Iconic satay and CBD evening vibes
Lau Pa Sat
Historic CBD hawker centre famous for its evening satay street, wide range of Singapore hawker favourites and bustling l...
Telok Ayer & Amoy Street: Korean BBQ and Salad Stops
A concise neighbourhood guide to the best Korean BBQ and fresh salad stops around Telok Ayer and Amoy Street in Singapore's CBD, perfect for lunch crowds and after-work makan plans.
A lunchtime salad on Amoy, a table-top grill on Telok Ayer by night — it’s the CBD makan rhythm.
Book your Korean BBQ for evenings; the lunch crowd prefers fast, healthy bowls.
Why Telok Ayer & Amoy Street are lunchtime favourites
Nestled on the eastern edge of the CBD, Telok Ayer and Amoy Street have quietly become a go-to corridor for quick healthy lunches and after-work Korean BBQ. Office towers sit cheek-by-jowl with restored shophouses, which means you can get a fast grain-bowl salad at noon and a charcoal-grilled spread by night.
The area suits two distinct crowds: the weekday lunch rush — bankers, lawyers and techies grabbing speedy salads or bento bowls — and the dinner crowd that flocks to Korean BBQ joints for group feasts. That mix has shaped a food scene that’s both efficient and sociable, a very Singaporean combination of convenience and communal makan.
- Quick lunch options and healthy salad counters for the CBD crowd
- After-work Korean BBQ spots ideal for groups and celebrations
- Short walking distance from Raffles Place and Telok Ayer MRTs
Where to go: standout Korean BBQ and salad counters
Walk down Amoy Street and you’ll find slimline lunch cafés and build-your-own salad concepts that cater to time-pressed professionals — think warm grains, pickles, proteins and dressings assembled in under five minutes. Telok Ayer’s restored shophouses host more full-service restaurants, including Korean BBQ spots with table-top grills and set menus.
For a balanced outing, pair a midday salad from a counter on Amoy with a casual BBQ dinner on Telok Ayer — it’s a quick transfer on foot. Nearby Raffles Place and Tanjong Pagar have complementary options if you want to extend the trail: kopitiams for kopi and kaya toast, or hawker centres for something heartier before the BBQ.
- Lunch: look for build-your-own bowls with warm grains and proteins
- Dinner: choose Korean BBQ with good ventilation and charcoal or gas grills
- Nearby options: kopitiams and hawker stalls for kopi or a quick plate before or after
What to order: Korean BBQ essentials and salad picks
If you’re at a Korean BBQ, order a mix of marinated and unmarinated cuts — samgyeopsal (pork belly) for the sizzle, marinated galbi or bulgogi for flavour, and a shared hotpot or kimchi jjigae if the group wants something soupy. Don’t skip the banchan (small sides): they’re essential to the experience and help temper the richness of grilled meat.
For salads, aim for a balance of textures: a leafy base, warm grains (brown rice, quinoa), a punchy dressing, and a protein like roasted salmon or grilled chicken. Japanese-style potato salad and a fresh caprese are both popular lunchtime choices in the area — filling but lighter than a full zi char or noodle lunch.
- Korean BBQ must-orders: samgyeopsal, bulgogi, kimchi jjigae, assorted banchan
- Salad essentials: warm grain base + protein + crunchy veg + bold dressing
- Share plates where possible — cheaper and lets you try more items
Practical tips and a 90-minute Telok Ayer–Amoy Street makan trail
Timing matters: Amoy Street and Telok Ayer are busiest for lunch between 12:15–1:30pm. If you want a quieter experience, aim for slightly before or after peak. For Korean BBQ at night, most tables are reserved on weekends — book ahead if you’re a group of four or more.
Simple 90-minute trail: start with kopi and kaya toast at a nearby kopitiam, pick up a fresh grain or salad bowl on Amoy Street for a light mid-morning snack, walk to Telok Ayer to browse shophouse restaurants, then return in the evening for Korean BBQ. MRT access is convenient (Telok Ayer, Raffles Place), and most places accept cashless payment — but carry a card or your phone just in case.
- Best times: early lunch (11:30–12:00) or late lunch (13:30+) to avoid queues
- Reserve for dinner Korean BBQ; lunchtime salad counters rarely need reservations
- Bring friends: BBQ is more fun (and cheaper per person) when you share plates
- MRT: Telok Ayer (DTL) and Raffles Place (EW/NS) are the closest stations
