More than just another burger joint, Burger+ provides you that Korean-style gourmet burger experience in the heart of Singapore at Wisma Atria.

This is perhaps the only fast-casual restaurant in Singapore that offer Korean Burgers AND Korean Fried Chicken in the same place.

It is a passion project of a burger-lovin’ couple – food connoisseur Daniel Koh and Director Lee Mihyun – that gave rise to Burger+.

They wanted to take people away from the usual burger routine into a gourmet fast food experience with affordable premium burgers in a stylish setting.

Perhaps this question comes to your mind. What makes a Korean Burger “Korean”?

A lot is about the sauce.

Over here, other than they have created the “B+ Sauce” which has a sweetish-honeyed-savoury take. The sauce can be found in a couple of their burgers.

These knock-out K-burgers use buns made in-house using potato flour. Baking is done daily so you get hot, fluffy buns in every burger.

The meat patty, the heart of the burger, is made from premium beef imported from the US. The cheese is also US-sourced and is exclusive to Singapore.

Read on to find out what’s in store at Burger+, the newest, hottest burger joint at Orchard Road:

Truffle Burger ($21)
Those truffle shavings? They’re the real deal.

The decadent Truffle Burger is a blissful combination of wild truffle shavings, truffle puree, and truffle mayo for that extreme umami flavour.

Plus, this burger has sautéed button mushrooms, baby romaine lettuce, and seared onions to mingle with the juicy, sizzling hot US-beef patty on a bed of freshly-baked buttered potato bun.

Take a bite, and let the aroma hit your nose.

Cheese Burger ($13.80), Double Cheeseburger ($19.50)
The signature Cheeseburger boasts of a special 130g beef-blend patty with an optimum fat-to-lean ratio. This makes the patty juicy enough with a good meaty texture.

Also comes with baby romaine lettuce and tomatoes for freshness in each bite.

The accompanying sauce, secret-recipe B+ Sauce, complements the flavour of the meat and doesn’t overpower it.

The layer of aburi cheese further enhances it.

Double the patty, double the cheese and you get the Double Cheeseburger for twice the indulgence.

Korean Bulgogi Burger ($13.80)
Another must-try item with that signature Korean flair is the Korean Bulgogi Burger, featuring a special sweet Bulgogi glaze and Bulgogi mayonnaise.

A house-made buttered potato bun sandwiches a juicy, premium 130g US-beef patty with seared onions, baby romaine lettuce, and another dose of mayo.

This is not that much of an ingredients-packed burger, so that diners can appreciate the uniqueness of the bulgogi sauce.

Avocado Bacon Cheeseburger ($19.50)
Although burgers are all about indulgence, you can add some heart-healthy avocado to lessen the guilt somehow and throw in a creamy, buttery texture to the mix.

This gourmet burger comes with the same buttered potato bun; the difference is in the crispy bacon and contrasted with creamy slices of fresh avocado.

Bulgogi Hotdog ($11.60 / $12.40)
Remember the burgerfied Bulgogi? Take that, morph it to a hotdog format and you get Bulgogi Hotdog.

You get a juicy, cheesy sausage as the main meat of this sandwich, lying on a fresh-baked hotdog bun.

The same special Bulgogi glaze and Bulgogi mayo are slathered on the sausage, then topped with slices of smoked bacon, sautéed sweet onions, parmesan shavings, chopped English parsley and paprika powder.

You can choose between a Chicken Sausage ($11.60) and the Pork Sausage ($12.40).

Honey Chicken ($15.80 for half, $28.20 for whole)
Moving on to the signature Korean Fried Chicken. Using chicken that is always fresh, never frozen, this dish is available in Mix Parts, Drumsticks, or Wingettes & Drumettes

What I liked is there are variable options, depending if you come dine as an individual or with a group. Drumsticks are priced at $10.80 for 3pcs, $19.80 for 6pcs, $29.80 for 9pcs; while Wingettes & Drumettes go at $9.20 for 6pcs, $17.20 for 12pcs, $24.80 for 18pcs.

Order the all-time favourite Honey Chicken, glazed with the candy sweet honey sauce, another B+ signature sauce.

I personally preferred the Wingettes & Drumettes which are more manageable to eat, and also better marinated on the inside.

Yangnyeom Fried Chicken ($15.80 for half, $28.20 for whole)
The Yangnyeom Fried Chicken found its way to the menu as it is co-founder Lee Mihyun’s childhood favourite.

This traditional Korean fried chicken dish was sweet, tangy and tingly. What I enjoyed was the stickiness of the sauce, that did remind me of the ones I had in Seoul.

This is not as spicy as you would have thought, so if you want more heat, go for the Hot Yangnyeom version.

Truffle Fries ($9.80 for regular, $12.80 for large)
Nibblers will want to order some fries on the side, a burger’s lovey-dovey pair on the plate. You get to choose from the aromatic Garlic Fries, Cheese Fries, crisp-fried Prawn Fritters, or the absolutely indulgent Truffle Fries.

The crisp deep-fried potato fries are peppered with truffle powder, REAL truffle shavings (and not just truffle oil), and a duo of cheese-parmesan & cheddar.

To further amplify the truffle-ness, it is finished with a drizzling of truffle oil with chopped English parsley, then served with home-made truffle mayo as a dip.

I think one of the best real Truffle Fries you can find in Singapore at this price.

Woo Yu Jollypong Ice Cream ($5.80)
End your meal K-style with a serving of Woo Yu Jollypong Ice cream. Jollypong is a puffed rice snack and one of Korea’s favourite cereal made by CROWN Company.

These crunchy pieces are used as topping for this dessert to add that textural contrast.

A cool and playful indulgence (for the kids-at-heart).

Check out their menu which also features a selection of Burger+ exclusive Korean beers, wines, ice cream and milkshakes – get the Hazelnut and Avocado ones.

Burger+
#01-37/38 Wisma Atria Shopping Centre, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore 238877
Tel: +65 6694 1226
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/BurgerPlusSG
https://burgerplus.com.sg

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Burger+.

The rise of popularity of Korean cuisine is unstoppable, with Korean concepts swiftly expanding across Asia.

Yoogane is one of those, now the No. 1 Chicken Galbi brand in Korea with more than 170 outlets in South Korea, East Asia and Southeast Asia.

Singaporeans have welcomed the brand since its opening at Bugis Junction, enjoying its signature Dak Galbi. There are now outlets at Westgate, NEX, and Tampines Mall (buffet concept).

With a recent menu revamp, what you expect with a whole bunch of Korean dishes; smaller plates dishes for sharing; all at more affordable pricing.

Designed by Korean Head Chef Nick Kang (nicknamed “handsome chef”), the Yoogane Singapore menu affords you more variety of dishes in one meal because of its shareable portion size.

The more people in your group, the better! Chill, bond, and share the calories over these Yoogane classics and new line-up of Korean dishes:

Chicken Galbi, Yoogane Dak Galbi ($48.80++ for large with cheese; $14.80++ for small, $22.80++ for medium, $30.80++ for large without cheese)
Dubbed as the No. 1 Chicken Galbi in Korea, a feat it accomplished after being in the business for almost 40 years. Yoogane originated in Busan, South Korea back in 1981 and has set itself apart from other chicken galbi competitors with its unique blend of sauces and seasoning.

Therefore, your dining experience ain’t complete without getting the Yoogane’s signature dish of the Dak Galbi.

The good news is: other than the bigger Cheese Dak Galbi version which is great for sharing, there are now three other portion sizes (without the cheese ring) to fit your group or appetite.

So even individual diners who have a sudden craving for the spicy chicken can go for the option of small.

This stir-fried dish begins with chunks of chicken meat marinated in a unique spicy sauce. A special in-house Gochujang (hot pepper paste) is the essential ingredient here.

The chicken will be cooked in a hot iron pan in front with you, along with fresh ingredients of tteok (rice cakes), cabbage, potatoes, and sliced leeks – till they all turn soft with flavours absorbed.

The spiciness is still manageable, yet can provide a sweet-spicy kick that is quite addictive.

If seafood is to your liking, there is also the Baby Octopus, Octopus, and Seafood & Chicken Galbi versions.

Cheese Chicken Bulgogi, Cheese Dak Bulgogi ($48.80++ for large with cheese; $14.80++ for small, $22.80++ for medium, $30.80++ for large without cheese)
If you are not a fan of spiciness, go instead for the Dak Bulgogi. This equally tender chicken is marinated with a sweet-peppery bulgogi seasoning.

Order the cheese version, and the chunks of chicken meat will stir-fried tableside by your server, with enoki mushroom, bell peppers, leeks and carrots.

Cheese fans will enjoy dak-dipping and pulling cheese strings as this dish comes with cheese on the rim of the iron grill pan.

Also available in 3 other sizes (without the cheese ring) to give you more options.

Honey Butter Chicken Wings ($12.80++)
Korean-style chicken wings are so popular they’re gearing up in the sauce department. This version uses a home-made honey butter sauce, a flavour that calls out to the sweet tooths out there.

The savoury taste of crunchy chicken skin is balanced with the natural sweetness of honey, accentuated with the rich smooth taste of butter.

Seafood Pancake, Haemul Pajeon ($13.80++)
Yoogane’s Pajeon (pancake) is filled with assorted haemul (seafood), reflecting the chef’s favourite pancake.

The pancake batter is mixed with little shrimps and bits of squid, then reinforced with whole lengths of spring onions, then fried ‘til crisp around the edges.

The eggy center is supple and a little chewy. Served already sliced, with an in-house soy sauce-based dipping sauce for extra flavour, all sprinkled with some roasted sesame seeds.

Ginseng Chicken Soup, Samgyetang ($26.80++, meant for 2 pax)
This nutritious soup is a must if you want something to warm your tummy, or just need an extra boost of energy.

Cooked with a special blend of herbs (including the powerful ginseng), the traditional Samgyetang is prepared with a fresh whole spring chicken slow-cooked over 4 hours until tender.

