The House Chungdam: New minimalist Korean restaurant with set lunches from S$19

Most Korean cuisine lovers in Singapore will know that Tanjong Pagar is where most of the island’s Korean restaurants are located, with a majority of them lining the bustling Tanjong Pagar Road.

However, a more understated, minimalist spot has popped up along the quieter, adjoining Duxton Road recently.

The House Chungdam, which gets its name from the swanky Seoul neighbourhood in Gangnam, is helmed by native Korean owners who also run a Korean barbecue spot in California. They wanted to recreate a high-end Korean dining experience for Singapore diners, without the same exorbitant price tag. 

At first glance, The House Chungdam doesn’t resemble the Korean restaurants we’re used to here in Singapore.

For one, its interior is spacious and elegant. In fact, the first time I walked by its full-length glass panels, it didn’t immediately strike me as a Korean restaurant — until I looked up at its signboard, that is.

The space features muted tones, stone accents, Hanji textures (commonly used in linings in Korean homes), and wooden finishings, giving it a modern, yet traditional vibe. 

The House Chungdam’s setup is also incredibly clean. While it serves up barbecued meats, you won’t see any clunky grills or overhead exhaust pipes. 

Its bar seats are decked with traditional charcoal grills, while the tables are equipped with gas-powered iron-plate grills, which can be seamlessly covered should you choose to dine from its regular menu, instead. 

Trying The House Chungdam’s menu

The House Chungdam’s menu is curated by Korean chef Sandy E. Lee, who has had a decade of experience at the Michelin-starred La Yeon in The Shilla Seoul hotel.

While we were there for its a la carte, non-barbecue menu only, it was clear that The House Chungdam’s refined-looking fare was a notch above that of its surrounding Tanjong Pagar counterparts — and at a very similar price point, to boot.

Regular menu items and barbecued meats are available all-day, and lunch sets (12pm to 3pm daily) start from as low as S$19 for a veggie or bulgogi bibimbap. 

We tried the pork bone soup bansang (S$27), which comes with an hours-boiled clear broth and soft pork slices. Despite its clear appearance, the soup was hearty and nourishing, while the slices were melt-in-the-mouth tender. You’re given condiments to add to the soup, but we needed none of that.

Wanting to try something different, we also opted for the thinly sliced brisket soy bean jjigae bansang (S$19 a la carte, S$25 as a lunch set, which comes with rice and side dishes), as opposed to the regular soy bean stew, and the cheese potato jeon (S$27). 

The cheese potato jeon was a cheesy delight — fluffy on the inside, crisp on the outside, perhaps owing to the restaurant’s use of fluffy-textured potatoes from Gangwon, Korea, the birthplace of the Korean potato pancake. 

The thinly sliced brisket soy bean jjigae, however, felt a bit more of a mixed bag for us. The soup was tasty, but the broken-up brisket pieces, not quite. It would have been more enjoyable if the brisket was in slices, as indicated on the menu, rather than clumps that were more akin to minced beef.

Thankfully, the other beef dish we tried, the beef tartare bibimbap (S$27), proved to be a wiser beef choice. 

Most Korean beef tartare dishes in Singapore tend to come overseasoned, with too much sesame oil overpowering the meat, but the seasoning here was deft enough to let the natural sweetness of the beef shine. 

Coupled with just the right amount of veggies in the rice — a balance that can be hard to get right — the beef tartare bibimbap made for a very addictive dish that we couldn’t stop munching on till we finished every grain. 

We were also pleasantly surprised to see that the restaurant had personalised portions of bing-su (shaved ice, S$10), with two flavours to choose from — mango or red bean — meaning dining parties can opt for their flavours of choice, without having to compromise on a large one to share. 

Lest you think prices might be on the higher-end for such a swanky-looking spot, its barbecue sets start from S$79 for a house feast of pork neck, belly and jowl for two, with soy bean soup, side dishes, steamed egg, and vegetables. 

It also offers mini noodles in cold or bibim-style for just S$9 so you can have a small portion to round off your barbecue meal with. 

If you’re looking for a spot for Korean fare, sans the grease and cramped seating, The House Chungdam might be one to head to next. 

This was an invited tasting. 

For more new eats around town, check out our round-up of January openings in Singapore, as well as Tonshou, a viral pork cutlet spot from Korea.

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

You can also book a ride to The House Chungdam at Duxton Road.