11 best affordable Korean food spots in Singapore your wallet & tummy will love
Let’s be real. As much as our love for Korean cuisine knows no bounds, indulging in it often costs a pretty penny. At the same time, the most budget-friendly options don’t always offer the best value.
Well, that is if you don’t know where to look; Singapore is teeming with gems of Korean establishments that deliver on quality, authenticity and wallet-friendly prices. I’m talking about places where you can get the best bang for your buck without breaking the bank.
If that’s exactly what you’re looking for, I’ve got your back. Here’s a curated guide of the 11 best affordable Korean food spots in Singapore your wallet & tummy will love.
1. Wooga Jjajang
First up is Wooga Jjajang, a triple threat helmed by Korean-Chinese chef Marcus Yu. This humble hawker establishment offers authentic, affordable and restaurant-quality Korean fare — you can’t tell me you aren’t enthused already!
Wooga Jjajang’s flagship outlet resides in Old Airport Road Food Centre under the name Wooga Jjajang & Bimbowl. I should mention that it’s temporarily closed at the moment as the food centre is undergoing renovation work until end-Sep. In the meantime, you can visit their second outlet in Clementi West for your fix.
If you’re a die-hard fan of Korean noodles like I am, prepare to fall head over heels in love with Wooga Jjajang.
If you must try one thing, let it be the jjajangmyeon. We recommend the Pork Bulgogi Jjajang Myeon (S$8), which sees chewy noodles coated in luscious, wok-kissed black bean sauce and paired with smoky, charcoal-grilled pork belly with a perfect meat-to-fat ratio. Alternatively, try Singapore’s (and possibly the world’s) first Cold Jjajangmyeon (S$9/S$12)!
Soup and spice lovers will enjoy Spicy LaLa Kal-Guksu (S$8), with fresh lala clams and chewy knife-cut noodles in a flavourful and mildly spicy gochujang broth. Craving rice? Try Wooga’s Gimbap Dosirak (kimbap bento) (S$10) or the Vegetarian/Pork/Chicken Bulgogi Bimbowls (S$7/S$8), AKA their own spin on bibimbap.
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51 Old Airport Rd, Old Airport Road Food Centre, #01-72, Singapore 390051
Tue to Sun: 11am – 2pm & 5pm – 8.30pm
Closed on Mon
713 Clementi West 2, #01-115, Singapore 120713
+65 8030 2499
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm & 5.30pm – 9.30pm
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2. Chelabela
The best kimchi in Singapore? It’s a bold statement, but one that Chelabela is not afraid of making. At the helm of this family-run establishment in Ang Mo Kio is patriarch Suh Chin Won, who embarked on this hawker venture despite his lack of experience, after years of R&D following the family’s emigration to Singapore.
At his aide is his daughter, Chela, who runs the stall’s Instagram page. And yes, she is whom the stall is named after — Chelabela was her childhood nickname, and her father thought it’d be adorable to name the stall exactly that.
Chelabela’s menu is a small and straightforward one, but that doesn’t mean their food is any less delicious.
They serve 3 types of tteokbokki: Tteokboggi (S$5), Pork Tteokboggi (S$7) and Chicken Tteokboggi (S$7). These are real crowd pleasers; think chewy rice cakes doused in an addictive gochujang sauce with a smoky richness.
Personally, I’m eyeing the Army Stew (S$18). Served in a huge portion with 2 bowls of rice, it takes two to enjoy this hearty dish, which would amount to just S$9/pax! The broth is light and drinkable, with a savoury depth from its beef bone base complemented by notes of gochujang and milky cheese. It’s loaded with a medley of ingredients like tteokbokki, ramyeon, tofu spam and vegetables, making it a delight to savour.
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603 Ang Mo Kio Ave 5, Singapore 560603
Tue to Sun: 11am – 2.30pm & 4.30pm – 7pm
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3. Seoul Shiok
We remain in Ang Mo Kio for Seoul Shiok, nestled in a Mayflower coffeeshop. This humble establishment is one half of a dual concept, sharing its space with Cornerstone Pasta & Grill, a Western biz helmed by the same owner.
Don’t worry about having limited options if you’re there seoul-ly (solely) for Korean cuisine; Seoul Shiok offers more than 15 Korean favourites for you to choose from.
One highlight is their Army Stew (S$25.90) and Army Stew with Cheese (S$30.90). Don’t be alarmed by the price point just yet, these large pots are perfect for sharing among 3 to 4 people and thus fall well within the budget this listicle promises you.