This shareable soup is large enough for 2. Compared to the usual versions, Yoogane’s take is on the milkier side, which I think quite a number of diners would enjoy.

Spicy Cheese Rabboki ($12.80++)
Rabboki is ramyeon + tteokbokki, a spicy dish which is a variation of the traditional tteokbokki.

But aside from the tteok (Korean rice cakes) swimming in the gochujang-based spicy sauce, Korean ramyeon noodles are also added.

It is quite filling, especially when combined with other ingredients like fish cakes or hard-boiled eggs. Yoogane has made it extra special by topping it cheese.

One of my favourites to go dish for a quick lunch option.

Kimchi & Cheese Egg Roll ($12.80++)
The basic Korean egg roll is upgraded with the addition of tangy kimchi and yummy cheese. Order this as a side dish while the staff is busy cooking your Dak Galbi, which could take a few minutes.

It is perfect to munch on these while waiting in anticipation. Best to eat the egg roll while they are still warm.

Fried Chicken with Chilli & Garlic, Kkanpunggi ($12.80++)
Kkanpunggi is a Korean dish invented by Chinese immigrants in Korea, similar to the popular Korean Jjajangmyeon and Jjamppong.

In Chinese, it literally means kkan (dry), pung (stir-fry), and gi (chicken).

Chunks of boneless chicken are seasoned with soy sauce, ginger, then mixed with some starch to make it crunchy once fried.

Once fried, the crunchy chicken pieces are tossed in a sweet, sour, and spicy sauce made with dried red chili, garlic, vinegar, and onion leeks.

Warning: can be very addictive, and can remind many of the Chinese’s sweet and sour chicken, except that this is crunchy and has a spicier take.

Hwa Chae ($7.80++)
Hwa Chae is a general term for traditional Korean punches made with various fruits or edible flower petals.

Cool down with a refreshing glass of Yoogane’s Hwa Chae and wash your palate after all the spicy and savoury dishes you’ve taken in.

Featuring two kinds of fruit, watermelon and peach, this Korean-style dessert is made smooth and creamy with the addition of milk.

Yoogane Mocktails ($3.80++ – $5.80++)
After all that heat from the Dak Galbi, have a refreshing mocktail drink in which you can choose from Apple Paradise, Sunset Rise, Sulpee Sour and Summer Love.

The recommended is the Daydream with a touch of passionfruit, apple and orange. Cheers!

Yoogane X DanielFoodDiary.com (DFD) Promotion:
Get 30% OFF regular priced ala carte food items when you quote “HandsomeChef” upon ordering.

T&C of promo:
– Quote “HandsomeChef” upon ordering to enjoy the promo.
– Valid till 6 August 2019
– This promotion is applicable to Yoogane outlets at Bugis Junction, NEX and Westgate
– Not valid on eve and days of Public Holidays unless otherwise stated
– Not valid in conjunction with other promotions, discounts and privileges

Yoogane Westgate
Westgate Mall #03-08, 3 Gateway Drive, Singapore 608532 (Jurong East MRT)
Tel: +65 6710 7821
Opening Hour: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/yoogane.singapore

Yoogane Bugis Junction
Bugis Junction #02-47/48, 200 Victoria Street, Singapore 188021 (Bugis MRT)
Tel: +65 6337 7337
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Yoogane NEX
23 Serangoon Central, #B1-28/29 NEX Singapore 556083 (Serangoon MRT)
Tel: 6634 2887
Opening Hour: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Yoogane Tampines Mall (Buffet Only)
4 Tampines Central 5, #01-33A Tampines Mall Singapore 529510 (Tampines MRT)
Tel: 6544 1098
Opening Hour: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Yoogane.

If you have craving for Korean Kimchi Fried Rice, Bibimbap and Bulgogi Rice, look no further.

Masizzim located at 313@Somerset and Westgate, has introduced a NEW weekday lunch menu that is pretty affordable, starting from $10.90++ for a set.

This is great for individuals and smaller groups for a fuss-free lunch, especially since many Korean restaurants emphasizes on communal dining and bigger meals.

A bit on Masizzim: An amalgamation of the Korean words ‘masi’ (delicious) and ‘jjim’ (steam), Masizzim specialises in meat stews – Beef, Pork, Chicken and Seafood.

The stews such as the Signature Beef Rib Stew, Spicy Seafood Beef, Chicken and Pork Rib (available in individual or double-sized sharing portions) are slow-cooked with its own proprietary secret-recipe sauce and served bubbling hot in cast-iron pots.

Diners can choose between the non-spicy soy flavour which has a sumptuous blend of soy sauce, pineapples and Korean pear; or the spicy base made with gochujang (red pepper paste) for some tongue-tingling heat.

For the Masizzim Lunch Sets, each includes a main course, a bowl of seaweed soup and two pieces of Korean pancakes. The type of the Korean pancakes rotates daily, and you can get anything from Squid & Leek, Tomato Cheese Kimchi, to Potato Pancake.

For the choice of Korean mains, there are offerings of Bibimbap, Kimchi Fried Rice, Spicy Meat Rice, Bulgogi, and Teriyaki Chicken. Here’s more:

Bibimbap (Vegetable $10.90++, Beef / Pork $12.90++)
Bibimbap, sometimes romanised as bi bim bap or bi bim bop, is the popular and comforting Korean rice dish.

The term “bibim” actually means mixing various ingredients, while the “bap” refers to rice.

Masizzim’s Bibimbap includes ingredients of shiitake mushrooms, beansprouts, carrot, spinach, yellow radish and a raw egg yolk atop rice.

What’s noteworthy is mixed grain rice – a combination of white rice, black rice and roasted millet, is used as the base. This gives the bibimbap a tastier, more textured, and healthier mixture.

To eat, just add the speciality bibimbap sauce and mix thoroughly. The bibimbap sauce used is not the typical gochujang (red pepper paste) and had a slight-spicy and fermented savour to it.

My favourite part is always the bottom layer of crusty rice with a crispy texture.

The basic Bibimbap is suitable for vegetarians, while those who want something more substantial can choose to add minced beef or pork at an additional $2.

Kimchi Fried Rice (Kimchi only $10.90++, Seafood $12.90++)
The highlight to me is the Kimchi Fried Rice, which includes fragrant mixed-grain rice fried with kimchi for the slight spicy-tangy flavour within.

While most versions of fried rice come with egg fried within, the Masizzim Kimchi Fried Rice is served on a hotplate with rice in the middle surrounded by a ring of egg.

You know that soft egg you get at some Korean BBQ or galbi restaurants, the egg has the same feel here – cooked to a soft, almost wobbly consistency.

Eat the egg separately or mix with the rice; I recommend a combination of both.

Diners can top up with seafood of shrimp and squid at additional $2.

Spicy Meat Rice (Squid / Beef / Pork $12.90++)
The next three mains are quite similar, reminiscent of the popular Korean hot-plate rice. Go for this if you are the type who loves your food rich and mildly-spicy.

Choose from squid, sliced beef or pork to be stir-fried with onion and carrot slivers, served with mixed-grain rice and fried sunny side up.

I had the shiny stir-fried pork in in-house Korean red pepper sauce, which was actually not as spicy as imagined, though was still rather addictive with nice smoky flavour.

Bulgogi (Beef / Pork $12.90++)
For non-spicy food lovers, the Bulgogi contains slices of beef and pork stir-fried in a sauce sweet, slightly salty and loaded with Korean flavour.

Bulgogi generally pairs better with beef, and you can experience the juiciness and tenderness of the meats, especially when they are quite generous with the sauce.

Teriyaki Chicken ($10.90++)
This main did remain me of the Japanese Teriyaki Chicken due to the sweetness and stickiness of the sauce.

Good to mention that the chicken chunks are first fried with onion and carrots in high heat (giving that ‘wok-hei smokiness), then heated on hotplate so that the entire dish stays warm for a long while.

For a top-up of $1.90++, diners can enhance their set with a cup of iced lemon tea.

Masizzim’s lunch set menu is available every Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) from 11am – 2pm at both outlets in Singapore; located at 313@Somerset and Westgate.

Masizzim Daebak Set
Masizzim has also introduced a Daebak Set which allows customers to choose one double stew, one rice ball, and one egg roll/pancake for $50 – good for 3 to 4 diners.

Some of Masizzim’s signature stews include the Beef Rib Stew, Pork Rib Stew, and Spicy Chicken Stew, with bubbling pots of succulent meat.

The recommended is the “King’s Ribs”, with beef ribs are first slow-cooked in Masizzim’s secret stew sauce until fork-tender, then stir-fried with capsicums, red dates, king oyster mushrooms, chilli powder and sesame seeds.

Also get the Honey Mustard Cheese Egg Roll, which would ooze out with stretchy mozzarella and cheddar, brightened with sweet-zingy honey mustard. Daebak!

Masizzim – Westgate
Westgate #01-07, 3 Gateway Drive, Singapore 608532 (Jurong East MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm Last order 9pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 10pm Last order 9:30pm (Fri – Sat)
https://www.facebook.com/masizzimsingapore

Masizzim – 313@Somerset
313@Somerset #B3-02, 313 Orchard Road, Singapore 238895
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last order 9.30pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 11pm Last order 10.30pm (Fri – Sat)

Other Related Entries
Nipong Naepong (313@somerset)
Nipong Naepong (JEM)
NY Night Market (Westgate)
Chir Chir Singapore (JEM)
Kogane Yama (Bugis Junction)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Masizzim.

”Eh, no queue?” No doubt it was a weekday afternoon, but being typical Singaporeans, we quickly wanted to try what is “IN” for now.

Popular Korean Fried Chicken brand Mom’s Touch Chicken and Burger has opened at Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ), to a relatively long queue during the opening weekend.

Established since 2004 with over 1,187 outlets in South Korea, the chain is brought over to Singapore by No Signboards Holdings which owns the master franchise.

The store is located at the outer arena of PLQ with limited seating area inside. So you got to count your luck to find a table and seats outside (students are quick and have already marked their territory around here), bear the heat on occasional hot afternoons.

