Hey, Faithfuls! I recently got to try this Korean restaurant located in Clarke Quay called Hanjip Korean Grill House. This is honestly one of the most atas K-BBQ restaurants I’ve been to. It claims to serve the most authentic traditional Korean BBQ in Singapore, and judging by how packed it was on a weekday night, people seem to agree. Just a four-minute walk from both Clarke Quay and Fort Canning MRT Station, it's very accessible whether you're coming from work or planning a night out.What struck me immediately was how sleek the space looked with black-and-gold interiors, plush seats, spacious tables, and even private rooms available if you’re going with a bigger group. Honestly, it looked like a place you'd want to bring your snobby Korean MIL to impress her. Honestly, I've been watching too many dramas.Unlike many Korean BBQ spots, Hanjip didn’t leave me smelling like grilled meat when I walked out, which was honestly a big plus in my books. Maybe it’s because they don’t pack the place with too many grills. Either way, I appreciated it.
We kicked off our meal with a spread of banchan—my favourite being the fried lotus root, which was super addictive. I honestly wish they had refillable portions of that!For the mains, we went straight for the Hanjip Platter (S$188), which came with USDA Prime Ribeye, USDA Prime Boneless Short Rib, Kurobuta Pork Belly, and Marinated Pork Collar. The ribeye was hands down my favourite—it was grilled to a perfect medium-rare right in front of us by the staff, and came out juicy, tender, and flavourful.The short ribs were sliced thinner and had a leaner profile, still tasty but a bit less fatty than the ribeye. Between the two pork options, I leaned towards the marinated pork collar. The pieces were chunkier, juicier, and packed with flavour, whereas the pork belly was more on the average side.To go with the meats, we also got a few cooked dishes to try. The Ginseng Chicken Soup (S$36) was nourishing and comforting, featuring a whole chicken in a light ginseng broth that wasn’t too overpowering. Great for sharing with three to four people, especially if you want something warm and soupy in between all the meat.The Kimchi Pork Stew (S$25) had a nice spicy kick and was just enough to warm you up without setting your mouth on fire. The pork slices were tender and well-marinated, and the broth had a good balance of tangy and savoury.We also got the Seafood Pancake (S$25), which had a crisp golden crust and generous chunks of squid and prawn throughout. It wasn’t overly doughy either, which I appreciated. A solid pancake if you're craving something familiar and satisfying.The Glass Noodles (S$25), AKA japchae, were slightly sweet and very moreish, with bouncy noodles and nicely seasoned vegetables. It was tasty, but I probably wouldn’t get it again unless I was in the mood for something carb-heavy.One of my staples at any Korean place is Steamed Egg (S$12). Hanjip’s version was fluffy, light, and slightly savoury—the kind of thing I always need to balance out the richness of BBQ meats.
And of course, we couldn’t skip the soju. We ordered a bucket of three Chorong Chorong Soju flavours—Lychee, Apple, and Peach—for S$48. I personally liked the Lychee one best, but all three went down easy.