SBCD Korean Tofu House (Guoco Tower)

SBCD Korean Tofu House is a casual Korean restaurant on the basement level of Guoco Tower, at 7 Wallich Street in Tanjong Pagar. It specialises in soontofu, a stew of soft tofu that arrives at the table boiling hot. This was the brand's first restaurant. It later opened branches at Millenia Walk and Alexandra Retail Centre.

Chef Nam Kyoung Soo founded SBCD to share Korean comfort food with Singapore. The stews are built on a house broth made from ten ingredients, and the recipe is kept secret. The soup base contains pork, except in the sesame soontofu, which is the vegetarian choice.

What to order

Start with the soontofu. Food writers have reported that the tofu is made fresh in the kitchen every day. You choose a filling, such as beef, seafood or oyster. Then you pick one of four spice levels, from Mild up to Crazy Hot.

• Soontofu: silky tofu in a spicy broth, served with an egg to crack into the pot while it is still bubbling.
• Combo meals: a soontofu paired with a grilled main, so you can try both.
• Grilled mains: dishes such as beef bulgogi and spicy BBQ pork, served sizzling on hot plates. Mains on their own do not come with rice.
• L.A. Galbi: marinated beef short ribs, a Korean favourite on the main menu.
• Seafood pancake: a crisp haemul pajeon that works well as a shared starter.

Stews and combo meals come with rice in a hot stone bowl and a spread of banchan, the small Korean side dishes. Diners have reported kimchi, pickled cucumber, seasoned squid, roasted seaweed and a small fried fish.

The setting

The dining room is big, bright and simply decorated, with plenty of space between tables. It suits a quick, filling meal more than a long, lingering dinner. Guoco Tower is a large office building, so weekday lunchtimes tend to be busy. Come a little early or late if you want to avoid a wait.

Good to know before you go

• You can reserve a table online through the SBCD website or by phone.
• You set the spice level yourself, so mild is a safe start if you are not used to chilli.
• The stews are served very hot. Give them a minute before you take the first spoonful.
• A takeaway dosirak, or Korean lunch box, menu is also available.
• Tanjong Pagar MRT station is linked to Guoco Tower, so you can walk in without going outside.

Nearby

SBCD is a few steps from Sofitel Singapore City Centre, which is also on Wallich Street. For a Japanese meal close by, try Honō Omakase at International Plaza or Sushi Katori on Tanjong Pagar Road. Our guide to Tanjong Pagar and Keong Saik covers the shophouse streets around the tower. You can also browse more Thai, Korean and Asian restaurants or other restaurants in Chinatown and Tanjong Pagar.