If you’re a fan of Korean BBQ, Um Yong Baek is one restaurant in Singapore worth adding to your list.
Known for its speciality pork cuts, traditional Korean flavours and attentive tableside service, Um Yong Baek offers a slightly different experience from the usual Korean BBQ restaurant where diners have to grill their own meat.
During our visit, we ordered the Pork BBQ, Haemul Naembibap and Sundubu-jjigae. Overall, it was a satisfying meal, with good-quality pork, plenty of condiments to complement the meat and friendly service that made the dining experience even more enjoyable.
What makes Um Yong Baek’s pork particularly special is its three-way ageing process, which combines water, dry and wet ageing to enhance the meat’s tenderness, flavour and juiciness. The pork is also partially cooked sous-vide before being finished on the tabletop grill by the servers. This probably explains why we found the pork so tender and flavourful during our visit. Together with the various Korean condiments and sauces, it made for a thoroughly enjoyable BBQ experience.
This helps the restaurant manage the meat’s doneness while developing a smoky, lightly charred exterior.
Korean Pork BBQ – The Highlight of Our Meal
The main attraction at Um Yong Baek is undoubtedly its Korean pork BBQ.
One thing that stood out was the quality of the pork. The meat was tender, flavourful and enjoyable even without adding any sauce or accompaniments.
Unlike some Korean BBQ restaurants where you have to manage the grilling yourself, the servers at Um Yong Baek take care of cooking the meat at your table.
This was something we appreciated, as it meant we could simply sit back, enjoy our conversation and let the staff handle the cooking and they would also suggest the pairing with the various condiments.
The pork was grilled and served to us, allowing us to enjoy the different pieces without having to worry about overcooking them.
For those who appreciate good-quality pork, this is definitely the main reason to visit.
Plenty of Condiments to Enjoy With the Grilled Pork
Another enjoyable aspect of the meal was the variety of condiments and side dishes served alongside the pork BBQ.
Rather than relying on just one dipping sauce, there were several accompaniments available to complement the grilled meat.
I particularly liked how this allowed us to enjoy the pork in different ways throughout the meal.
Sometimes, keeping things simple lets the natural flavour of the pork shine through, while adding a little condiment provides a different dimension to each bite.
It’s a nice touch that makes the BBQ experience more interesting, especially when you’re sharing several servings of meat.
Attentive Service Despite a Busy Restaurant
One of the things that impressed us most about Um Yong Baek was the service.
The servers were responsible for grilling the pork at our table while also attending to other diners around the restaurant.
We could see that they were kept busy moving between tables, helping customers cook their meat and ensuring everyone was being looked after.
Despite juggling several tables, the service remained attentive and friendly throughout our meal.
The staff were kind and helpful, and we appreciated the effort they put into making sure our pork was properly grilled.
It’s not always easy to provide personalised tableside service when a restaurant is busy, so this was certainly something worth mentioning.
Having someone take care of the grilling also made the meal feel more relaxing, as we could focus on enjoying the food rather than managing the BBQ ourselves.
Haemul Naembibap – A Nice Addition to the Meal
Apart from the grilled pork, we also ordered the Haemul Naembibap, a Korean seafood pot rice dish.
This was a nice addition to our meal, providing something different from the grilled meats.
I think it’s always good to have a rice dish when enjoying Korean BBQ, especially when sharing a meal with family or friends.
Sundubu-jjigae – A Comforting Korean Tofu Stew
Another dish we ordered was the Sundubu-jjigae, a traditional Korean soft tofu stew.
This is one of our favourite types of Korean comfort food, especially when paired with grilled meats.
The dish typically features soft tofu in a warm, savoury and spicy broth, making it a satisfying accompaniment to a Korean BBQ meal.
We thought the Sundubu-jjigae was good and it complemented the pork nicely.
I would recommend considering the Sundubu-jjigae as an additional dish to share.
Mul-Makguksu – Refreshing Korean Cold Buckwheat Noodles
Another dish worth mentioning is the Mul-Makguksu, a traditional Korean cold buckwheat noodle dish served in a chilled, savoury broth.
The buckwheat noodles have a pleasantly chewy texture, while the cold broth provides a clean and refreshing contrast to the grilled pork.
Final Verdict: A Satisfying Korean BBQ Experience
Overall, we had a very enjoyable meal at Um Yong Baek.
The highlight was definitely the high-quality grilled pork, which was tender, flavourful and complemented by a good selection of condiments.
The service also deserves special mention. Despite the servers being busy grilling meat for several tables, they remained attentive and ensured we were well taken care of throughout the meal.
Would I recommend Um Yong Baek? Yes, especially if you’re looking for quality Korean pork BBQ with attentive tableside service.
For us, it was an overall satisfying meal and one that we would be happy to recommend.
Rating: 4 / 5
UM YONG BAEK / KOREAN BBQ – SUNTEC
3 TEMASEK BOULEVARD MALL SUNTEC CITY #01-641,642
Google Maps Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/55kuGo2bCphYShFZ7
