Kelim Dakdoritang (Serangoon Garden)

Kelim Dakdoritang is a casual Korean restaurant in Serangoon Gardens that focuses on one dish: dakdoritang, a spicy braised chicken stew. It is the first Singapore branch of a Korean chain that started in Seoul in 1965.

The shop opened on Kensington Park Road in August 2023. Lady Iron Chef reported that Lee Seongmin, the son of the founder, brought the brand to Singapore. At the time, Kelim had more than 50 outlets in South Korea.

What to order

Start with the dakdoritang. Chunks of chicken, potatoes and rice cakes are braised in a red sauce made with gochujang, the Korean chilli paste. Kelim's version is known for a big heap of minced garlic and leek on top. Reviewers differ on the heat: some found it mild, with most of the kick from the garlic, while others found it quite spicy. The pot keeps bubbling on a gas burner at your table, and it comes in sizes for sharing.

There are a few ways to build on it:

• Extra toppings: more rice cakes, sausages, mushrooms or quail eggs
• Noodles: kalguksu (knife-cut noodles), udon or ramyeon, cooked in the stew
• Fried rice to finish: staff fry rice in the last of the sauce with seaweed, kimchi and sesame oil, right in the pot

If you prefer no chilli, order dakhanmari, a gentler chicken hotpot. Side dishes include spicy chicken feet and chicken gizzard. For dessert, try hotteok, a sweet Korean pancake filled with ground nuts, brown sugar and cinnamon.

The setting

The shop is small and plain, with seats for about 55 people. Each round metal table has its own gas stove, and Korean signs add to the look. Eatbook compared the retro style to the restaurants in the Korean TV drama Reply 1988. It is a casual place for a group dinner rather than a quiet date. Expect to leave smelling a little of garlic.

Good to know before you go

• Booking: tables can be reserved online through Chope.
• Group size: the stew is made for sharing, so it works best with two or more people.
• Spice: Chope's listing says the spice level can be adjusted, so ask when you order. Choose dakhanmari if you avoid chilli.

Getting there

The address is 14B Kensington Park Road, in the low-rise Serangoon Gardens estate. Eatbook names Serangoon as the nearest MRT station, about ten minutes away by bus. A taxi or ride-hailing car is the simplest option at night.

Nearby

Chomp Chomp Food Centre, a well-known evening hawker centre, is on the same road. It is a good stop for satay or sugarcane juice after your stew. For more ideas, see all restaurants in Serangoon and Punggol or our list of Thai, Korean and Asian restaurants. If you are staying out this way, read our guide to staying in the Singapore heartlands.