I have been to the O.BBa Jjajang in Tanjong Pagar, but only for jajangmyeon and tangsuyuk. O.BBa Jjajang & BBQ may look like an ordinary Korean barbecue restaurant but don’t be deceived by its humble appearance. It is hugely popular and many Singaporeans will willingly wait for hours just to dine there.
O.BBa Jjajang & BBQ does not accept reservations, you have to scan the QR code outside the restaurant to get a queue number. Be prepared to wait. My colleagues and I were there on a weekday lunch and we waited for an hour. I can’t even imagine how long the wait will be for dinner.
O.BBa Jjajang & BBQ is after all a Korean barbecue restaurant so meat is a must. This restaurant is famous for their 3cm pork belly which is part of Pork & DoinJangJjigae [S$52]. We also ordered Set A (Beef) [S$92] which contains Ribeye + Prime Beef Short Rib + Marinated Beef Short Rib + Traditional Marinated Beef. If you are a meat-lover, these two sets should satisfy your porky and beefy cravings.
Once you have tried the 3cm pork belly, you will never go back to the 2mm or 5mm pork belly. This thick pork belly is less oily and more chewy than its thinner counterparts. Besides having the grilled meats as ssambap (lettuce wrap), try it with a little bit of wasabi for a bit of heat.
The beef set comes with Steam Egg and a choice of Soft Tofu Soap, Kimchi Soup or Korean Bean Paste Stew. I recommend getting the Soft Tofu Stew, the hot and spicy stew goes perfectly with grilled meats.
MulNaengMyun (Chilled Buckwheat Noodle Soup) [S$15] only costs $7 with any order of grill meat. Nothing beats having a bowl of this cold sweet and sour noodle to neutralize the greasiness of the grilled meats.
Drink-wise, if you are bored of the usual soju and maggolli, try this BokJunJa (Rubus Corneanus Fruit Wine) [S$25]. There is 15% alcohol which is similar to those of wine. It is very sweet and fruity, like mulled wine but minus the spices. It is a fun drink that everyone will enjoy.
“Can-Order” Dishes
SamGaeTang (Ginseng Chicken Soup) [S$19] for those who can’t take spicy food. Ginseng Chicken Soup is pretty much the same everywhere, the chicken is fall-off-the-bone tender and the soup is sublime.
HaeMulPaJeon (Seafood Spring Onion Pancake) [S$22] is a good dish to start as appetizer. The pancake is crispy with generous amounts of spring onion and seafoods.
I like that the DDukBokl (Original Ricecake) [S$18] comes with fishcakes, kimchi and cabbage. The other ingredients gives a variety of textures even though everything tastes the same in the pungent gochujang sauce.
Every meal at O.BBa Jjajang & BBQ ends with a Yakult probiotic drink to help you aid in digestion.
Conclusion
The high-quality meats and delicious dishes makes O.BBa Jjajang & BBQ a great place for Korean barbecue. That 3cm/30mm pork belly is out of this world, you’ve got to try it.
O.BBa Jjajang & BBQ does not accept reservations, do come down early to queue even on weekdays.
O.BBa Jjajang & BBQ (Bukit Timah)
Address: 19 Cheong Chin Nam Road, Singapore 599743
Telephone: 64639262
Opening Hours: Daily 11.30am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm
Facebook Page: https://m.facebook.com/obbabukittimah/
O.BBa Jjajang (Tanjong Pagar)
Address: 77 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088498
Telephone: 62218254
Opening Hours: Daily 11.30am – 3pm, 5pm – 10pm
Facebook Page: https://m.facebook.com/obbajjajang/