Um Yong Baek’s new Suntec City outlet has K-BBQ, crab ramyeon, and more

Um Yong Baek may be a familiar name to fans of Korean food in Singapore, and now it has opened its third outlet here at Suntec City.

Its first Singapore outlet opened in Telok Ayer in 2022, serving dwaeji gukbap (pork and rice soup) for lunch and Korean barbecue at dinner. 

For those who haven’t been, Um Yong Baek began in Busan, South Korea, where dwaeji gukbap is a much-loved local dish. It later expanded to Seoul, before opening its first Singapore outlet.

A pro-tip: Um Yong Baek’s Suntec City outlet is closer to Promenade MRT than Esplanade MRT, so it’s best to exit at the former — the store is just by the mall entrance. 

Inside, dark wooden beams and lattice screens frame the dining area, while booth seating and warm lighting give the space a cosy, almost traditional feel. And although there are barbecue grills at the tables, we found the smoky smell wasn’t too strong during our visit, so the restaurant stayed comfortable throughout.

Suntec City gets a few new menu additions

Like its Far East Square outlet, the Suntec City restaurant serves lunch from 11am to 3.30pm, followed by dinner, with Korean barbecue, from 5.30pm to 10pm.

We visited for dinner to try the barbecue and some new additions. 

The BBQ is served with a selection of side dishes — you can opt for a set for two or three diners, or choose from the a la carte options.

As is the norm for most Korean restaurants, the side dishes are refillable, so there’s no need to worry about running out. A spread arrives with your meat, including white kimchi, salad, dipping sauces, and more. 

We went for the pork BBQ set for two (S$84), which came with pork collar (200g), pork belly with skin (120g), and pork jowl (150g). There’s also a set for three (S$125), with pork collar (350g), pork belly with skin (200g), and pork jowl (150g). 

The pork collar was our favourite. It was tender and especially juicy straight off the grill, with a rich, savoury flavour.

The pork belly was richer and fattier, while the pork jowl had a slightly meatier texture. We enjoyed mixing and matching the cuts with the sides, which gave each bite a slightly different flavour. 

Our go-to pairing was the pork collar with grilled onion and barley makjang (a traditional Korean fermented soybean paste). The onion’s gentle sweetness and the makjang’s savoury depth balanced the juicy, rich pork.

Prefer beef? The ggakdook deungsim (diced ribeye) is the restaurant’s beef option for barbecues (S$60 for 150g), though we didn’t get to try it during our visit.

To round out your meal, you can order rice, noodles and stews a la carte. The Suntec City outlet also has two new dishes, which we understand will be rolled out to the other outlets eventually.

One of these new additions is the kkot-ge ramyeon (whole crab ramyeon, S$15). It comes topped with a whole crab. Though it wasn’t very meaty, the broth and noodles carried its sweet, briny flavour — we couldn’t get enough.

Rice lovers, there’s another new dish to try — the haemul naembibap (S$10), a seafood-studded pot rice.

In the mood for something soupy? The sundubu-jjigae (S$15) is a hearty seafood and tofu stew with a generous helping of clams. It’s a comforting choice, especially if you’re a tofu fan.

Don’t skip the drinks, either. K-BBQ, seafood, and a bottle of makgeolli make for a proper Korean feast. We tried the Boksoondoga (S$69), a handmade raw makgeolli with live yeast. It had a yoghurt-like tang and a gentle alcoholic kick. The bottle is suited for groups of three or more, while the Guksoondang makegeolli comes in a smaller bottle (S$18) and may be a better fit for cosier groups. 

There are also beers and soju available to pair with your meal.

If you haven’t been to Um Yong Baek yet, this might be your sign to check it out. The Suntec City outlet is still relatively quiet, so head down soon before the queues get long!

This was a hosted tasting.

For more on what to eat, check out newly opened beef-bowl chain from Japan in Suntec City, and Seoul’s famous tonkatsu-udon restaurant in Raffles City.

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