlike the usual kimchi that is soft, the version here is housemade, has a strong fermentation and is crunchy. It is uncut and the length can easily reach around 30cm.

KimChi

LD ordered Seoul Beef Soup [$15.90], it comes with a bowl of rice. The soup looks milky white and covered with chopped spring onions and a touch of ground pepper. We can taste the broth has been cooked over a long period and is packed with the essence of the beef bone. However, it can taste a bit bland and you will need to sprinkle some salt to bring up the flavour.

Seoul Beef Soup

The beef brisket is thinly sliced. Although it looks very dry, the meat is very tender.

Thinly Sliced Meat

I ordered Beef Soup Banmian [$15.90]. This broth is the opposite of the Seoul beef soup. It was fully seasoned, when I took the first sip, it was robust, peppery and packed with punch. The noodle is thin, but a bit on the soggy side. The toppings include fried egg, sliced cucumber, carrot and green onions, but there is no beef meat inside.

Beef Soup Banmian 

I was very impressed with the broth in the noodle, I ordered a bowl of rice [$2] to polish off the broth. (*the sliced beef is from LD’s order)

Egg, Cucumber & Spring Onion

Finishing the Soup with Rice - Korean Style

SABA Braised Mackerel [$12.90]. We had this dish last year in Korea and LD likes it. So, she decided to order to try. The fish is nicely braised, and all the seasoning and spices are absorbed into the firm flesh. Initially, LD thought the sauce would be very spicy, however, it is closer to sweet and spicy. The spiciness level is around 7/10.

SABA Braised Mackerel

Do take note that Gagahoho does not serve free water or tea, so you need to order a drink for yourself. Service is efficient and friendly.

Menu

Overall, it was one of the better places to have Ox Bone Soup. We’ll definitely return when we have a craving for the soup or to try other items on the menu. Geonbae!! Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 7.75/10

Value: 7.75/10

Service: 7/10

Ambiance: 6.75/10

Budget per Person: $11 - $25; $26 - $50

Gagahoho Ox Bone Soup

175 Bencoolen St

#01-57A, Burlington Square

Singapore 189649

T: +65 6518 4157

W: https://www.quandoo.sg/place/gagahoho-ox-bone-soup-97546

F: https://www.facebook.com/kagahohosg/

IG: @Gagahoho_sg

OH:

Tue – Sat: 12.00 – 22.30

Sun: 12.00 – 21.30

Closed on Mondays

Myung Ga II – Authentic Korean Family Recipe [MEDIA INVITE]

Myung Ga (명가) II is a name famous in Singapore’s Korean food scene, that has become synonymous with dishes rooted in authentic Korean family recipes. The restaurant is expanding its legacy and proudly announces the opening of its second outlet in Singapore’s Litte Korea, Tanjong Pagar.

Myung Ga II

We started the tasting with Original Kimbap Spam ($11). These colourful Kimbab fillings include spam, omelette, carrot, spinach, pickled radish and burdock root. We like the chewy of the rice and seaweed, followed by the different textures of the fillings. I feel they can be a bit more generous with sesame oil wash on the seaweed. A good start to the meal.

Original Kimbap Spam

Banchan

Donkatsu ($20). I have tried a few Korean donkatsu in Singapore and I must say the version at Myung Ga II is the best one I tried in Singapore. The pork cutlet is fried to the point of very crispy, and the sauce has a nice balance of sweet and sour. The best part is the pork cutlet remains crispy even when it is covered with the sauce for a while. Served together on the donkatsu are corn kernels, baked beans, salad and pickled radish.

Donkatsu

Cheese Gyelanjjim ($15). The slightly charred cheese on top of gyelanjjim is just so inviting. The egg is fluffy and tasty, while the cheese adds the stretch factor and umami flavour to the egg.

Cheese Gyelanjjim

Seafood Pancake - Haemu Buchu Jeon ($20). Crispy externally, moist and pillowy internally. They are very generous with the ingredients, as I get a bite of the seafood in each part. The pancake itself is very tasty, I did not use the dipping sauce.

Seafood Pancake

Altang ($23) Korean Spicy Fish Roe Stew. Once we saw the fish roe and fish milt on the menu, we decided we must order this soup. The fish roe has a firm eggy texture, while the milt is soft and easily melts in your mouth. The soup is hot and spicy, suitable for LD but too spicy for me. The good thing is the portion of fish roe and fish milt are very generous as well.

Altang - Korean Spicy Fish Roe Stew

Spicy Stir Fried Octopus - Nakji Dupbap ($20). One of LD’s favourite Korean dishes, the octopus is tender, slightly chewy and spicy but shiok. Definitely a rice thief.

Spicy Stir Fried Octopus - Nakji Dupbap 

Finally, we have Sliced Iberico Pork Belly ($22 for self grill / $24 for served grill). A speciality dish for Myung Ga at Tanjong Pagar. It is a time-honoured tradition of frozen pork BBQ. With the latest technology, frozen pork now delivers a better flavour compared to the vintage year.

Sliced Iberico Pork Belly 

The frozen thin slices of pork belly are grilled and seasoned with salt and pepper. The result is crispy pork belly. You can eat the pork belly with seasoned gochujang, salt & sesame dip, green chilli and lettuce. I recommend that you ask the staff to do the grilling for you. Also for the first order, there is a minimum of 2 pax.

Perfectly Grilled Sliced Iberico Pork Belly 

The sidekick for grilled pork belly

The décor of the restaurant is like a casual café setting. You won’t see any suction pipes coming down from the roof as it is not a Korean BBQ restaurant. The restaurant is bright and the ambiance is spruced up with K-pop music.

The Dining Area

Overall, Myung Ga II served solid Korean homecooked food. The dishes are well executed and they are very enticing as well. We’ll come back to try the rest of the dishes plus the Altang and Nakji Dupbap.

Our Desserts

Thank you very much Protegie and Victoria + Myung Ga II Team for the invitation.

Food & Drink: 8.5/10

Value: 8.5/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

Myung Ga (명가) II

28 Tanjong Pagar Road

Singapore 088451

T: +65 8042 8025

F: https://www.facebook.com/myungga2.sg

IG: @myungga2.sg

OH:

Tue – Sun: 11.30 – 15.00; 17.30 – 22.00

Closed on Monday.

Other Location

1 Jln Anak Bukit

#B1-55 Bukit Timah Plaza

Singapore 588996

T: +65 6469 5123

OH:

Tue – Sun: 11.30 – 15.00; 17.30 – 21.30

Closed on Monday.