The brand is called “Mom’s Touch” because it is supposed to represent the way a mother prepares for a meal for her family.

The chicken is hand-battered, hand-breaded, and marinated with Mom’s Touch special blend of seasoning for a fuller, tender and juicier taste. No ajummas spotted at the Singapore store though.

The menu is divided into chicken and burgers, with fried chicken items including Mom’s Fried Chicken in Original or Spicy ($8.70 for 2 piece set, $11.70 for 3), Mom’s Spicy Sauce Chicken ($8.90 for 2 piece set, $12 for 3), Chicken Tenderloin ($7 for 3 piece set).

A bundle of 9 pieces is priced at $27, and 12 pieces for $35.80 for the Mom’s Fried Chicken.

As for the burgers, you can look out for the Mom’s Thigh Burger ($8.70 for set), Incredible Burger ($9.80 for set), Bulgalbi Chicken Burger ($8.20 for set), and Deep Cheese Burger ($8.80 for set).

The Original Mom’s Fried Chicken reminded me of some of the other familiar brands, except that this was much cruncher and crispy. Not greasy to the touch too.

However, the meat unfortunately was on the dry side, lacking the tenderness and juiciness one would expect.

My friend mentioned between crispy + dry OR oily + moist, then he would rather have the former.

Competition, competition. I did think that Paya Lebar has a number of fried chicken shops, such as Arnold’s Fried Chicken and Jollibee which both have their loyal fans.

The weirdly-named Mom’s Thigh Burger ($8.70 for set, $5.70 for ala carte) came with freshly cut lettuce, onions, pickles and burger sauce stacked in between two oven-baked sesame buns.

Slightly on the pricier side, this reminded us of the capitol “Z” burger, but at least the thigh was of a good portion and juicy.

On a branding note, the Cajun fries and drinks came in generic packaging which made it harder to differentiate this with other fast-food joints, especially if people don’t know if this is a famous chain from Korea.

Mom’s Touch
10 Paya Lebar Quarter #01-37 Singapore 409057
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Other Related Entries
Chir Chir Singapore (JEM)
Dosirak (313@somerset)
Burger+ (Wisma Atria)
Masizzim (Westgate)
Yoogane Singapore (Westgate)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

[Seoul, South Korea] Founded by an elderly Gaeseong native, Gaeseong Mandu Koong is a dumpling speciality store which has been operating since 1970, now managed by their third generation.

Like the store name suggests, they specialize in Gaeseong-style dumpling which are handmade daily to shape like a crescent moon and filled with generous amount of ingredients.

Just like how the owner’s late grandmother used to do it with love, dedication and commitment to taste quality. Accordingly, the founders fled south during the Korean War, and ran this restaurant subsequently.

Some of their loyal fans even endorse that their dumplings taste exactly the same as how it was since the olden days.

They are also awarded with Michelin Bib Gourmand for offering high-quality meals at wallet-friendly price point.

Located in one of the inconspicuous alleys along Insadong Shopping Street, I had a hard time locating the place.

Thankfully for the ahjumma who was skillfully wrapping dumplings at the entrance which caught my attention and led me to the store.

Nested in a Korean Hanok, the rustic charm from the traditional architecture complements the food with its own heritage.

While the place was not exactly spacious and filled with people, the dining experience was pretty chill and there was hardly any loud conversation from neighbouring diners.

There are a few ways to enjoy Gaeseong mandu.

One can choose from having it cooked in sharing hotpot, eaten together with rice cake soup, or just simply have it steamed.

I started with a bowl of Choraengi Rice Cake Soup with Dumplings (KRW12,000, SGD13.90) and was served with four dumplings of half my palm size topped with petite rice cakes shaped like our usual tang yuan.

The plump, juicy mandu was generously stuffed with fillings such as pork, napa cabbage, leek and tofu.

While the dish looks plain on its own, it was hearty and packed with flavours coming from the beef soup, pork meat and assorted vegetables.

The Dumplings with Bossam Set (KRW 18,000, SGD20.80) came with slices of braised steamed pork, seasoned radish and pickled cabbage.

Wrap the ingredients together and have it with a mouthful of mandu will create another set of bursting flavour that can please any taste buds.

Being an avid fan of mandu, I decided to also order the Steamed Kimchi Dumplings (KRW13,000, SGD15.00) which has kimchi mixed into the pork fillings.

Contrary to the original, this has a slight sourish and spicy kick which would probably cater to those who prefer stronger flavour.

They also serve a range of Jeon (Pancakes) with options such as Seafood & Green Onion, Kimchi, Pepper & Chives, Mung Bean Jeon and Potato.

For those who cannot make up their mind on which to choose, there is a Jeon Platter (KRW27,000, SGD31.20) which serves a miniature version of each flavour.

There were a few hits and misses, I find their Jeon slightly starchy to my liking as I prefer Korean pancakes with crispy exterior.

Overall, I was quite impressed with the consistency of their food quality despite they are all being handmade.

The flavours of the food, while not exceptionally mind-blowing at first, resonated well like gentle ripples on water and left a lasting impression of its mellow delicate flavour.

For those who love the mandu from Myeongdong Kyoja, this would be a mandu variation you wouldn’t want to miss.

Gaeseong Mandu Koong 개성만두 궁
11-3 Insadong 10-gil, Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
서울 종로구 인사동 10길 11-3
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 9.30pm (Mon – Sat), 11.30am – 8pm (Sun)

https://www.facebook.com/koong9240/
Google Maps – Gaeseong Mandu Koong

Other Related Entries
Myeongdong Kyoja (Myeongdong, Seoul)
Korea Samgyetang (Jung-gu, Seoul)
MiGaBon 味加本 (Myeongdong, Seoul)
Grandmother’s Recipe (Seongsu-dong, Seoul)
Yukjeon Hoekwan 역전회관 (Mapo-gu, Seoul)

* Written by Lewis Tan @juicyfingers, a self-proclaimed coffee addict. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

[Seoul] Watching Netflix’s highly raved “Street Food” would give you that insatiable appetite to want to explore more of Asia’s hidden spots.

That was also part of the reason why I wanted to visit Seoul again, for Cho Yonsoon’s hand-cut noodle stall located within Gwangjang Market.

The stall was also recommended by Daniel Gray – the food writer of @seouleats fame.

Cho Yonsoon set up this kalguksu (knife-cut noodles) stall to support her family which was once deeply in debt, with recipe perfected from her very own mother’s.

Gwangjang Market which is one of Korea’s largest traditional markets, is not hard to get to (walking distance from Jongno Station).

Do also remember to leave some space for other street food such as the famed Mung Bean Pancakes, Tteokbokki (Korean rice cake), and Gimbap (seaweed rice rolls).

The market is also near Dongdaemun Market and Cheonggyecheon Stream, if you are planning your itinerary.

Gohyang Kalguksu is located somewhat near the middle of the cooked food section of the market.

Look out for the Netflix sign, a crowd of people, or Cho Yonsoon herself most likely wearing her signature bright pink attire (what she also wore for the show).

The stall starts operation at 9am, and while there wasn’t a long waiting line when I visited, the seats were almost always constantly occupied.

Cho Yonsoon’s smile was infectious. Despite the fame, she remained humble, asking customer what they wanted, where they were from, or how to eat certain dishes.

While I was dining there, I could hear her say “Hello” and “Thank you” in quite a number of languages.

If she dropped her smile, she was most likely serious at work, doughing up flour and knife-cutting them into noodles.

True enough, she did all these in an unhurried fashion, eyes not looking at the knife.

The items on the menu are straight-forward, with Hand-made Noodle Soup (5,000 Won), Sujebi – a type of Korean hand-pulled dough in soup (5,000 Won), Dumpling Soup (5,000 Won), Rice Cake and Dumpling Soup (5,000 Won), Steamed Meat or Kimchi Dumplings (5,000 Won) and Chilled Buckwheat Noodles (5,000 Won).

5,000 Won is about SGD5.80 or USD4.20.

While the Kalguksu looked simple, the clear soup was deceptively flavourful with subtle sweetness coming from the vegetables.

It wasn’t overly salty or anything, just a very clean taste that would want to make you having more.

The noodles had a slippery texture that would glide them your throat, and almost reminded me of udon – except that this was not as regular in terms of length.

There were some hand-pulled pieces found within, akin to the Mee Hoon Kway we are familiar with.

Portion is good enough to make you feel full, and I was guilty for not finishing it as I didn’t have space. But I would loved to swipe the bowl clean.

The Chilled Buckwheat Noodles (5,000 Won) aka Naengmyeon were thin and chewy, absolutely appetising and refreshing especially during the hotter summer weather.

The spicy sauce packed a punch, but was still manageable for most.

Between the Meat and Kimchi Mandu (5,000 Won), I preferred the former which appeared to be juicier and more packed.

These were decent dumplings, but I had better ones elsewhere in terms of the thinnest of skin and flavours.

Cho Yoonsun belongs to a generation that works tirelessly for her family and customers, and that alone deserves our respect.

I think one aspect people don’t see is, she is at her stall EVERYDAY, from morning till late night at 11pm without fail.

Such spirit and passion makes trying our her food all the more worthwhile.

Gohyang Kalguksu by Cho Yoonsun
Gwangjang Market, 88 Changgyeonggung-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul (Jongno Station 7 or Euljiro Station Exit 4)
Opening Hours: 9am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

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Pro Soy Crab 프로간장게장 (Seocho-gu, Seoul)
Yukjeon Hoekwan 역전회관 (Mapo-gu, Seoul)

Click HERE for other SEOUL Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

[Seoul] While Myeongdong is typically known for its shopping, beauty shops and street food (and therefore very touristy), there are actually a number of note-worthy restaurants to pay attention to.

For serious cravings of Gomtang, wander off to a busy Myeongdong side street and look for Ha Dong Kwan 하동관.