If you’re dining solo, the Mini Army Stew (S$8.50 is here to save the day! Served in a stylish metal pot, this dish features QQ instant noodles in a well-seasoned, mildly spicy gochujang broth with sausage, spam, enoki mushrooms, tofu, pork belly, eomuk slices and kimchi.
Other delicious mains include the classic Tofu/Pork/Chicken/Beef Bibimbap (S$6.80/S$7.80) and Veg/Pork/Chicken/Beef Japchae (S$6.50/S$7.50/S$8.50), with sesame-infused chewy glass noodles and a medley of vegetables. Don’t miss the Tteokbokki (S$6.50) and Rabokki (S$8.50), too!
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159 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4, #01-526, Singapore 560159
+65 8886 8604
Wed to Sun: 10am – 9pm
Closed on Mon & Tue
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4. GAHE Traditional Korean Cuisine
GAHE Traditional Korean Cuisine is a gem nestled in an unassuming HDB kopitiam in Fernvale. Despite its quiet location, it’s been wildly popular since its opening in Feb 2024, with food sometimes selling out within an hour. Thankfully, the crowds have mellowed, so you can secure your affordable Korean fix.
GAHE’s menu is well-rounded and wallet-friendly. Classic mains include hotplate meat sets like Beef Bulgogi (S$8.90) and Chilli Pork/Chicken (S$7.90), as well as Hot Bibimbap (S$7.90), featuring rice and a colourful medley of vegetables served in a sizzling stone pot.
Adding to the line-up are comforting stew sets such as Kimchi Soup (S$6.90) and Tofu Soup (S$6.90), all served with rice. Light bites like Tteokbokki (S$6.90) and Steamed Egg (S$5.90) are available, too.
Notably, the stall serves Korean staples not usually found in coffeeshop settings. Think: nourishing Samgyetang (S$9.90/S$15.90) and an icy cold Naengmyeon (S$7.90), perfect for Singapore’s sweltering summers.
Of all the dishes, I implore you to try the Jjajangmyeon (S$7.90). It stars chewy noodles slathered in a luscious, umami-rich black bean sauce, topped with julienned cucumber strips and a sunny-side-up egg. ‘Addictive’ doesn’t even begin to describe how delicious this dish is.
473 Fernvale St, Fernvale Rivergrove, #01-05, Singapore 790473
+65 8157 3327
Thu to Tue: 11am – 2.30pm & 5.30pm – 8.30pm
Closed on Wed
5. Sangwoo Street
Sangwoo Street is a uniquely Korean Muslim-owned stall in the vibrant Kedai Kopi coffeeshop in Yishun. It’s helmed by Korean Muslim Chef Jung SangWoo and his wife, who are the folks behind popular Muslim-friendly Korean restaurant Meokja. As one of the first Korean food franchises in Singapore using Halal ingredients, their offerings are both authentic and inclusive.
Start with some kimbap, hand-wrapped to order with fresh vegetables, eggs, pickled radish, cheese and different proteins. Choices include the fried shrimp-stuffed Saewoo Kimbap (S$7.50), beef-stuffed Bulgogi Kimbap (S$7) and sausage-stuffed Original Kimbap (S$5.50).
Alternatively, try the Jjajang Tteokbokki (S$5) or Chamchi Jumeokbap (S$6.20), AKA tuna mayo riceballs.
For mains, enjoy a classic Bibimbap (S$7.90) or pair it with Fried Chicken for S$8.80. If you don’t mind going a little over budget, there’s the Haemul Twigim Bibimbap (S$12.50) with fried shrimp. These bowls are loaded and well worth the price.
There’s also Dakgalbi (S$8.20) and Cheese Dakgalbi (S$9.80), the latter featuring saucy, spicy chicken topped with an indulgent layer of creamy, stretchy cheese. If you’re not good with spice, we recommend having your Dakgalbi non-spicy or at the normal level; the spicy version really isn’t for the faint-hearted.
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925 Yishun Central 1, Kedai Kopi, #01-211, Singapore 760925
Daily: 11.30am – 9pm
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6. Jade’s Chicken
Few woes can’t be solved with Korean fried chicken (and a beer, if you’d like) and Korean-owned Jade’s Chicken is just the place for that. With coffeeshop outlets in Toa Payoh, Tiong Bahru and Hougang, your affordable and authentic Korean food fix is at your fingertips.
