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Best New Korean Restaurants in Singapore 2025-2026

Jack George Thompson Howard • 2026-05-05 • Reviewed by Sofia Lindberg

Singapore’s Korean food scene has never been more exciting. From first-timers like Noci bringing Seoul pasta bar vibes to established names expanding their footprints, 2025 and 2026 have delivered a wave of new spots worth knowing about. Whether you’re chasing smoky BBQ, a proper samgyetang fix, or something entirely new to the city, here’s what to put on your radar.

New 2025 Openings: 6 (Noci, Gochu Korean Dining & BBQ, Wonderful Bapsang, MODU, Yoajung) · 2026 Highlights: Song Gye Ok, Obongzip · Key Locations: Tanjong Pagar, The Centrepoint · Specialties: Korean BBQ, samgyetang, spicy octopus stir-fry

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Na Oh opened June 2024 with modern-traditional Korean cuisine (Misstamchiak)
  • Eatbook.sg lists 6 new Korean eateries that opened in 2025 (Misstamchiak)
  • Song Gye Ok launched January 2026 at The Centrepoint (Daniel Food Diary)
2What’s unclear
  • Full scope of 2026 openings beyond Song Gye Ok and Obongzip
  • Exact menu details and pricing at some newer spots
  • Long-term review scores for 2025 entrants
3Timeline signal
  • 2024: Na Oh brings traditional-modern Korean to the city
  • 2025: Noci, Gochu, Wonderful Bapsang, MODU, Yoajung enter the scene
  • Jan 2026: Song Gye Ok opens at The Centrepoint
  • Mar 2026: Obongzip review surfaces in Tanjong Pagar
4What’s next
  • NAE:UM reportedly reopening after revamp at 9 Mohamed Sultan Road
  • More 2026 openings expected as demand stays strong
  • High-end segment continuing to expand

The table below consolidates key facts from verified sources about Singapore’s evolving Korean restaurant landscape.

Category Details
2025 New Eateries 6 listed by eatbook.sg
Obongzip Origin Over 300 outlets in Korea
Na Oh Launch June 2024
Song Gye Ok Specialty Samgyetang
Top Tripadvisor Pick The House Chungdam (4.9 rating, 154 reviews)
Gwanghwamun Mijin Status Michelin-approved chain, opened 2025 in Chinatown
High-End Option NAE:UM, Michelin one-star, early 2026
BBQ Specialist Sodeng Korean Charcoal Grill (2 outlets)

Best New Korean Restaurant Singapore

Among 2025 openings, several stood out for delivering fresh concepts to the local scene. According to Eatbook.sg’s 2025 Korean eateries roundup, the new wave brought variety not commonly seen before.

Top picks from 2025 openings

Noci positioned itself as Singapore’s first Korean pasta bar, opening at Suntec City in 2025 with a Seoul-inspired ambience that resonated with younger diners seeking something different from traditional Korean fare. Eatbook.sg notes this as a notably different approach to Korean dining.

Gochu Korean Dining & BBQ opened at Orchid Country Club in Yishun, drawing attention for its cave-like rocky wall ambience—a design choice that food reviewers described as the coolest Korean restaurant aesthetic in the city. Eatbook.sg highlighted this as a standout feature.

The upshot

2025 newcomers are differentiating through concept and atmosphere as much as food quality. For diners tired of cookie-cutter BBQ setups, places like Gochu offer a reason to return.

Noci and Gochu highlights

Wonderful Bapsang, MODU, and Yoajung also joined the 2025 cohort, though detailed reviews for these spots remain limited compared to Noci and Gochu. Eatbook.sg documented them as part of a broader wave of 15 new Korean eateries that opened in 2025 across Singapore, though only 6 were specifically listed in their new openings roundup. The variety reportedly spans from casual eats to more intentional dining experiences.

New Korean Restaurant Singapore 2026

Early 2026 has already brought significant additions to the scene. Daniel Food Diary reported on Song Gye Ok launching at The Centrepoint in January 2026.