Recognized as the leading Gomtang house in Korea, Ha Dong Kwan earned the Bib Gourmand distinction in the Michelin Guide.

Ha Dong Kwan is a 15 minutes’ walk from Exit 5 of Euljiro 1-ga Station or Exits 7 & 8 of Myeong-dong Station. Plan your visit as they are closed every 1st and 3rd Sundays throughout the year.

Gomtang 곰탕? This is a traditional Korean beef bone soup served with sliced meats and rice, which was consumed by the noble class in the past due to its nutritious value.

The soup is cooked by using various parts of the beef – usually brisket, along with radish to boil.

Gomtang is quite similar to Seolleongtang, though Seolleongtang is cooked for long hours using primary bones and therefore look more cloudy.

Ha Dong Kwan has been in business since 1935 and has remained simple and old-fashioned throughout the years.

This family-owned eatery uses quality ingredients, consistently sourcing its beef from the same supplier for decades.

That rich, pure beef broth with a mild sweetness is a result of long and slow hours of boiling of beef parts and radish.

Freshness is key here, since they never use artificial flavours nor leftover soup.

There are four type of bowls to choose from, which includes Normal Beef Soup, Special Beef Soup, Special Plus Beef Soup, and Ultimate Beef Soup.

The regular normal version has 4 slices of meat, while the more expensive has added tripe.

Dishes are priced from 12,000 to 25,000 Won (SGD14 to SGD29), not the cheapest around though.

Served in traditional brass bowls, the Gomtang already holds some rice soaked in it.

If you are the type who loves your food rich and flavourful, you may just find this bowl on the other extreme end.

The soup is clear and actually quite bland.

I chose not to add any seasoning for half the bowl as I wanted to appreciate the nuances – it was quite a warm and comforting meal for the early morning. But I think not everyone would like this.

Most Koreans I observed would season with salt (some A LOT), add chopped green onions for added flavour, and include some kimchi and mix into the soup for tangy-spiciness.

It is best to drink some barley tea after finishing your bowl of Gomtang.

The shop opens at 7am, perfect for early birds. However, don’t arrive too late – they close doors once soup in the pot runs out; or during lunch time when it would be crowded with Koreans working in the vicinity.

Ha Dong Kwan
10-4 Myeong-dong 1-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, Korea
Tel: +82 2 776 5656
Opening Hours: 7am – 4:30pm (Mon – Sun), Closed 1st and 3rd Sun of the month

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Cacao Green (Myeongdong, Seoul)
Myeongdong Sundubu (Myeongdong, Seoul)

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

The MALA fever is showing no signs of stopping. While the likes “Mala Tang” and “Mala Xiang Guo” continue to be trending, the first Mala Korean Jjamppong in Singapore deserves a spot of one the top must-try mala dishes.

Nipong Naepong is the first and only jjamppong specialty restaurant in Singapore, offering unique versions of this Korean seafood noodle soup dish.

Jjamppong, commonly served with a medley of seafood, is prepared in different ways here.

A brand originally from South Korea, Nipong Naepong has added fresh, exciting dishes to its menu.

Diners craving for real Korean flavours will be treated to seven new dishes: Mala Ppong – in both dry and soup version, Jjajangmyeon (Black Bean Noodles), and the Iron-Plate series. This iron-Plate series is exclusively created for Singapore (you don’t get it elsewhere even in Korea), with 4 ways of enjoying Korean-style rice.

All these dishes are made versatile for meat lovers as they are available in beef, pork and chicken versions.

Discover and taste the brand’s signature wheat noodles (jjolmyeon) when you order any of their Ppong dishes. With its pasta-like texture, the bouncy jjolmyeon gives you that very chewy yet tender bite. Nipong Naepong’s special jjolmyeon is made in South Korea exclusively for the brand.

Mala Ppong – Soup (Pork / Beef) ($17.90)
The Sichuan-original “mala-tang” (literally meaning “numbing spicy soup”) has also reached South Korea and is a rising trend there.

This inspired Nipong Naepong to launch its own version, Mala Ppong in two formats.

Featuring the signature jjolmyeon noodles, the spicy Mala Ppong Soup version comes with a mix of sliced beef or pork belly, shimeji mushrooms, tofu, and quail eggs.

Now, you would have thought that this looked rather tame. For some context, if you always order “mala tang” elsewhere, this bowl would have been a level of medium-spicy (中辣) or even a notch higher.

After taking a spoonful of the hot soup, I thought, ”Well, still manageable…”, then the fieriness hits you after a couple of seconds later.

So, beware of its tongue-numbing powers. And this is strangely very addictive even though you really feel the heat after more spoonfuls. One word, ”shiok”!.

Mala Ppong – Dry (Pork / Beef) ($15.90)
Not in the soup mood? Go for the dry version of Mala Ppong which still features the signature jjolmyeon noodles. If you love the mala stir-fry pot aka “Mala Xiang Guo” (麻辣香锅), you will love this fragrant and smoky dish.

The bouncy jjolmyeon are tossed in an in-house Chinese mala paste wok-fried with pork or belly slices, shimeji mushrooms and cabbage.

Eat this where it is hot to experience some of that wok-hei and kick.

Your heat-loving taste buds will love its fiery, biting spiciness.

Personal preference, between the soup and dry version, I would want to go for this again. (Also perhaps because it is more manageable in terms of spiciness.)

Jjajangmyeon ($13.90)
A must-try dish for those who want something basic yet classic, this Korean-Chinese staple is prepared by combining noodles with a black bean sauce.

This jjajangmyeon version uses jjolmyeon noodles topped with minced pork, boiled quail eggs, fresh cucumber strips, a sprinkling of sesame seeds, and the key ingredient black bean sauce.

Give it a good toss, and you would love the earthy aroma and slightly salty thick sauce.

Iron-Plate Rice Series
You won’t find the Iron-Plate Rice Series in South Korea as it is exclusively created for Nipong Naepong Singapore. Inspired by the Korean concept hansang or한상 (“a table with a full meal”), the Iron-Plate Rice Series are available in 4 sets named after a South Korean region or landmark. Each set is served with condiments and side dishes on a customised wooden platter and hot-plate

Chuncheon Dakgalbi Iron-Plate Rice ($14.90)
This set is a cheese lover’s delight as it comes with molten mozzarella, perfect for dunking some spicy stir-fried chicken chunks.

The jumbo-sized rice ball, flavoured with ebiko (shrimp roe), is accompanied with seaweed, pickled radish, tortilla, sour cream and kimchi.

Savour this dish however you want. Whether you dip your chicken in cheese, break your rice roll apart to mix it with chicken and cheese, or make a mini chicken, cheese and rice tortilla, you are bound to enjoy this Chuncheon-inspired dish.

Seoul Bulgogi Iron-Plate Rice ($14.90)
Nipong Naepong takes an island of steamed rice and surrounds it with a moat of soft-set egg omelette and ebiko in this dish.

Named after the famous South Korean capital, this rice plate is topped with slices of the classic Korean-style beef bulgogi and leeks.

Joining the bunch are the usual sides: kimchi, pickled radish, ssamjang (spicy fermented soybean sauce), and fresh lettuce.

Go Korean-BBQ style and wrap those sweet and savoury bulgogi beef slices in nice, little lettuce parcels.

Jeju Spicy Pork Iron-Plate Rice ($14.90)
Experience the Korean hansang or a table full of food when you add to your orders the Jeju Spicy Pork Iron-Plate Rice.

Composed of spicy, stir-fried pork belly slices, leeks, crushed seaweed and rice with furikake (a dry Japanese seasoning), this dish requires mixing for best results.

Mix them all up on the hot plate then wrap in a fresh lettuce leaf. Don’t forget to add some ssamjang, pickled radish, and of course, kimchi.

Between the four Iron-Plate Rice Series, I would say this would be the safest choice to be a mass-favourite.

Hallasan Volcano Iron-Plate Rice ($14.90)
Save the best for last? This is the most striking looking of the series.

Named after Hallasan, a shield volcano on Jeju Island and highest mountain in South Korea.

This volcano-shaped rice dish is complete with “lava” gushing down its slope. That luscious lava is a spicy, minced pork sauce slathering the large seaweed and radish rice ball on a hot plate.

Order this iron-plate for an eruption of flavours, when you mix the accompanying kimchi, radish and spring onion into the rice and sauce.

Melon Yoghurt Ade ($13.90, 1 litre)
With all the numbing tongues from the Mala Ppong, this makes a must-needed delicious and refreshing drink to have.

Get an entire jug for every order of this fruity concoction, enough for 2-3 people.

Combined with the sweet honeydew melon is a deliciously tart yogurt, making this icy beverage a balance of flavours. To complete the setup, the 1-liter jug is served topped with a honeydew-flavoured popsicle.

Once it melts, your drink will be much richer!

Nipong Naepong – 313@somerset
313@somerset #B3-03, 313 Orchard Road Singapore 238895 (Somerset MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last order 9.30pm (Mon – Fri);
11am – 11pm, Last order 10.30pm (Sat – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/NipongNaepongSingapore

Nipong Naepong – JEM
JEM #01-16, 50 Jurong Gateway Road, Singapore 608549 (Jurong East MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last order 9.30pm (Mon – Fri);
11am – 11pm, Last order 10.30pm (Sat – Sun)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Nipong Naepong.

[Jeju Island, Korea] Korean instant noodles, otherwise known as ramyeon, is probably one of the most highly consumed food products in South Korea and plays a significant role in shaping modern South Korean food culture.

While these processed foods are not the healthiest thing to frequently consume as a staple diet, additional fresh ingredients are usually added to make it a wholesome meal.

At Nobala, one can enjoy extravagant seafood ramyeon filled with Jeju seasonal catch such as crab, octopus and abalone, without worry of breaking your budget.

The basic Seafood Ramyeon (KRW8,000, SGD9.20) came topped with a crab of my palm size, a couple of live abalone and tons of cabbage to create a crustaceans pot jam-packed with umami flavours.

