Seorae opens new Northpoint City outlet with authentic Korean BBQ, Singapore’s 1st premium pork skirt for you to feast like royalty

Whenever my friends and I are in need of a good spot to get together and have a meal, Korean BBQ is one of the first things that comes to mind. There’s just something so special about gathering around a grill to cook and feast together with your loved ones, and Seorae Korean Charcoal BBQ is one of the top spots in Singapore for you to do so.

Seorae was established in South Korea in 2007, and opened its first outlet in Singapore in 2015. It is the first Korean restaurant in Singapore to offer Korean galmaegisal, a premium pork skirt meat that is so exclusive, it used to be reserved for Korean royalty in the past. 

Seorae has since expanded to having 6 outlets in Singapore. Its newest outlet opened on 12 Jun 2023 in Northpoint City, and in conjunction with it, Seorae is running a mega giveaway campaign where they will be offering free dishes and even air tickets to South Korea!

I visited the new outlet at Northpoint City, which was located within the basement of the mall. The restaurant came furnished with spacious seats, warm lighting and an inviting ambience.

Instead of using regular black charcoal or electric grills, Seorae’s grills are heated with premium white charcoal, which burns longer than regular charcoal and gives off a smoky aroma.

Plus, all dine-in customers are entitled to enjoy Seorae’s free-flow sides, which include Korean staples like kimchi, lettuce, pickled cucumbers, garlic and an assortment of sauces, including onion sauce, gochujang and ssamjang!

What I tried at Seorae

The first thing we tried at Seorae was their signature Galmaegisal (S$23.90), a US pork skirt meat. Only 250g of this premium sirloin-extension is formed between the ribs and belly of a full-grown pig, showing just how exclusive it is.

While in the past, this luxurious dish used to be reserved only for Korean royalty, today, you can enjoy some Galmaegisal from the comfort of your nearest Seorae.

Seorae’s Galmaegisal is marinated and massaged by hand for 30 minutes, allowing for the rich flavours of the meat to shine after being grilled. 

This was my first time ever trying Galmaegisal, and I was blown away upon taking a bite. The meat was chewy, juicy and not too tough, and its rich, meaty flavours filled my mouth. The pork skirt reminded me very much of Wagyu beef in the sense that it had an incredibly robust and aromatic flavour.

The cheese on the side grill was incredibly stretchy and bouncy, with its light yet distinctive sharpness complementing the rich meatiness of the pork. 

If you aren’t a fan of fatty meats, Seorae’s Galmaegisal is the perfect dish to try — it has the perfect buttery, umami taste despite having a minimal amount of fat!

Next up was the Seorae Samgyeobsal (S$29.90), a premium chestnut black pork belly dish. I was instantly drawn to the gorgeous presentation of the meat, which had been cut and formed into a circle.

After grilling, the Seorae Samgyeobsal adopted a gorgeous golden-brown surface and a tantalising light caramelisation on its surface. It had the perfect ratio of fat to meat, with an incredible succulence and juiciness.

Pork belly is one of my go-to meats in a Korean BBQ, and suffice to say, Seorae did not let me down with their Seorae Samgyeobsal.

Craving some beef? One of the must-try dishes at Seorae is La Galbi (S$38.90), which were US prime beef short-ribs that had been marinated overnight.

Grilling the La Galbi revealed a tantalising deep brown shade. Like the previous 2 meats we tried, this beef was juicy and tender with just the right amount of chewiness. The marbling on the short-rib gave the meat a rich, robust flavour, and I especially loved dipping it into the ssamjang for an added nutty and salty element.

The beauty of Korean BBQ is that diners get to pair their meats with their choice of sides and condiments. We decided to make a classic lettuce wrap by placing a piece of La Galbi within a lettuce leaf and topping it with kimchi and garlic.

The crisp, freshness of the lettuce and slight sourness of the kimchi paired perfectly with the rich, juiciness of the beef. What a stunning combination!

Want to take a break from grilled meats? Seorae offers ready-to-eat authentic Korean dishes too, for you to dig in immediately after it is served to you. The Sundubu Jjigae (S$15.90), a spicy tofu stew with clams and minced pork, is one of Seorae’s chef’s recommendations.

The Sundubu Jjigae was loaded chock full of ingredients, including enoki mushrooms, pickled cucumbers, tofu, an egg and more. As I took my first spoonful, I was impressed at how well-balanced the salty and spicy elements of the broth were. Each mouthful provided a spicy kick to my palate, while the smooth, silky tofu disintegrated in my mouth.

The generous assortment of ingredients made Seorae’s Sundubu Jjigae a textural pleasure to consume, with a delightful chewiness from the enoki mushrooms and a slight crunch from the pickled cucumbers.

Who could visit a Korean restaurant without trying their Korean pancakes? We had the Haemul Pajeon (S$18.90), a traditional Korean pancake containing fresh spring onions and seafood. 

The pancake had a soft and slightly chewy texture similar to that of fish cake, with a light savoury aroma and bits of juicy prawns. The spring onions made each bite a little more fragrant, while the dipping sauce was sweet and salty, further amplifying the savoury tastes of the Haemul Pajeon.

Final thoughts

Seorae is the perfect spot to head to when you’re craving Korean BBQ, or Korean food in general. Their wide range of dishes, both for grilling and for immediate consumption, offer something for everyone to enjoy. Their signature Galmaegisal is a must-try dish, especially given that Seorae is most well-known for it.

To celebrate the opening of their new Northpoint City outlet, Seorae will be having 2 amazing promotions throughout the month of June.

First, diners who purchase a BBQ set can redeem a free Yangyeom Moksal (marinated pork collar) or Woosamgyeob (beef short plate) when they like or follow Seorae’s Facebook or Instagram. The promotion is redeemable at all outlets and will be valid until 30 Jun 2023, excluding public holidays and the eve of public holidays.

More excitingly, as part of the Seorae’s Autumn Escape to Seoul campaign, the restaurant will be giving away 18 tickets to South Korea until 2 Jul 2023. Dine-in customers who spend at least S$50 in a single receipt will stand a chance to win a pair of tickets to South Korea. All they have to do is to fill in a lucky draw chit, follow Seorae’s Instagram and Facebook, and tune in to the weekly livestreams to see if they won. Why not try your luck and escape to Seoul with Seorae?

Expected damage: S$14.90 – S$59.90 per pax

* This post was brought to you in partnership with Seorae.

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