Looking for Korean food in Telok Ayer that Koreans actually eat? At CheongDamChae, more of our guests are Korean than not: travellers, people here on business trips, and Koreans living in Singapore who miss the taste of home.
We slice Duroc pork belly 4.5mm thin and grill it on bare cast iron, no foil, right here in Telok Ayer.
What is naengsam, and why do Koreans love it?
Naengsam (pork belly, short for naengdong samgyeopsal) is what neighbourhood BBQ places in Korea served back in the 1980s and 90s. The slices are thin, so they cook the moment they hit the hot iron and the edges go crisp. Fresh pork belly is everywhere in Korea now, but plenty of Koreans still go out of their way for naengsam. It tastes like the dinners they grew up with.
What does it taste like at CheongDamChae?
The pork is Duroc and the cut is 4.5mm. That's thin enough to crisp up fast, with enough thickness left that you still get a proper bite. There's no foil on the pan, so the meat sits straight on the cast iron.
As the pork cooks, the fat runs to the edge of the pan, and that's where the kimchi and bean sprouts go. We wrote about that in How we grill naengsam.
Wrap a piece in lettuce with a dab of ssamjang (Korean soybean and chilli paste). The banchan (Korean side dishes) come in their own bowls, simple and home-style.
Where do Koreans in Singapore go when they miss home?
We're not a big name, and you won't find a queue outside. Koreans find us by word of mouth. Some are a few days into a holiday and want a Korean meal. Some are on a work trip and want a dinner that feels familiar. Some have lived here for years and miss the BBQ place near their old home.
If you work around Telok Ayer, you're welcome too. We're open from 11:00 to 23:30 every day, so lunch works and so does a late dinner after the office.
Price
Naengsam (pork belly) 1kg $68.80++ / 600g $48.80++
On the 1kg set, that's $6.88++ per 100g.
CheongDamChae · 123 Telok Ayer Street, Singapore 068592 · Open daily 11:00–23:30 (last order 22:30)