For more luxurious treat, go for the premium Octopus Seafood Ramyeon (KRW15,000, SGD17.20) which has a large whole octopus sitting on the bed of seafood ramyeon.

The octopus was so HUGE (I think can cover my whole face) and we had to cut it up into smaller pieces to consume. The tentacles were surprisingly tender and not overly rubbery to chew on.

There is a choice of spicy or non-spicy broth, and I would recommend the latter. I felt that the spicy broth tasted one-dimensional and was overpowered with peppery spices which overwhelmed the natural sweetness from seafood.

I also observed neighbouring tables going for the One Seafood Ramyeon & Two Dosirak Set (KWR19,000, SGD21.80) which was reasonably priced for sharing between two or three pax.

The Dosirak bento was filled with sweet beancurd skin, kimchi, anchovies, sunny-side up and white rice and we were to shake the bento with gochujang dressing to mix everything evenly.

(Photo from @bcm8280)

Unfortunately, the weather was gloomy at my time of visit, if not I could have got myself a perfect seaside view while slurping on a bowl of hot seafood ramyeon.

Nolaba 노라바
100 Gueom-gil, Aewol-eup, Jeju-si, Jeju-do, South Korea
제주특별자치도 제주시 애월읍 구엄길 100
Opening Hours: 10am – 6pm (Mon – Sun), Closed for Break 2pm – 3pm
GPS: 772-1900
https://store.naver.com/restaurants/detail?id=37438036
Google Maps – Nolaba

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* Written by Lewis Tan @juicyfingers, a self-proclaimed coffee addict. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

[Seoul, South Korea] Hit Korean drama Hotel del Luna starring IU and Yeo Jin-goo has stirred quite a wave, and made several restaurants and food items famous – from Pizza Alvolo, Hangover Soup, Rice Cakes, Red Bean Porridge to Steamed Buns.

One eatery which caught the attention of many is the popular dumpling restaurant Chang Hwa Dang 창화당.

Featured in the drama’s episode 1, the lead character Jang Man-wol (played by IU) takes Ku Chan-Seong (Yeo Jin-goo) to her favourite mandu place which is the Daehakro Branch of Chang Hwa Dang (창화당 대학로점, 서울 종로구 창경궁로26길 39 1층).

It is a place one must go to at least once in this lifetime.”, and that particular outlet is quite flooded with fans.

There are more than 10 branches of Chan Hwa Dang in Seoul such as Hannam, Seocho, Yangjae, Yeonnam, Yeongdeungpo, and Bongcheon; and I chose to visit the Ikseondong branch.

That is because another filming location – a pink café called “Hotel Seine” found just next to the dumpling store, is also featured in the drama. Kill two birds with one stone.

Ikseondong is a very charming place, a revamped old neighbourhood full of vintage charm and indie and shops. Not difficult to find unique restaurants and cafes as well.

Chan Hwa Dang is known for its Korean dumplings, serving up Mandu in different flavours such as Fried Truffle, Fried Shrimp, Fried Galbi, Fried Pork, Steamed Pork and Kimchi Mandu.

A plate of 6 pieces would cost about 6,500 to 8,000 Won (SGD7.60 to SGD9.40).

I would recommend getting the Mixed Mandu Plate (10,000 Won, SGD11.70) which contained a mixture of 8 pieces of pork, kimchi, galbi, truffle, shrimp and green chilli mandu.

A scissors would be provided for you to cut the fried dumplings up.

For diners not familiar with Korean food culture, you may think that Mandu are just pan-fried dumplings with the usual fillings such as pork and vegetable. Chan Hwa Dang managed to create quite a variety, with filings that were interesting and full of flavours.

The dumplings were nicely crisp with a thin skin. While every piece was glistening, they were also not as greasy as imagined, and the paper below remained quite oil-free.

The succulent shrimp and ‘fragrant’ truffle turned out to be my favourites.

If you need a more filling meal, also available are Mandu Soup (7,500 Won), Shrimp Wonton Noodles Soup (10,000 Won), Black Tteok-bokki (7,500 Won), Spicy Cold Noodles (7,500 Won) and Kimchi Fried Rice (8,000 Won) are available.

The eatery is also known for its Tteok-bokki (7,000 Won) – rice cakes that are conveniently served in an individual portion.

Topped with sesame leaves, boiled egg and fried flour for some crunch, the spicy Korean sauce was delightfully balanced in terms of sweetness and spiciness, with chewy soft rice cakes.

Take note that Chang Hwa Dang is popular among the youths and couples due to its vintage décor and affordable pricing, so do be prepared to wait.

Go during slightly off peak hours, write your name on the clip board and take a quick stroll around the charismatic Ikseon-dong to pass time.

Chang Hwa Dang 창화당
23 Supyo-ro 28-gil, Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun) (Break time 2:30pm – 4pm)

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

If you find yourself at the Circular Road area, craving for some authentic Korean BBQ, head out to Hello Korean BBQ and say “hello” to charcoal-grilled meats and traditional Korean fare.

While Tanjong Pagar is the usual area foodies hang out for Korean fare, this restaurant is also known for its authentically Korean flavours and quality meats.

It is of a convenient short walk from Boat Quay and Raffles Place MRT.

Catch its Unlimited BBQ Buffet available for dinner (5:30pm – 11:59pm daily) and lunch during weekends and public holidays (11:30am – 2:30pm). A minimum of 2 is required so bring along a friend. Kids below 1.2m in height eat free.

For only $29.90++, you get free-flow of meats for BBQ, such as pork collar, pork belly, boneless chicken leg, and fresh prawns.

These are conveniently grilled at your table by the staff, so you can focus on the best part – picking up the cooked pieces and popping them to your mouth. Here’s more on what they have to offer:

Pork Collar (Salted / Soya / Pepper)
The beautiful marbling of this pork cut makes it perfect for grilling Korean-style. Due to its high level of fat, it works well on the grill and doesn’t require added oil in the marinade.

Also known as neck fillet, this meat is available salted or it soya or pepper flavours. This cut is tender enough to eat slightly pink, but you can ask the staff to grill to your preferred doneness.

Pork Belly (Plain / Thin / Soya Spicy)
Another fatty meat best suited for Korean BBQ is the pork belly, available as plain regular slices, thin slices, and soya spicy flavoured.

Samgyeopsal or grilled pork belly is a perhaps the most popular choice for Korean BBQ as it can be cooked succulent and juicy, or grilled longer to make it crispier.

Dip the plain ones in sesame oil, or opt for the ssamjang dipping sauce for more flavour.

Chicken Leg Boneless (Soya / Pepper / Spicy)
If you like chicken better, go for the chicken leg meats marinated with fermented soya sauce, with gochujang (red pepper paste) or with pepper.

As these as boneless cuts, you’ll get tender easy-to-eat pieces of chicken ready to be wrapped in fresh lettuce leaves.

Prawns
Add in some fresh prawns for more variety in your BBQ. These are not prepared in a marinade so you’ll get its natural sweet taste once grilled.

Eat it as is or dipped in some ssamjang, a blend of fermented soy bean paste, red pepper paste, sesame oil, onion, garlic, and green onions.

With your meats in place, you can do a Top Up for $4.00 and get either one of these 6 dishes: Soya Bean Stew, Spicy Tofu Stew, Mixed Vegetable Rice in Stone Bowl, Cold Noodle/Spicy Cold Noodle, Spicy Rice Cake, and Steamed Egg.

Spicy Tofu Stew (Top up $4)
This hearty and spicy tofu stew aka sundubu-jjigae is chockful of ingredients including soft tofu, fresh clams, red and green chilies, green onions, and raw egg.

Spicing up this comforting jjigae are red pepper flakes (gochugaru), making it perfect for cold weather along with steamed white rice and several banchan (side dishes).

Steamed Egg (Top up $4)
Gyeran jim or steamed egg is a classic, piping hot side dish for Korean BBQ so make sure you order this for your top-up.

Feel its velvety soufflé-like texture, created by combining whisked eggs with a flavourful broth then steaming it to the brim of the ttukbaegi (stone bowl).

Korean Cold Noodle (Top up $4)
Mul naengmyeon is a cold noodle dish served in a chilled broth. Originally enjoyed during winter months in Korea, it eventually became a popular summer noodle dish.

It’s recommended you savour this as you finish your Korean BBQ as a pre-dessert dish. Served topped with julienned cucumber and a hard-boiled egg.

Tip: Try the cold broth first before adding some vinegar and mustard for more flavours to your liking.

Korean Spicy Cold Noodle (Top up $4)
Want a spicy version? Order its sibling bibim naengmyeon, also a cold noodle dish.

Like its sibling, it’s also topped with julienned cucumber, hard-boiled egg, and sprinkling of toasted sesame seeds.

Army Stew ($39.80 ala carte, $58.80 for set with pancake and steamed egg, 50% OFF if ordered with BBQ Buffet)
You can order the Army Stew as a single order ($39.80, shareable as it is quite substantial in size) or as a set ($59.80).

Each Army Stew set comes with a bowl of Steamed Egg and your choice of Spring Onion Seafood Pancake, Chive Seafood Pancake, or Kimchi Pancake.

Sharing dishes like Army Stew, Rice Cake Stew, and Spicy Mussel Stew (this one is available only for dinner) are available to complete your Korean BBQ experience.

Budae jjigae is a stew originally created during post-Korean war using American surplus ingredients. ie canned meats (spam), canned baked beans, bacon, hot dogs, sausages, and sliced cheese.

Hello Korean BBQ’s version adds ramyeon noodles, enoki mushrooms, green onions, and red chilies, and certainly very tasty especially towards the end when the soup gets thicker with some sweetness form the baked beans.

All beef dishes and sharing dishes are also at 50% for diners who order the BBQ Buffet.

Make sure to book your table ahead of time as it can get packed, especially during weekends.

Oh yeah. FOLLOW Hello Korean BBQ’s IG @Hello_Korean_BBQ and get a FREE Korean Yako after your meal.