Formerly part of the famous Waker Chicken franchise, Jade’s Chicken is seasoned where serving Korean fried chicken in humble coffeeshops is concerned. You can also expect to tuck into classic Korean mains like jjajangmyeon and tteokbokki alongside their signature fried chicken dishes.
The Korean fried chicken here comes in 4 flavours: Original Crispy, Sweet Spicy, Soy Sauce and Honey Butter. For a taste of Korea and maximum satisfaction, we recommend the Honey Butter and Sweet Spicy flavours.
They’re perfect for sharing, with Half (7 pieces) and Full (14 pieces) portions priced at S$15 and S$29 respectively. Boneless Tender/Fillet options in the same flavours are also available at S$7 for 4 pieces and S$14 for 8 pieces.
Looking for something heartier? The hearty Tteokbokki (S$16) and Army Stew (S$21) cater nicely to 2 people. Alternatively, you can try the Soon Tofu Soup (S$7.50) or Jjajangmyeon (S$7), which features soft and chewy noodles coated in a savoury black bean sauce with a pleasant roasted aroma.
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125 Lor 1 Toa Payoh, Johnson Eatery, #01-523, Singapore 310125
+65 9777 4879
Thu to Mon: 12pm – 3pm & 5pm – 8.30pm
Closed on Tue & Wed
11B Boon Tiong Rd, Food Paradise, Singapore 163011
Tue to Sun: 10.30am – 9pm
Mon: 10.30am – 8.30pm
51 Hougang Ave 9, Ci Yuan Hawker Centre, #01-18, Singapore 538776
+65 9675 8884
Daily: 11.30am – 9pm
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7. SSADA GIMBAB
We didn’t forget about you, Westies. Nestled in the basement of Bukit Timah Shopping Centre is SSADA GIMBAB, a hole-in-the-wall Korean-run eatery that might just be your next favourite haunt. Although the space is furnished with plenty of tables, it can get pretty crowded during peak hours.
SSADA GIMBAB offers an extensive range of 12 types of their titular gimbab, with the likes of Cheese (S$9), Buldak (S$11), Tonkatsu (S$11) and Mala Pork (S$11). Each roll is stuffed generously with ingredients: fresh, crunchy vegetables, tasty meat filling against lightly briny seaweed and a thin layer of rice. Rumour has it they’re made to order by a Korean ajumma!
If you’re craving something more substantial, there’s also a huge variety of rice dishes like Kimchi Fried Rice (S$12), Curry Tonkatsu Rice (S$14) and an utterly indulgent Cheese Spicy Stir Fried Pork Rice (S$15), starring the winning combination of fried rice, marinated pork and creamy cheese.
For the noodle and tteokbokki lovers, the Seafood Jjampong Ramen (S$13), Cheese Tteokbokki (S$14) and better yet, the Rabokki (S$13) will be right up your alley.
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170 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Bukit Timah Shopping Centre, #B1-14, Singapore 588179
+65 8267 3730
Tue to Sun: 10.30am – 9pm
Closed on Mon
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8. Han Kki
Among the plentiful food options along the bustling Food Alley at Toa Payoh Central is Han Kki, yet another amazing casual eatery with authentic Korean fare at wallet-friendly prices. With its name, ‘han kki’, meaning ‘one meal’ in Korean, it’s dedicated to providing a spread of Korean dishes that’ll satisfy you to your core.
Han Kki’s menu has a good mix of appetisers, hearty rice and noodle dishes, meat dishes and piping hot stews. You can quite literally get 三菜一汤 (3 dishes, 1 soup) here — the Chinese epitome of a well-rounded and wholly satisfying meal.
Served with a bowl of rice each, the meat and soup dishes make for fuss-free meals if you’re dining solo. We recommend the Dakgalbi (S$11), starring stir-fried chicken laden with an addictive sweet-spicy sauce, as well as the flavourful and ingredient-packed Beef Doenjang Jjigae (S$13).
If you’re dining in a group, supplement your meal with some creamy Rose Tteokbokki (S$10), or a classic Kimchi/Seafood Pancake (S$11/S$13), with crisped edges and a delightfully chewy centre that’s chock-full of ingredients.
