Gangnam Ok: New Korean restaurant at Amoy that serves up the viral beef brisket dish

If you’re one that follows Korean food trends, you might have noticed a particular colourful, multi-component dish gaining popularity on social media last year.

The dish, chadol gujeolpan, is made up of beef brisket (chadol baegi), and eight other components (totalling nine, or “gu” in Korean), all cooked on a pan tableside, and was first popularised by Seoul restaurant Hanmiok. 

For those who’ve been planning to head there, or have wondered how it tastes, good news: There’s a version right here in Singapore!

Gangnam Ok is a new restaurant located on Amoy Street that serves not just everyone’s favourite K-BBQ, but chadol gujeolpan, too. 

While it is helmed by the same folks behind Gangnam BBQ at Tanjong Pagar (with two new business partners), Gangnam Ok appears to be a more refined, cosy spot, especially with its minimalist aesthetic, warm lighting and wooden finishings.

When asked about the concept, co-founder Henney Jo tells us that they were going for something traditional-looking, but with a modern flair. 

They had also decided on serving up chadol gujeolpan at this new concept, to differentiate its offerings from the regular K-BBQ you get at most Korean restaurants here. 

Trying Gangnam Ok’s menu

Having visited Hanmiok in Seoul less than a year ago, I had enjoyed the theatrics of the dish, and the novelty of having beef brisket with varying components. But I personally found the overall experience a tad overhyped and the beef relatively mediocre.  

With my experience in Seoul at the back of my mind, I went into the meal at Gangnam Ok with tempered expectations, and left pleasantly surprised.

At Gangnam Ok, you can order the chadol gujeolpan as part of a Platter of Nine Delicacies (medium) set (S$129) that feeds two to three diners. On top of a medium-sized platter, it includes three pieces of wagyu chadol sushi, steamed egg, and a soybean paste pot of rice. 

Those looking for a more indulgent experience can opt for the Gangnam Ok set at S$239, which includes all of the above, but with an additional wagyu A5 sirloin steak. 

Sure, the platters come at a pretty penny, but digging into the meal, it was easy to see why. 

For one, the platter is an experience in itself. Each component in the dish — the spring onions, kimchi, beansprouts, minari (water celery), gosari (fernbrake), beef, and lastly, egg — is meticulously stir-fried and torched in front of you.

Next, the Gangnam Ok crew (some might say it’s made up of oppas) assemble the first bite for you, laying the buckwheat pancake base on a small plate, before topping it up with the proteins and greens. 

Henney adds that the team uses wagyu MB 8/9 for the beef brisket in its chadol gujeolpan — a difference that was obvious once I sank my teeth into the meat.

The mix of veggies, coupled with the tenderness of the beef brisket, and a drizzle of its special dipping sauce, made for a very satisfying bite indeed.

Given that there’s also a soybean paste pot of rice (or doenjang bap) waiting at the end, this really felt like a meal that kept giving. 

Once you’re nearly done with all the veggies and meat (I’d definitely suggest putting aside some for the stew), the crew will add a pot of stew and bowl of rice to your pan and mix everything together — yes, beef fat and all. 

If all of these aren’t enough to satisfy you, we highly recommend the very cheesy cheese potato pancake (S$22). It’s nicely crisped at the edges, with a generous amount of cheese within. 

There’s also a light tinge of sugar within, which negates the otherwise heavy savouriness of the cheese. Suffice to say, it’s the first time I’ve ever had a cheese potato pancake like that, ever — and that’s a good thing. 

If you have non-beef eaters in your dining party, the restaurant also has kimchi Hokkaido pork belly sets starting at S$82, served with a whole head of kimchi, or a la carte pork belly at S$27 a serving, or even fried chicken. (But we’d suggest focusing on the barbecued items!)

Given that the restaurant is barely into its first week, and the lengthy time needed to cook each component of the platter, there is inevitably a bit of a wait involved. 

To this we say, make a visit down only if you don’t mind exercising a bit of patience. And trust us, it’s definitely worth the wait. 

This was an invited tasting.

For more ideas on what to eat, read our newest stories on the latest McDonald’s McWraps, as well as our favourite hawker stalls at the nearby Amoy Street Food Centre. 

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out.

You can also book a ride to Gangnam Ok at Amoy Street to try out the viral dish for yourself.