Korean BBQ is a meal that deserves an unhurried afternoon, good company and absolutely nowhere to be. That’s not always on the cards during a weekday lunch. If you’re working nearby and watching the clock, the good news is that Korean cuisine has plenty to offer beyond the grill: hearty one-bowl meals and steaming soups that land on the table quickly and keep you full well into the afternoon.
1. Kimchi Fried Rice
Few dishes are as immediately satisfying as a well-made kimchi fried rice, and it’s one of the best arguments for a quick Korean lunch. Cooked on high heat with beef or pork and tangy fermented kimchi, the rice takes on a smoky, punchy character that plain fried rice rarely achieves. At Hanjip Korean Grill House, it’s available as part of the Executive Lunch Set at $16.80 on weekdays (ala-carte: $21), and comes with side dishes and your choice of barley tea or coffee.
The dish arrives in a single bowl, needs no assembly, and is a lunch that keeps you comfortable through a long afternoon of back-to-back meetings. Beef or pork, the choice is yours, and both versions are worth trying.
2. Bulgogi Bowl
Bulgogi is one of Korea’s most recognised dishes for good reason. It features thin slices of marinated beef or pork, cooked until tender and slightly caramelised, served over a bowl of steamed rice. There’s a directness to it that makes it an ideal lunch. You’re not navigating bones or working through components. Everything comes together in one place, and the marinade does enough work that condiments are entirely optional.
At Hanjip Korean Grill House, the Bulgogi Bowl is priced at $20 on weekdays as part of the Executive Lunch Set (ala-carte: $25), inclusive of side dishes and a drink. If you’ve only got half an hour, this is one of the safest, most satisfying choices on the menu.
3. Busan-Style Pork Bone Rice Soup
Dwaeji gukbap is a dish from Busan with a reputation that follows it wherever it goes. A milky, deeply savoured pork bone broth is served alongside or mixed with rice, and the combination is warming in a way that feels restorative rather than heavy. It’s the kind of soup you reach for when you want something substantial but not overwhelming. Words cannot describe how it hits on rainy days.
The version at Hanjip Korean Grill House is priced at $20 on weekdays as part of the Executive Lunch Set (ala-carte: $25), with side dishes and a drink included. Lunch sets with soup tend to be good value at the best of times, and this one earns its place near the top of the list.
4. Bibimbap
Bibimbap has a strong case for being the most complete Korean lunch dish. A stone pot arrives at the table with rice, seasoned vegetables, a choice of beef or pork and an egg, all of which get mixed together with a spoonful of gochujang just before eating. The stone pot retains heat well so the rice at the bottom crisps up slightly as you eat, adding texture to every mouthful.
It’s a dish that takes about two minutes to compose at the table and much less time to finish. At Hanjip Korean Grill House, it’s part of the Executive Lunch Set at $20 on weekdays (ala-carte: $25), with sides and a drink included.
5. Spicy Cold Noodle
If you’ve read our previous article on making naengmyeon at home, you’ll already know how well-balanced a good bowl of bibim cold noodles can be. For a weekday lunch, ordering it at a restaurant is the considerably more efficient option. Buckwheat noodles are tossed in a gochujang-based sauce with cucumber, pickled radish and a boiled egg (and served chilled!), making it one of the few lunch dishes that feels especially suited to Singapore’s heat.
At Hanjip Korean Grill House, the Spicy Cold Noodle is on the Executive Lunch Set at $20.80 on weekdays (ala-carte: $26), and comes with side dishes and a drink. It is sure to make you feel sharper after lunch rather than slower—which is reason enough to order it.
A Note on the Executive Lunch Set
All five dishes above are available as part of the Hanjip Korean Grill House Executive Lunch Set, served Monday to Friday from 12pm to 2:30pm (last order at 1:45pm, excluding public holidays). Each set comes with side dishes and a choice of barley tea or coffee, with weekday prices reflecting a 20% discount off ala-carte rates. It’s a considered lunch offering for anyone who wants a full Korean meal without stretching the hour.
Worth Every Minute of Your Lunch Hour
Korean cuisine has a reputation for being an evening affair, all long tables and shared grills, but the lunch menu at Hanjip Korean Grill House makes a convincing case for the weekday visit. A delicious rice bowl or a bowl of cold noodles, taken at a proper table with decent side dishes, is a better use of 50 minutes than most alternatives. The commute back to the office is the only difficult part. Luckily, we’re placed well within the CBD.
Head to Hanjip Korean Grill House for lunch this week. Make your reservation ahead of time to secure a seat before you and your colleagues swing by, so no time is spent idling.
