Myungdong K-Food: Hidden gem in Kovan serving authentic Korean dishes for under S$10

If you’re an avid Korean food enthusiast, you’d know that enjoying authentic Korean cuisine in Singapore isn’t always an affordable past-time. 

Just think of all the charcoal-grilled barbecue and family-style restaurants along the buzzy stretch of Tanjong Pagar. A full-fledged meal there can easily cost around S$50 per diner. 

But you shouldn’t have to fork out a pretty penny just to satiate your Korean food cravings, not when there are more affordable options.

We trawled through our social media feed and stumbled upon Myungdong K-Food, a hidden gem in Kovan that whips up legitimate home-cooked Korean fare at wallet-friendly prices. 

Each dish is priced under S$10 — talk about a steal! — and is lovingly prepared by a Korean ajumma and ajusshi (aunty and uncle). 

Notably, the eatery is small, with only two tables (an indoor and outdoor seat) to dine at. We presume the store operates mainly on a takeaway basis, as most of its street dishes are already pre-packaged in plastic containers for diners to grab and go.

Myungdong K-Food’s menu is simple, with a classic selection of beloved Korean street food, rice options and noodles. 

You can’t go wrong with the bibimbap (S$8), which brims with various hearty ingredients atop a fluffy bed of rice. There are shredded slices of carrot, mushrooms, chunks of odeng (fish cake) and more, all of which make up a very filling dish. 

Admittedly, we’re used to bibimbap bowls packed with chicken or beef for added protein, but this fish cake variation is surprisingly tasty as well. 

The odeng is fresh, chewy and mildly sweet, which balances well with the side of crunchy, spicy-sour kimchi nestled within the dish.

The ajusshi mending the store recommended the K-noodle (S$8) — one of the signature items on the menu — which sees noodles steeped in a light, mild broth. It’s a soupy, noodle version of the bibimbap and warms you up on a cold, rainy day. 

However, we did find this dish lacking in flavour and didn’t really impress. Perhaps it’s because we’re fond of noodles with bolder umami notes — we’d recommend the bibimbap instead.

Kimbap is a snack that we’ll never tire of, especially when it comes chock-full of delicious toppings cradled within. 

Myungdong K-Food has a handful of kimbap creations to choose from, such as odeng (S$8), tuna (S$8) and beef (S$8). 

During our visit, we chose the chicken ham (S$8). Slices of egg, crab meat, celery, and chicken ham are delicately wrapped in rice and seaweed, with a pretty even ratio of rice to ingredients. 

Each box of kimbap comes with two rolls — just right to comfortably feed one person.

We devoured the fluffy egg roll (S$5) within minutes. It’s thick, pillowy and sweet-yet-savoury — just the way we like our eggs. The omelette is also neatly rolled with chunks of vegetables that add a nice crunch as you sink your teeth into it.

You can’t miss the chewy tteokbokki (S$6, spicy rice cakes), a classic Korean staple. At Myungdong K-Food, the rice cakes are cooked in a large hotplate, where they simmer in a tangy, spicy broth, until soft.

If you find the rice cakes to be a tad plain, you can spruce it up with extra toppings (all at an additional S$1 each) for more oomph and flavour. Take your pick of eggs, seaweed rolls and juicy dumplings to elevate the dish.

For the latest eats, read about the new Wo Wo Dian at Raffles City or the reopening of Toby’s Estate flagship outlet at Robertson Quay. Alternatively, check out the newest openings in Singapore here. 

You can also book a ride to Myungdong K-Food at Kovan to savour its authentic Korean fare. 

Myungdong K-Food is on the GrabFood Delivery Service and offers free delivery (up to S$3 off with GrabUnlimited). 

Do explore the GrabFood Dine-in service for awesome deals.