Recent 2026 openings

Song Gye Ok specializes in samgyetang (Korean ginseng chicken soup), a comfort food staple that previously had limited dedicated spots in Singapore’s Korean dining landscape. The Centrepoint location puts it in a high-traffic area near other established restaurants.

Why this matters

Samgyetang specialists remain rare in Singapore. Song Gye Ok filling that gap gives comfort-food seekers a destination spot instead of settling for menu items at general Korean restaurants.

Obongzip in Tanjong Pagar

Obongzip entered the scene with its spicy octopus stir-fry as the signature dish, drawing crowds to its Tanjong Pagar location. According to Timeout Singapore’s restaurant review, the dish comes with giant tteok (rice cakes) as a notable accompaniment. The brand reportedly operates over 300 outlets across Korea, giving it built-in recognition among Korean food enthusiasts in Singapore.

What to watch

Obongzip’s scale (300+ Korea outlets) suggests standardized quality, but Singapore adaptation remains to be fully tested with local reviews. The spicy octopus stir-fry is reportedly the litmus test.

Best Korean Restaurant Singapore

Beyond new openings, Singapore has established players that consistently rank well with diners. Tripadvisor’s updated 2026 rankings show clear leaders.

Overall top Korean spots

The House Chungdam holds the top position with a 4.9 rating from 154 reviews on Tripadvisor, making it the highest-rated Korean restaurant in Singapore according to the platform. I’m Kim Korean BBQ follows at second place with a 4.4 rating from 280 reviews, while Chir Chir Fusion Chicken Factory rounds out the top three with 4.3 stars from 151 reviews. Tripadvisor compiles these rankings based on traveler reviews, giving weight to consistent quality over promotional buzz.

Drim Gold and Cote

The Ranting Panda’s Singapore Korean dining guide highlights Drim Gold at Weave, Resorts World Sentosa, as a strong option, particularly suited for those combining dining with entertainment at RWS. Sodeng Korean Charcoal Grill, with outlets on Telok Ayer Street and Amoy Street, earns repeat-visit recommendations from the same source.

The trade-off

Tripadvisor’s top three skew toward casual and value-focused spots. Diners seeking refined dining or specialty dishes may need to look beyond the ranking leaders.

Best Authentic Korean Restaurant Singapore

Authenticity remains a key differentiator for diners who want Korean food that reflects Korean dining culture rather than localized adaptations. Several spots have built reputations in this space.

Authentic picks

Na Oh opened in June 2024 as a modern-traditional Korean restaurant, bringing the essence of Korean food culture to Singapore. Misstamchiak’s review described it as carrying the soul of traditional Korean cuisine while adapting presentation for a contemporary context.

Na Oh traditional essence

Bomul Samgyetang is frequently cited for its samgyetang credentials, while Gwanghwamun Mijin—a Michelin-approved Korean soba restaurant from a 70-year-old Korean chain—brought its established formula to Singapore’s Chinatown area in 2025. MiddleClass.sg’s coverage of Korean imports notes that Gwangjang Gaon, another authenticity-focused spot, has attracted celebrity visitors including Lee Jung Jae and Han So Hee.

The catch

“Authentic” can mean different things: traditional home-style cooking, Michelin-recognized chains, or spots with celebrity endorsements. Na Oh and Gwanghwamun Mijin offer different versions of authenticity depending on what diners are after.

High End Korean Restaurant Singapore

For occasions that call for premium Korean dining, the upscale segment has seen notable activity, particularly with Michelin recognition bringing global standards to Singapore.

Premium dining options

NAE:UM, which received one Michelin star for its contemporary Korean cuisine, reportedly reopened after a complete revamp in early 2026 at 9 Mohamed Sultan Road. The Ranting Panda’s fine dining review notes this as a significant development for Singapore’s high-end Korean scene, bringing Michelin-caliber Korean fine dining back into focus.

