Bet you’ve never had barbeque like this—we found a one-of-a-kind BBQ spot in Singapore, where you get to enjoy a communal-style BBQ feast in the cosy comfort of home. Meet TJBBQ: a unique private dining experience in an Ang Mo Kio HDB that specialises in BBQ meats, and there’s even an in-house “smoking room” too.
At TJBBQ, the name of the game is “low and slow”, the way authentic BBQ is meant to be. They’ve converted the original utility room of their HDB flat into a mini smokehouse, grill and BBQ room—all the BBQ works, cooking and grilling are done in the room, while plating and assembly is done in the open kitchen. TJBBQ uses a special 2-zone fire for their BBQ meats, where meats are placed on the grill over a water tray instead of directly over charcoal; which allows for the meats to be cooked evenly over low heat. This method also makes for a much “cleaner” BBQ, as minimal smoke is produced.
TJBBQ offers 3 different evergreen menus centred around American-style BBQ, with the most affordable menu option, The New Classic, priced at $148 nett per person for 6 courses. The $148 nett menu comes with 1 appetizer, 3 mains, 1 side and 1 dessert:
Smoked Bacon Cornbread
Low & Slow Barbequed Pork Ribs
Hickory-Smoked Wagyu Picanha
Sambal Prawn with Keropok
Otah Sliders
Caramelised Orange & Mango Sorbet
Smoked Bacon Cornbread
Low & Slow Barbequed Pork Ribs
We started off nice and easy with the Smoked Bacon Cornbread, a light starter of mini cornbread bites served with nobs of unsalted butter, smoked bacon crisps and ribbons of maple syrup. We already knew that sweet maple and bacon would be a perfect match, but the addition of butter was quite unexpected, yet a welcome surprise that tied everything together. The first main dish is Low & Slow Barbequed Pork Ribs: pork ribs that have been cooked for 4-hours till fall-off-the-bone tender and glazed with a homemade BBQ sauce. The pork ribs were ultra flavourful, with a beautiful BBQ crust; and we couldn’t stop licking the secret BBQ sauce off our fingers. This is definitely a dish that you’ll want to use your hands for; and just dig into all the sides like roasted potatoes, garlic, peppers, sweet corn and onions.
Hickory-Smoked Wagyu Picanha
Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, the next main to be served is Hickory-Smoked Wagyu Picanha, a thick cut of intensely marbled wagyu picanha steak that’s been smoked with hickey wood pellets for about an hour. The finished dish is a cook that’s perfectly medium-rare in doneness, a rare feat for a smoked steak. Since the beef was cooked low and slow, the result was an inside that had a beautiful, even pink hue, and we could really taste the smoky aroma oozing out with each bite. The wagyu picanha is already amazing on its own, with a sprinkle of flaky salt; or you can jazz it up with an assortment of dips like chimichurri, whole-grain mustard or pickled cucumbers.
Sambal Prawn with Keropok
Otah Sliders
If you’re feeling a little heavy from all the meat, the next dish—Sambal Prawn with Keropok—will be a welcome shift. Take a little break from all the meats with a spicy and piquant seafood dish, and get a little hands-on too, as you DIY your own perfect bite. The sambal prawn comes served with various accoutrements like airy keropok (or prawn crackers), sambal ikan bilis, limes, homemade sambal mayo and pickled chillis. The idea is for you to assemble and DIY your own cracker according to your personal taste; but our favourite combo is having the keropok topped with sambal prawn and a squeeze of fresh lime. Still not full? Not to worry, you’ll be getting some carbs in with the Otah Sliders: chunky and thick grilled otah that’s stuffed in between fluffy toasted buns.
Caramelised Orange & Mango Sorbet
Dessert is a refreshing yet sweet finish with the Caramelised Orange & Mango Sorbet, but with a fire-kissed twist using torched orange segments for a slight contrast of warm and cold. TJBBQ doesn’t offer any other beverages except water, but you can Bring-Your-Own-Bottle (BYOB) with no extra corkage fees; so feel free to bring your own bottle of wine or whisky to pair with your meal.
All the dishes at TJBBQ are served family-style, which makes it great for sharing in larger groups. Portion sizes are also on the generous side—no miniscule tasting portions here—and by the end of the 6 courses, you’ll definitely be left feeling absolutely stuffed. If you’re looking for a unique private dining option in Singapore, TJBBQ is a great option to consider, as there aren’t many F&B options offering authentic BBQ meats, much less in a private setting like this.
TJBBQ’s ambience also feels very well-curated and homey, with a warm wood-inspired vibe that’s reminiscent of a classic steakhouse. What’s more: you’ll always be getting the whole space to yourself, no sharing with other groups of diners, as long as you meet the minimum group dining requirement, which makes it much more value-for-money for the price you’re paying. TJBBQ serves mostly dinner on Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm onwards for groups of 6 to 12 persons. Select lunch sessions from 1pm onwards are also available for booking on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for groups of 4 to 12 persons. To book your BBQ dining experience at TJBBQ, see here.
TJBBQ
Address: Ang Mo Kio (exact address given upon booking)
Opening Hours: By appointment only