Hello Korean BBQ
46 Circular Road Singapore 049401
Tel: +65 3138 2635
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am – 2:30pm, Dinner 5:30pm – 11:59pm (Mon – Sun)
BBQ Buffet available during weekend nights (last order 10:30pm) and weekend lunch (last order 1:30pm) and dinner (last order 10:30pm)
https://www.facebook.com/hellokoreanbbq

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Hello Korean BBQ.

[Seoul] As Korean superstar Gong Yoo puts on his maroon-coloured apron, stirs the rice porridge and smiles, you can’t help but want to eat that Juk he is having.

I am talking about an ad of course, but it is not difficult to find a Gong Yoo-fronted shopfront selling rice porridge in Seoul, especially when there are a thousand over such partner stores in South Korea.

Bonjuk (본죽 or 本粥) is known for serving Juk which is Korean rice porridge.

While Juk is typically consumed as a breakfast item, or served to the elderly, sick and babies in Korea, chain stores like Bonjuk managed to transform this to quite a ‘hip’ food you can have at any time of the day.

At any season, not just winter.

The focus of Bonjuk is on wellness, health and nutrition, slow-cooked using fresh ingredients like how a mother would prepare porridge for the family.

While the signature here are the Abalone, Beef and Korean Ginseng porridge, you get more fanciful choices such as Hot Seafood and Vegetable, Octopus Kimchi, Clam Rice with Dried Radish, and Red Crabmeat Porridge.

There are also sweeter choices such as Sweet Pumpkin, Red Bean, Mung Bean, Black Sesame and Pine Nut Porridge.

A bowl is about 8000 to 10000 Korean Won (SGD9.35 – 11.70), though it can reach much higher if you pick the premium bowls.

I ordered an Abalone Porridge (11,000 Won, SGD12.90) and could understand its appeal – it was creamy, moderately savoury and nutritious-tasting.

During the colder weathers, this would be quite comforting and belly-warming to have.

However, compared to some of other restaurants that I visited, this version would be considered plain and perhaps bland (aka ‘healthier’) in terms of flavours.

The Beef Porridge with Pine Mushrooms had a luscious-thick consistency, though I also wished it would be tastier.

Perhaps I should have ordered a Seafood or Kimchi Porridge the next time.

There are several outlets within central Seoul itself, from Myeongdong to Hongdae. Just look out for Gong Yoo in an apron?

Do note that the stores can get quite crowded, and thus service (to tourists) may not be as ultra-friend as expected. At least there is an English menu for easier ordering.

(Above pic taken from Hongdae outlet)

Bonjuk 본죽
Myeongdong outlet: Bonjuk 6 Myeongdong 8ga-gil, Chungmuro 2(i)-ga, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

[Seoul] If you are used to having piping hot noodles, then having a bowl of Naengmyeon may be slightly perplexing. But it has an interesting appeal, and I have grown to enjoy this cold-noodle dish a fair bit.

Naengmyeon (or raengmyŏn) is sometimes known as “Pyongyang Naengmyeon” as it was originally created in Northern Korean during the Joseon Dynasty, made popular in the city of Pyongyang.

These long and thin hand-made noodles became popular throughout Korea after the Korean War.

While it is traditionally served during winter, today it is more commonly eaten during summer months.

Naengmyeon is usually served in a large stainless-steel bowl, with long chewy noodles in a iced tangy broth, included with julienned cucumbers, Korean pear, boiled egg and occasional sliced beef.

The long noodles are supposed to be eaten without cutting as they symbolise longevity, but there are scissors available in restaurants to cut them up so that it is easier to consume.

Recognized by Michelin Guide with a “Bib Gourmand” for its cold buckwheat noodle dish Maengmyeon, Nampo Myeoknok 남포면옥 located near City Hall has been around for 4 decades.

Positioned in a small alley amidst a district full of office buildings, it can be reached via Exit 1 of Eujiro 1-ga. (It can be reached via a 10 to 15 minutes’ walk from central Myeongdong as well.)

Crowd-averse diners should skip the lunch hour when it is full of workers from nearby offices on meal break.

Nampo Myeoknok has a beautiful, modern interior and a reputation for authentic Pyeongyang-style cold buckwheat noodles and beef hot pot.

Walk right in and you’ll find traditional Korean house décor and concrete-embedded pots on the floor containing dongchimi labelled with different dates.

This is a kind of water radish which is essential for the soup base.

Both chair and floor seating are available. You can request for an English menu, and would find that the dishes start from 10,000 Korean Won.

The cold “Neng Nuyn” (12,000 Won, SGD13.90) was indeed very refreshing and tasty, and I enjoyed the fruitiness of the chilled beef broth as you get a bit of pear-sweetness, savouriness and vinegary-savour all at the same time.

The noodles has a soft and chewy bite, and slips down the throat easily.

Koreans recommend having the soup on its own to get the original taste first, after which you can add vinegar and mustard to your liking.

Not a fan of cold noodles? Order “On Myun” (12,000 Won) its warm counterpart.

This comes with buckwheat noodles in hot broth, though I found this a lot more ordinary and the beef to be on the bland side.

Another popular favourite is the Bibim Neng Myun (12,000 Won), drenched in red chilli paste for those who love some spice and kick.

Nampo Myeonok 남포면옥
24 Eulji-ro 3-gil, Da-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, South Korea
서울시 중구 다동 121-4
Tel: +82 2 777 3131
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 9pm (Sat – Sun)

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Hadongkwan (Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul)
Gaeseong Mandu Koong (Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul)
Yukjeon Hoekwan 역전회관 (Mapo-gu, Seoul)
Shimsontang 심슨탕 (Myeongdong, Seoul)

Click HERE for other SEOUL Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. Daniel’s Food Diary paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

[Seoul] Chanyang-jip 찬양집 (literally, “house of praise”) is home to the best and affordably priced seafood kalguksu this side of town.

For only 6,000 to 7,000 Korean Won (SGD6.94 to SGD8.10), you get a generously-portioned bowl.

You can reach this hole-in-the-wall eatery via MRT Jongno 3-ga Lines 1, 3, 5. Take Exit 6.

It is located really near Ikseondong (literally just 1 to 2 minutes’ away), and this is an area you can explore due to the hipster cafes and shops located within renovated traditional Korean houses.

Chanyang-jip is also listed in Seoul’s Michelin Guide with a Bib Gourmand.

I actually walked past the shop a number of times without realising, so here are a couple of photos for reference.

The menu is lean, so it is not difficult to make decisions.

I would recommend each diner to have a bowl of Haemul Kalguksu 해물 칼국수seafood noodles (6,500 Won) and share the dumplings – choose between the Kimchi (7,000 Won) or Meat (7,000 Won) Mandu.

Kalguksu is a traditional Korean dish made with hand-made, hand-cut wheat flour noodles served in a large bowl of broth and other ingredients. For Singaporeans, this may remind you of “Ban Mian”.

Aside from wheat flour, the noodles are made with eggs and ground bean powder for added texture.

(Other famous shops/stalls include Gohyang Kalguksu at Gwangjang Market which is featured in Netflix’s Street Food and Myeongdong Kyoja which received a Michelin Bib Gourmand.)

Back in the days, Kalguksu was traditionally served only during special occasions since wheat flour was imported from China as was quite expensive.

This refreshing broth is prepared with dashima (a stock-making Korean kelp), dried anchovy and leeks, and filled with a medley of seafood – sea squirt, shrimps, mussels, and short-necked clams.

Ingredients are bought fresh daily for optimum freshness of stock.

While some noodles are extruded or spun, kalguksu noodles are cut by a knife. They are cooked and popped into the broth only upon order, then topped with zucchini and lots of crushed gim (dried seaweed).

I had quite a number of famous Kalguksu noodles in Seoul, and this turned out to be the one with the flavourful with brininess coming from the clams, and soup was both hot and tasty.

Some diners may find the clear soup mild-flavoured, and it is best accompanied with some spicy, piquant kimchi. Choose between the freshly-made and sour, long-fermented versions of kimchi – both for free.

The Mandu take on a more secondary role. Not saying they are no good, they are certainly above the average with its pillow-soft texture and moist fillings.

Take note that Chanyangjip is not the type of comfortable and spacious restaurant.

During peak hours, you may need to queue for space with the locals, squeeze in a small space, sit on plastic red stools and just slurp up on the soup and kimchi.

Chanyangjip 찬양집
5 Donhwamun-ro 11da-gil, Donui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
서울시 종로구 돈의동 27
Tel: +82 2 743 1384
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm (Mon – Sat), Closed Sun

Other Related Entries
Chang Hwa Dang 창화당 (Ikseon-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul)
Gohyang Kalguksu Gwangjang Market (Jongno-gu, Seoul)
Hadongkwan (Myeongdong, Jung-gu, Seoul)
Gaeseong Mandu Koong (Gwanhun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul)
Myeongdong Kyoja (Myeongdong, Seoul)

Click HERE for other SEOUL Food Entries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

[Jeju, Korea] Just like how Singaporeans love noodles, Koreans also have a soft spot for noodles, which usually serves as a budget alternative to a fuss-free meal.

”Gogi-guksu”, which loosely translates to Pork Noodle Soup, is a noodle variant that is available only on Jeju Island and not anywhere else in South Korea.

Back in the olden days when resources were scarce, pork and noodles were considered to be premium food ingredients.

Hence, Gogi-guksu was only prepared and meant to be consumed during special occasions.

Fast forward till today, the hearty bowl of noodle soup has become the iconic heritage dish of Jeju Island.

So much so that there is even a Jeju Noodle Culture Street coined after the famed noodle dish, which houses about 10 Gogi-guksu stores situated along the same stretch of road.

I once asked a local tour guide for recommendation and was then directed to Sister Noodles.

At Sisters Noodles 자매국수, their Gogi-guksu (KRW7,000, SGD8.10) came in a slightly luscious pork broth, topped with simmered sliced pork, chopped scallions and seaweed flakes.