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190 Lor 6 Toa Payoh, #01-516, Singapore 310190
+65 6908 8908
Daily: 11.30am – 9.30pm
6 Woodlands Square, Woods Square Mall, #B2-02, Singapore 737737
+65 6970 0090
Daily: 11am – 10pm
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9. Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu
Seasoned Korean food aficionados and fans of soondubu jjigae are probably familiar with SBCD Tofu House. Great news for cash-strapped folks who’ve had to say no to semi-splurging at this restaurant: hawker offshoot Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu offers the brand’s highly raved tofu stews at mere fractions of the restaurant’s prices. Lucky you, residents of Punggol and Ang Mo Kio!
BCD Soon Tofu offers 6 different types of soon tofu rice sets, including Pork (S$6.90), Beef (S$7.90) and Seafood (S$7.90). Each set stars the soon tofu stew and its supporting cast of rice, seaweed and kimchi.
Made from a 10-ingredient secret recipe, the broth is full-bodied and umami-rich with savoury notes of garlic, prawn and fish. Packed with chilli, it carries a peppery spice that is sufficiently punchy yet not overwhelming. The stew is also generously filled with your protein of choice and silky tofu that’s so soft it melts in your mouth and glides gently down the hatch.
For a slurpin’ good twist, there is also an assortment of Soon Tofu Ramyeon (from S$6.50). You can complete your meal with some Mandu (S$4.50 for 3, S$6.50 for 5) as well.
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721 Ang Mo Kio Ave 8, Food Loft, #8, Singapore 560721
Daily: 11am – 9pm
671 Edgefield Plains, Happy Hawkers, #01-01, Singapore 820671
Thu to Mon: 11am – 9pm
Tue: 11am – 12am
Wed: 12am – 8.15am & 11am – 9pm
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10. OBBA Jjajang Express
Like Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu is to SBCD Tofu House, OBBA Jjajang Express is the hawker offshoot of the ever-popular O.BBa BBQ & Jjajang restaurant chain. With heartland stalls peppered throughout the island, they offer an extensive menu of the restaurant’s many signature dishes that are not only affordable but also accessible.
I think we can all agree that your visit to OBBA wouldn’t count if you didn’t order their highly raved Jjajangmyeon (S$7.90). Here, you can get it with a Fried Egg (S$8.90), Sausage (S$8.90) or a whole Fried Chicken Leg (S$11). Starring chewy noodles clad in a tasty black bean sauce laced with the fragrant aroma of shallots, this dish is a must-try.
Feeling adventurous? Try the gochujang-infused Red (S$7.90) and the curry-laden Gold (S$6.50) variations.
Other must-gets include the spicy seafood Jjampong (S$10.50) and Tangsuyuk (S$13.50), AKA sweet-and-sour pork with a Korean twist. You can even get a combo with these 2 dishes with Jjajangmyeon for a lump sum of S$30.50.
Don’t miss out on quintessential bunsik items such as Tuna/Fried Squid Kimbap (S$8.90), the OBBA Corn Dog (S$4), Fried Pork Dumplings (S$3.90 for 3) and So Dduk So Dduk (S$5) (sausage and tteok skewers).
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For a list of locations, contact numbers and opening hours, click here.
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11. JIN Kimchi Express
Rounding off this list is JIN Kimchi Express, a Korean hawker concept by kimchi and banchan retailer Jin Kimchi.
While they have 6 outlets islandwide, their flagship outlet at Fernvale Hawker Centre has got to be the coolest — it’s a Korean butchery, grocer and kitchen all in one. At this one-stop shop, you can enjoy a fresh Korean fix, snag the brand’s “Original Flavour” Kimchi (S$11.90) and Korean snacks, and get fresh meat platters for some DIY KBBQ action. Tell me that isn’t just plain awesome!
Don’t worry, you aren’t really missing out even if you aren’t a North-eastie. All of JIN Kimchi Express’s outlets offer the same menu of delicious and affordable mains to satiate your Korean cravings.
One of the stall’s recommendations is the Jin Signature Kimchi Stew Set (S$6), featuring a belly-warming kimchi stew brimming with pork belly slices and kimchi, served with a side of rice along with cabbage and radish kimchi. The smoky and well-seasoned Grilled Galbi Pork Belly Meat Set (S$7.60) isn’t to be missed either.
The stall also takes ‘affordable’ to the next level with their Julienne Radish Bibimbap, which comes in at just S$3 for a Small portion and S$6 for the Regular. Finally, beat the heat with some Icy Mul Naengmyeon (S$8.80) and Bibim Mul Naengmyeon (S$9.20).
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For a list of locations, contact numbers and opening hours, click here.
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