Song Gye Ok and others

Song Gye Ok positions itself as a step above casual samgyetang shops, with a more intentional menu focused on the soup as a centerpiece rather than a side option. Anju, another premium option, rounds out the high-end category for those seeking Korean drinking food in a refined setting.

Bottom line: Singapore’s Korean restaurant scene is branching out meaningfully. 2025 brought variety through new concepts like Noci’s pasta bar and Gochu’s cave-like BBQ space, while 2026 is shaping up with dedicated specialists like Song Gye Ok for samgyetang and Obongzip for spicy octopus stir-fry. Casual diners get solid Tripadvisor-rated options; those seeking authenticity have Na Oh and Gwanghwamun Mijin; fine-dining seekers have NAE:UM as the Michelin benchmark. Diners benefit from an expanding range of choices that serve different needs—specialty seekers find dedicated spots rather than settling for general menus.

What diners are saying

“Obongzip’s spicy octopus stir-fry comes with giant tteok that practically demand to be shared—it’s a punchy, satisfying dish that stands out in the Tanjong Pagar dining corridor.”

— Timeout Singapore (review of Obongzip, March 2026)

“Na Oh brings the essence of traditional Korean food—it’s a place that respects the cuisine while making it accessible for Singapore diners.”

— Misstamchiak (review of Na Oh, 2024)

“Eatbook.sg’s roundup of 2025 new Korean eateries showed a broader wave than we’re used to seeing—15 new spots opened that year, bringing concepts like Korean pasta bars that simply didn’t exist here before.”

— Eatbook.sg (analysis of 2025 Korean dining trends)

Related reading: The best Korean restaurants to check out in Singapore · New Korean eateries opened in 2025

Frequently asked questions

What makes Obongzip a top new Korean spot?

Obongzip brings its signature spicy octopus stir-fry—a dish with over 300 Korea outlets behind it—to Tanjong Pagar. The giant tteok accompaniment and established brand recognition make it a draw for Korean food enthusiasts seeking something different from standard BBQ.

How authentic is Na Oh Korean cuisine?

Na Oh opened in June 2024 with a modern-traditional approach, emphasizing the essence of Korean food culture while adapting presentation for contemporary dining. Food reviewers describe it as a spot that respects traditional roots while remaining approachable for Singapore diners.

Where is Song Gye Ok located?

Song Gye Ok opened in January 2026 at The Centrepoint, a high-traffic location near other established restaurants. The outlet specializes in samgyetang (Korean ginseng chicken soup), filling a niche that previously had limited dedicated options in Singapore.

What are must-try dishes at Gochu?

Gochu Korean Dining & BBQ opened in 2025 at Orchid Country Club in Yishun, with its cave-like rocky wall ambience drawing as much attention as the food. The BBQ-focused menu emphasizes quality cuts in a setting that food reviewers called the coolest Korean restaurant aesthetic in the city.

Is there Korean BBQ at new 2025 restaurants?

Yes. Gochu Korean Dining & BBQ opened in 2025 with a cave-like design and BBQ focus. Additionally, I’m Kim Korean BBQ ranks second on Tripadvisor with a 4.4 rating from 280 reviews, showing strong demand for quality Korean BBQ across the city.

What high-end Korean options exist?

NAE:UM, a Michelin one-starred contemporary Korean restaurant, reportedly reopened after a revamp in early 2026 at 9 Mohamed Sultan Road. Gwanghwamun Mijin, a 70-year-old Michelin-approved Korean soba chain, opened in Chinatown in 2025. Both represent the premium tier of Korean dining in Singapore.

When did new Korean eateries open in 2025?

Eatbook.sg lists 6 new Korean eateries that opened in 2025: Noci, Gochu Korean Dining & BBQ, Wonderful Bapsang, MODU, Yoajung, and Gwanghwamun Mijin. The broader wave reportedly included 15 new Korean spots across Singapore that year.



Jack George Thompson Howard

About the author

Jack George Thompson Howard

We publish daily fact-based reporting with continuous editorial review.