With influences from Japanese dining habits, the noodles then resembled ramen noodles with firm and chewy bite texture.

The pork broth was both tasty and balanced, but not to the extent of rich and overwhelming.

So if you are expecting tonkotsu-like pork broth, you may probably be left disappointed.

Other than pork broth, they also serve Myeolchi-guksu (KRW 6,000, SGD 7.00) which came with sliced pork and various greens in anchovy broth.

Contrary to pork broth, the anchovy broth was clear and scented with light fish flavor. Making the bowl of noodle soup generally quite healthy.

I took a liking to the Bibim-guksu (KRW7,000, SGD8.10), which was served with pork slices and assorted vegetables tossed in gochujang sauce.

Similar to Bibimbap, the noodle salad has crunchy vegetable texture and pack filled with intense flavor, add the spiciness from gochujang sauce.

Definitely nailed the spot for spicy food lovers like me.

There is also a summer delicacy, Kong-guksu (KRW8,000, SGD9.25) which features their signature noodles in chilled white bean soup.

The dish has an interesting mix of sweet and savory blend, with subtle hints of bean and nutty aroma. Imagine eating meekia soaked in cold soya milk (probably the closest taste reference that I can think of).

For sharing sides, you can go for the Simmered Sliced Pork with Fermented Fish Sauce (KRW30,000, SGD34.70) or Boiled Pork Dumplings (KRW12,000, SGD13.90) for a complete meal.

There are two Sister Noodles stores. Main store located along Jeju Noodle Culture Street with limited seating and long waiting time.

I personally prefer the branch at Nohyeong-dong which operates 24 hours and has more seating space as well as ample parking lot.

Sister Noodles (Jamae Guksu) 자매국수
67 Samseong-ro, Ildoi-dong, Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea
제주특별자치도 제주시 일도이동 삼성로 67
Opening Hours: 9am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
GPS: 727-1112

https://store.naver.com/restaurants/detail?id=19882660/
Google Maps – Sister Noodles

Sister Noodles (Jamae Guksu), Nohyeong-dong 자매국수 노형동
6 Wollang-ro 4-gil, Nohyeong-dong, Cheju, Jeju-do, South Korea
제주특별자치도 제주시 노형동 월랑로4길 6
Opening Hours: 24 Hours
GPS: 746-2222

https://store.naver.com/restaurants/detail?id=37060300/
Google Maps – Sister Noodles Nohyeong-dong

Other Related Entries
Myeong Jin Jeon Bok 명진전복 (Jeju Island, South Korea)
Jeju-si Saewoori (Jeju Island, South Korea)

* Written by Lewis Tan @juicyfingers, a self-proclaimed coffee addict. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

Fan of Hallyu (Korean Wave)?

Then you should crash-land your way to Hongdae Oppa, a first-of-its-kind unique dining concept designed for young and fun-loving foodies.

The Korean casual eatery is located at basement 2 of Plaza Singapura. Just make your way down by the escalator and find the colourful pastel restaurant.

Korean wave lovers should know that “Hongdae” is a neighbourhood known for its youthful ambience, creativity, and offbeat eateries serving fried chicken and Korean stews.

You would feel some of that vibes here, as Hongdae Oppa Korean Dining House serves a broad selection of Urban K-Food including its signature Sizzlers (Bokkeumbap), Korean Fried Chicken, Hot Stone Jjigae, Tteokbokki, Ramyeon and side dishes.

These and many more Korean street food offerings are inspired by the founder’s extensive visits to the Hongdae Food Street and Night Market in Korea.

What makes them unique is how they are crafted to appeal to the local palate. Here’s more:

Bokkeumbap Sizzlers ($12.90)
Start off with a hot plate sizzler to delight your palate with a variety of flavours and textures.

This Korean stir-fry rice dish is served with 80 grams of meats (you have pork, chicken and beef options), fried chicken skin, sweet corn kernels, onions, scallions, fried egg, and of course, rice.

You can choose between the non-spicy egg fried rice, or the spicy with kimchi.

What I enjoyed was that the Sizzlers were serving literally sizzling hot to the table, and the friendly staff will help add the sauces and mix the ingredients up (or you can do it your own).

The dish may look simple, but there was a lot going on with varied textures and flavours; plus the sliced beef was really quite satisfyingly tender.

Tip: Come during lunch (from 11am – 2pm) and enjoy the meal with a free drink at $12.90.

Thick-Cut Pork Belly Rice ($14.90)
Another option for the Bokkeumbap is the Thick-Cut Pork Belly Rice Sizzler.

Feature a hefty 120 grams of thick-cut European pork, cooked until skin is crisp golden brown while the meat remains tender and juicy.

Flanking the star of the show are slivers of nori, onion, sweet corn kernels, chopped spring onion, and topped with a fried egg.

This may remind you of sio bak but Korean style, along with sizzling on the piping hot plate. Good for a quick-fix meal that is filling and nutritious.

Tip: Top up $2 for additional 100 grams of oozy cheese.

Fried Chix – Original ($10.90 for 4 pieces, $19.90 for 8 pieces, $36.90 for whole chicken of 16 pieces)
Hongdae Oppa’s Chix features 100% fresh chicken, with each part marinated for 12 hours for maximum flavour.

You cannot go wrong with the Original, seasoning the chicken using an original recipe before deep-frying it to crunchy perfection.

What I liked was that the $10.90 portion was indeed quite sizable, with 4 pieces that are good for two to share. So even if you have ordered other dishes, I would recommend just getting some of the Korean Fried Chicken.

Fried Chix – Gochujang ($10.90 for 4 pieces, $19.90 for 8 pieces, $36.90 for whole chicken of 16 pieces)
Move up the spice meter and order the Gochujang version which packs a punch with its house-made gochujang sauce.

But it’s not all spice. Taste how it balances savoury, sweet and spicy for that extra slight kick.

Other than Gochujang, the other flavours available include Spicy and Soy Garlic. Also look out for other seasonal flavours in time to come.

Tip: Get 4 pieces of Chix with 2 Hite Beer at $22.90 for the full chimaek experience.

Messy Oppa Tteokbokki ($11.90)
These classic mini sausage-like rice cakes are fun and exciting to eat for their chewiness and slighty spiciness.

Cooked along with fish cakes and a hard-boiled egg, the tteok is soaked up in a rich and flavourful house-made gochujang sauce.

The highlight is that the rice cakes are topped with a ‘mountain’ of potato crisp, which would add that crunch upon mixing.

Tteok Carbonara ($11.90)
If you’ve been a fan of Korean street food, here’s something that fuses traditional and modern.

Instead of the deep-red gochujang sauce, a seasoned savoury cream sauce embraces these little chewy rice cakes mixed topped with bacon, sweet corn kernels, and similarly the potato crisps.

Oppa! Ramyeon ($13.90)
Calm down your noodle cravings with this Korean-style ramyeon, a signature dish served with springy noodles in a house-made spicy soup.

Joining the party are minced pork, slices of luncheon meat, onion, zucchini, fresh enoki mushrooms, seaweed, seasoned meat, and topped with an egg.

Counting calories? Go for the skinny noodle option with only 10 kcal.

I personally prefer the usual ramyeon for that al dente bite. But the plainer skinny noodles (sometimes called “miracle noodles” or “konjac noodles”) gels with the rich soup quite well.

Dual Odeng aka Eomuk Jjigae ($24.90)
Order this when you’re dining with a bunch. Large enough for sharing, this 2-in-1 Eomuk Jjigae features assorted Korean fish cakes (some skewered, others are sliced ones) in a dual pot – one side for mild seafood broth, the other side for a spicy one.

Pork Kimchi Jjigae ($12.90)
This comforting stew is made with the iconic Korean cabbage kimchi, made hearty with pork belly, soft slices of tofu, shredded white onions, and fresh enoki mushrooms.

Warm your soul with this spicy jjigae, best paired with steamed white rice.

Cheesy Steamed Egg ($7.90)
This must-try Korean side is a savoury egg custard made cheesy with strings of stretchy mozzarella.

Served in a ttukbaegi to the brim with soft and fluffy steamed eggs, it is made flavourful and even prettier with bits of carrots and chopped spring onion.

Ambiance is fun and casual so it’s perfectly fine to bring in the whole gang for hours of dining pleasure. Yes, they have Hite Bear and soju. Fizz and fruit teas are available if you wanna skip the booze.

Enjoy the K-Urban meals from sweet to savoury, made even more memorable with its fun atmosphere.

Not to mention the splash of colours on your plate and in the chic interiors, all at affordable pricing.

Hongdae Oppa
68 Orchard Road #B2-47 Plaza Singapura Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 9181 3038
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm Last Order 9.30pm (Sun – Thurs), 11:30am – 10:30pm Last Order 10pm (Fri – Sat, Eve PH, PH)
https://www.facebook.com/hongdaeoppasg

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Hongdae Oppa.

Burger+ has just launched the largest Korean Burger Bar in Singapore at Clarke Quay Central, with an expansive space that can sit up to 200 diners.

The trendy Korean burger joint with its first outlet at Wisma Atria aims to be somewhere people can head over from day to night.

It opens from 8am daily offering newly-introduced Korean breakfast toasts; has a menu of burgers, fried chicken and sides throughout the day; and opens till 3am on Friday and Saturday (1am on the other days.)

For party-goers who may just have milkshake cravings late night too?

There is something about the interior as well with different sections, also making it a vibrant event space.

As I walked in, I first noted the private seating area in a glass room with a chandelier.

There are booth seats for bigger groups, and smaller tables for those who prefer some me-time. In fact, I think it is the place where the entire class can come down for the outing, and probably find a good spot to chat-and-chill.

It has rather young vibes, with LED screenings playing K-pop MVs, neon lights and disco-like décor for the night’s out.

In terms of the food, expect Korean breakfast toasts, soft burgers, to authentic Korean fried chicken. Here’s more: (Prices indicated are NETT.)

Egg Toast Beef Bulgogi ($9.50, $10.90 for combo with hot Americano)
This is a new introduction from Burger+ available from 8am till 5pm, though I feel that should just offer this at night as well.

