Todamgol Gukbap

Post by Chiefeater Luke Soon

It’s not even an exaggeration anymore when I say that you are spoilt for choice when it comes to Korean food in Singapore, especially if you are in the Tanjong Pagar area. Despite the variety of choice, I still stick to a few restaurants and one of my personal favorites is Todamgol – one of the most authentic Korean restaurants in Singapore (food and atmosphere wise).

The dimly lit restaurant may not have caught your attention right away, but the decor outside would definitely have done so. Fashioned like a Korean traditional 주막, Todamgol is the perfect place for a drink, especially since it serves a wide variety of makgoli (rice wine) and other alcohol.

The interior decor is unique too. The seats in the main area are spacious and yet offers some kind of privacy and if you want even more privacy, there are private rooms that are suitable for groups of 4 and above.

If you have been to Korea before, stepping into the restaurant brings back familiar memories, with the (cute) Korean staff bustling around taking orders. If anything, the place is popular with Koreans and you know – go where the native goes.

I fondly recall 2 decades ago – when I first landed in Singapore, being introduced to K-town at Tanjung Pagar, and specifically Todamgol as the first port of call. I made a good Korean friend whilst working in SG, and Todamgol was our soju submarine ‘baptism’ place.

Fast forward to 2024 – the Todamgol owner still serves quality Korean food, and in particular, Dwaeji Gukbap. Literally means pork rice soup. Or we could call it pork rice soup. (my fav in KL is the one in Peel Road – since I was 8 years old). Dwaeji Gukbap hails from, many Koreans say, Busan. Todamgol’s version is bolder, some would say more savoury and definitely more ‘porky’

Mix your rice in- and you’ve got flavourful spoonfuls of Korean soupiness/ goodness. One could say this is a premium Haejangguk (hangover soup), something that would wash away your soju headaches the morning after.

Like all my regular haunts- we’ve ‘exhausted’ the menu pretty much. At Todamgol we only order a few staples: the gukbap of course, and bossam or jokbal. These are all 7.5/10

Do yourself a favour – if you’ve never had Gukbap – please try. It’s the closest thing to pork noodles/ pork soup rice that I’ve found anywhere in ASEAN.

Business Hours
Opens Daily
11:30 am to 01:00 am