I’ve said this countless times, but Tanjong Pagar has always been, and continues to be, my go-to spot for late-night Korean food. However, given the multitude of options available, I’m often left feeling a little too spoilt for choice.
One place worth checking out if you’ve been drinking till late is Sodam, an authentic Korean BBQ restaurant that’s open till 6am daily.
The two-storey restaurant specialises in smokeless charcoal BBQ, offering a decent selection of beef, pork, and chicken, alongside other Korean dishes like soups, pancakes, noodles, and stir-fried meats.
The best part? You won’t have to worry about grilling your own meats as the staff will do it for you.
You’ll be served banchan (side dishes) to nibble on as you choose from a range of cuts like the Beef Brisket (S$29), Marinated Short Ribs (S$38), and even Beef Intestine (S$32).
We eventually opted for the Beef Short Ribs (S$48), which were juicy and succulent, though not as flavourful as I would’ve liked.
But that’s when the accompanying ssamjang and salt come in handy.
Of course, you can also make lettuce wraps with the meat — I particularly enjoyed pairing the short ribs with kimchi, pickled onion, and a dab of ssamjang.
Sodam also offers special “ice aged” pork cuts, and we were recommended the signature Hokkaido Ice Aged Pork Belly (S$29). Even though I tend to order more beef whenever I go for Korean BBQ, the pork belly here was melt-in-mouth tender with a good fat-to-meat ratio.
If you want the most bang for your buck, we recommend going for the Pork + Beef Set (from S$108 for 2–3 pax), comprising several cuts of beef and pork; Kimchi Pancake; Steam Egg; and your choice of Kimchi, Doenjjang, or Sundubu Jjigae.
However, it was the Marinated Raw Crab (S$58), or ganjang gejang — one of my all-time favourite Korean dishes —that really left an impression on me. We got to try a tasting portion of the soy-marinated crab, and it was love at first bite.
Its natural sweetness is amplified by the sauce, richly flavoured with soy and aromatics — we couldn’t get enough of the savoury, intensely umami flavours.
Much to our delight, the crab we got was chock full of sweet orange roe, which boasts a texture reminiscent of Japanese uni, best enjoyed with white rice.
Oddly enough, the Marinated Raw Prawn (S$42), or ganjang saewoo, tasted even better. You’ve got to peel ’em in order to get to the firm and fleshy meat, and yes, get in on that gratituous prawn head sucking action at the same time.
If you’d like to try both, you can simply order the Marinated Raw Prawn & Crab (S$48) and go all out.
As much as I would’ve been content with a classic kimchi or seafood pancake, we decided to try one of the more unique options, the Potato Snow Cheese Pancake (S$25). It was essentially rosti with grated cheese, but with a very subtle sweetness. Comforting, but a tad too greasy for my liking.
We also ordered the Cheese Egg Roll (S$15), which was soft, fluffy, and adequately cheesy — simple yet satisfying.
Naturally, we had to wash down everything with a refreshing Watermelon Soju (S$45).
I can definitely see myself coming back to Sodam for their hearty Korean fare and raw marinated seafood the next time I find myself in Tanjong Pagar in the wee hours of the night. What about you?
Sodam Korean Restaurant
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📍 48 Tg Pagar Rd, Singapore 088469
🕒 5pm–6am (Daily)
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I'm always feelin' either boozy or boujee ✨