06-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Condé Nast Traveler
GUUM Contemporary Grill — Restaurant Review
What were your first impressions when you arrived?
Think of Korean barbecue restaurants, and casual joints with greasy floors and industrial-looking exhaust systems suspended over tables comes to mind. Guum—the younger, rock-and-roll sibling of Michelin-starred fine diner Nae:um—announces it's not of the same cut the moment you step into its heritage shophouse within Singapore's buzziest food-and-drink neighborhood. The dining room is all Japandi-chic (or is it Koreandi-chic?), with sleek tables and chairs lining the right side of the space. On the left, a minimalist bar and counter seats run halfway down the length, the roaring stoves of the open kitchen occupying the other half. There's not a single exhaust pipe in sight.
What's the crowd like?
Young, hip scenesters pack the place for its tasty, creative fare and unrestrained atmosphere. This isn't a place for a quiet conversation or a romantic date since the environment can get raucous, but it sure is a great spot for a fun night out.
What should we be drinking?
As much care has been taken with the drinks as the food. The cheekily named signature cocktails, especially, offer a taste of how South Korea's alcohol landscape has evolved in recent years. Try the Salty Bunny, made with additive-free soju infused with salted prunes, and the 'Rich Kid' Sour that stars South Korea's first-ever craft gin brand.
Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss.
Seoul-trained head chef Sanggil Byeon's modern, elevated spin on Korean favorites includes goodies like Yukhwae Jeon, a creative marriage of Korean beef tartare with potato pancake and fish and bacon croquettes dressed in yangnyeom sauce, which typically accompanies Korean fried chicken. If you can't decide what to get, spring for the set menu, a compilation of all the best things here, including the restaurant's specialty of various cuts of meats and seafood cooked over a charcoal grill.
And how did the front-of-house folks treat you?
The crew are enthusiastic and friendly, even when the restaurant gets packed (as it often is).
What's the real-real on why we're coming here?
Dining at Guum sits at that special spot between comfort food and a treat. You feel at home, but you're in a nice restaurant. The flavors are familiar, but the creative pairings and culinary precision make every bite a delight. It's the kind of meal you'll keep thinking about long after you've left the restaurant.
