Myung Ga II - Korean Home Cooking With Amazing Pork Cutlet

There’s a reason Koreans living in Singapore eat here. Myung Ga (명가) started as a humble Korean food stall at Bukit Timah Plaza over a decade ago — and built a following so fierce that opening a second outlet in Tanjong Pagar was a long time coming.

What draws the crowds isn’t a gimmick or a trending dish — it’s the kind of everyday Korean cooking that tastes like someone’s mother made it: broths simmered fresh each morning, banchan refilled without being asked, and a lady boss who hands you complimentary kimbap before you’ve even ordered. No GST. No service charge. Just very good food.

Donkatsu ($20)

If there’s one dish that defines Myung Ga, it’s the Donkatsu. This is Korean-style pork cutlet — and it’s nothing like the Japanese tonkatsu you might be used to. The pork is pounded thin, battered lightly, and fried to a proper crisp before being served whole (never sliced) over rice, with shredded cabbage, baked beans, corn, and pickled radish alongside. The sauce — sweet, tangy, lightly tomato-tinged — coats without overpowering. It’s a generous plate, probably more food than one person can finish, and it hits with a distinctly nostalgic quality that diners keep coming back for. One food blogger called it the best Korean donkatsu in Singapore, and the queues at Bukit Timah for years back that up.

Haemul Sundubu Jjigae — Seafood Soft Tofu Stew ($17–$19)

The stew arrives bubbling, spiced to a gentle heat, and packed with squid, prawns, clams, and mussels alongside large, silken chunks of tofu. The broth is light rather than heavy — seafood-forward, building slowly with each spoonful. It comes with a bowl of white rice. It’s a straightforward dish executed well: clean, comforting, and deeply satisfying in the way only good jjigae can be. The lady boss mentions all broths are made fresh daily, and it shows.

Haemul Buchu Jeon — Seafood Pancake ($20)

The seafood pancake at Myung Ga earns its praise. Generously sized and loaded with squid and other seafood, it comes out with crisp, lacy edges and a tender interior — the kind of texture balance that’s easy to get wrong. Paired with the light soy dipping sauce, it holds up well even as it cools, which says something about how it’s made. A strong case for ordering it even when it seems like a side.

Original Kimbap ($11–$12)

Kimbap here is served complimentary to waiting diners — and it regularly steals the show even before the mains arrive. The rolls are filled with spam, omelette, carrot, spinach, pickled radish, and burdock root, held together in chewy rice and seaweed. It’s balanced rather than bold, with each filling distinct and nothing competing. Those who order it as a standalone dish tend to find it more satisfying than expected — a rare compliment for what’s usually a supporting role.

Spicy Stir-Fried Pork ($18)

The spicy stir-fried pork — available as a hotplate option in the lunch set — is a dependable rice thief. Bold, slightly charred at the edges, and seasoned well, it’s the kind of dish that keeps the chopsticks moving. Nothing flashy, but it earns its place as a table staple for those who want something substantial alongside the stews.

Mul-Naengmyeon — Cold Buckwheat Noodles ($17)

An underrated order, especially for the uninitiated. Cold buckwheat noodles arrive in an iced broth with sliced cucumber, pear, pickled radish, boiled beef, and a halved egg. The broth is clean and subtly tangy — a sharp, refreshing contrast to the heavier dishes on the table. In Singapore’s heat, it’s a year-round order worth making.

There are no shortage of Korean restaurants in Tanjong Pagar, but Myung Ga does something most don’t: it makes you feel looked after. The food is honest and generous, the portions are built to share, and the owner’s warmth — free kimbap, complimentary drinks, a discount offered on a whim — makes the experience feel personal. For everyday Korean cooking done with care and consistency, it’s the kind of place you find once and keep coming back to.

📍 28 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088451
📞 8042 8025
🕒 Tue–Sun: 11:30am–3pm, 5:30pm–10pm | Closed Monday
📱 @myungga2.sg