I brought my girls to Don Dae Bak for a long-overdue Korean BBQ lunch, and it was such a vibe. The industrial, graffiti-lined walls, the round grill tables, the sizzling meat, and that unmistakable charcoal aroma… it all transported us straight to a buzzing joint in Seoul.

While Story One (their sister brand) leans towards premium cuts and a sleek aesthetic, Don Dae Bak is rowdier, more old-school, and serves up hearty, traditional Korean favourites. Think Tteokbokki, Jokbal, Golbaengi Muchim, Budae Jjigae, Bossam… the kind of dishes that feel like a warm hug from your Korean ahjumma.

For BBQ, we had the marbled beef prime ribs (so juicy), aged pork belly (that lovely smoky char!), and soy-marinated chicken (tender and well-balanced). The highlight for my girls? The Jumeokbap - Korean rice balls that you roll yourself. A fun, slightly messy, and totally satisfying hands-on experience.

We also tucked into the Gamja Tang (pork rib soup), which was rich, flavourful and hearty - great for sharing. Korean fried chicken came in a few styles and we opted for plain crispy and soy garlic with crunchy slivers of fried garlic. Only available here and not at Story One, their Buchoo Jeon, a crispy leek pancake with seafood, is now high on my comfort food list.

Oh, and here is the kicker - they are open till 5am. So if you are ever craving BBQ, kimchi stew or hangover soup after a late night out (or just can’t sleep), this is a comforting place to turn to.