While there are a number of Korean toast shops around, I do think what they have to offer is one of the most hearty around.

What was appealing was the fluffy brioche that was pan-grilled till they are slightly crisp on the outside.

The highlight to some would be the runny yolk atop, which you are can break apart and let it ooze down to the meat fillings. Warning: can get slightly messy.

The beef bulgogi fillings of fresh minced beef, fragrant fried onions pan-fried with signature bulgogi sauce was satisfyingly yummy with all the juices and sweet-savoury flavours.

Egg Toast Avocado ($8.50, $9.90 for combo with hot Americano)
The other popular choice is the Egg Toast Avocado featuring the same fluffy broiche toast, filled with creamy scrambled eggs and avocado, then drizzled with sweet mayonnaise.

This is more guilt-free and easier-to-eat toast, especially when you like the creaminess of both avocadoes and eggs coming together. I wished that the eggs could have a more buttery flavour though.

Other options include Egg Toast with Bacon and Cheese ($7.50), and Egg Toast with Ham and Cheese ($7.50) – both included with scrambled eggs.

Korean Bulgogi Burger ($13.80)
Burger+ offers more than 10 different burgers, including the recommended classic Cheeseburger ($13.80), decadent Truffle Burger ($21), Mushroom Burger ($14.90), Chicky Burger ($7.90) and Fish Burger ($7.90).

A must-try Burger with that signature Korean flair is the Korean Bulgogi Burger, featuring a special sweet Bulgogi glaze and Bulgogi mayonnaise.

A house-made buttered potato bun sandwiches a juicy, premium 130g US-beef patty with seared onions, baby romaine lettuce, and another dose of mayo.

This is not that much of an ingredients-packed burger, so that diners can appreciate the uniqueness of the bulgogi sauce.

Worthy of mention are the buns made in-house using potato flour, plus baking is done daily so you get fresh and fluffy buns all the time.

Bacon Cheeseburger ($15.30)
A burger boasts of a special 130g beef-blend patty juicy enough with a good meaty texture, contrasted with bacon that added some crispiness and smokiness. (The meat patty is made from premium beef imported from the US, while the cheese is also US-sourced and exclusive to Singapore.)

Also comes with baby romaine lettuce and tomatoes for freshness in each bite.

The accompanying sauce which is the secret-recipe B+ Sauce, complements the flavour of the meat and doesn’t overpower it.

Avocado Bacon Cheeseburger ($17.20)
This gourmet burger comes with the same buttered potato bun; the difference is in the crispy bacon and contrasted with creamy slices of fresh avocado.

Fried Chicken – Soy Garlic ($9.20 for 6 pieces of wingettes and drumettes)
Using chicken that is always fresh, never frozen, the Korean Fried Chicken is available in Mix Parts, Drumsticks, or Wingettes & Drumettes.

There are various options available: Drumsticks are priced at $10.80 for 3pcs, $19.80 for 6pcs, $29.80 for 9pcs; while Wingettes & Drumettes go at $9.20 for 6pcs, $17.20 for 12pcs, $24.80 for 18pcs.

The all-time favourite is the Honey Chicken glazed with the candy sweet honey sauce; while the Yangnyeom Chicken would be sticky-sweet and just slightly-spicy.

If not, get the Soy Garlic Chicken with honeyed-sweetness and garlicky glaze.

Truffle Fries ($9.80 for regular, $12.80 for large)
Order some fries on the side with choices from the Chunky Fries, Garlic Fries, Cheese Fries, or indulgent Truffle Fries.

The crisp deep-fried potato fries are peppered with truffle powder, REAL truffle shavings (and not just truffle oil), and a duo of cheese-parmesan & cheddar.

It is finished with a drizzling of truffle oil with chopped English parsley, then served with home-made truffle mayo as a dip.

Prawn Fritters ($8.30 for 6 pieces, $14.60 for 12 pieces)
If you need more nibblers, also available are crispy Prawn Fritters served with with lemon tartar sauce and English parsley.

Korean Cocktails ($18.00 each)
Get your cameras ready for the in-house signature cocktails that come represented in boxes with dry-ice effect.

The Haribo Ju ($18) may raise some eyebrows with the familiar haribo gummies in a sweet soju cocktail concoction.

Crowd favourite would be the refreshing Yuza Ju ($18) with honey and yuzu in a sparkling finish; or Bong Bong Ju ($18) with green grape and mint.

Burger+ – Clarke Quay Central
#01-07, Clarke Quay Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Singapore 059817
Tel: +65 6909 5684
Opening Hours: 8am – 1am (Sun – Thu), 8am – 3am (Fri – Sat)

Burger+ – Wisma
Wisma Atria Shopping Centre #01-37/38, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore 238877
Tel: +65 6694 1226
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Sun – Thu), 8am – 11pm (Fri – Sat)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Burger+.

The mala trend is still going on strong as Chir Chir has introduced Mala Korean Fried Chicken that could leave some tongue-tingling and chimaek cravings satisfied.

The mala mania has hit Korea since early last year, starting with malatang and has diversified to other Korean dishes. (On that note, also check out Nipong Naepong’s Mala Pong in soup and dry versions if you are a mala fan.)

Korean fried chicken specialist Chir Chir currently has three outlets in Singapore – 313@somerset, Bugis Junction, and JEM.

Some of their favourites include the Signature Fried Chicken available in Crispy, Garlicky, Curry and Spicy; Nest Snow which features Cajun chicken tenders stacked with melted cheese and whipped cream; and Honey Butter Chicken made with boneless fried chicken mixed with Chir Chir’s proprietary honey butter seasoning and sauce.

To keep up with the trends, the chain has introduced four brand-new chicken dishes to tantalise your tongue-buds, including Mala Chicken, Nacho Chicken, Cream Onion Chicken, and Yu-Ling Chicken. Here’s more:

Mala Chicken ($25.90)
The dish contains chunky pieces of deep-fried chicken tenders wok-fried in a tongue-tingling mala sauce included with Szechuan peppercorn and dried chilli peppers.

Then served with sliced onions and creamy onion dipping sauce.

Perhaps the rendition could even remind you of the popular Szechuan dish of La Zi Ji, except that this comprises of bigger pieces of juicy chicken.

If you are the type who has ”wei la” (little spiciness) for your mala dishes, then this should be up your alley.

The house-made mala sauce has just that slight spiciness but would still create a delicate numbness as you slowly chew the pieces.

With that said, the fiery feeling only kicks in towards the end, so stand-by a glass drink like the cooling Blueberry Sparkling.

Nacho Chicken ($25.90)
This Chir Chir’s Tex-Mex fried chicken tenders and corn tortilla chips topped with chicken chilli cheese sauce, turned out the dish we swept clean.

The chicken pieces are coated with this special cheese powder that has an addictive-sweetish tinge. As you reach out to have more and more, it feels as though you are having ‘cinema food’ of Doritos. Unstoppable.

There was also this awesome crust on the outside, likely to be a kids’ favourite. (If only they had a chicken skin version.)

Cream Onion Chicken ($25.90)
Juicy fried chicken tenders marinated with Chir Chir’s secret seasoning, then topped with sweet slivers of onion and served with creamy onion dipping sauce.

Of all the new dishes introduced, this was the ‘safest’ choice and would please those who love the sour-cream type of seasoning loaded with a mountain of sweet onions.

Yu-Ling Chicken ($23.90)
Wait, what is Yu-Ling Chicken?

Apparently, this is derived from the dish of “You Lin Ji” (油淋鸡) which has a special way of deep-frying the chicken such that the meat retains both crisp and juicy at the same time.

The Chinese dish has gotten popular in Korea, typically topped with chopped scallions with a sweet-vinegary sauce.

The Chir Chir rendition of the Yu-Ling Chicken uses a onion salsa sauce that retains the essence of being sweet, sour and slightly spicy, poured over on tasty deep-fried chicken cutlet.

Served with sliced onions and salad further drizzled with Chir Chir’s hot bacon dressing.

With this as a background, this did remind me of sweet and sour chicken, except that the sauce was on the lighter side. And yes, the chicken retained its crispiness on the side, while the meat was both chunky and moist.

Other than Fried Chicken and Roast Chicken, Chir Chir also offers other side such as Spicy Topokki ($15.90), Spicy Seafood Soup ($26.90), Chir Cheese Fries ($9.90), Topokki & Cheese ($9.90) and Mac & Cheese ($9.90 for single portion, $16.90 for double portion).

Seafood Mac & Cheese ($11.90 for single portion, $18.90 for double portion)
An Asian twist on an American favourite, this ‘Korean’ Macaroni and Cheese is a hot pan containing crabstick, ham, mozzarella, cheddar and cheese sauce.

Not as heavy and rich, and pretty manageable for sharing.

Honey Grape Salad ($16.90)
If you feel like you indulged in too much fried chicken, cleanse your taste buds with the Mango Salad ($12.90), Cajun Chicken Salad ($13.90), or Honey Grape Salad ($16.90).

The Honey Grape Salad is a fruity mix of generous servings of seedless cut chilled grapes, mixed nuts, ricotta and honey. The combination of grapes and ricotta may sound unusual, but delicious and refreshing. Imagine you are having a cheese platter.

Chir Chir – Bugis Junction
#02-50 Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria Street Singapore 188021
Tel: +65 251 0598
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last orders 9.30pm (Sun – Thu)
11am – 11pm Last orders 10.30pm (Fri – Sat)
https://www.facebook.com/ChirChirSingapore

Chir Chir – 313@somerset
#B3-04/05/06 313@somerset, 313 Orchard Road Singapore 238895
Tel: +65 6509 8364
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last orders at 9.30pm (Sun – Thu)
11am – 11pm Last orders 10.30pm (Fri – Sat)

Chir Chir – JEM
#04-13/14 JEM, 50 Jurong Gateway Road Singapore 608549
Tel: +65 6262 6171
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm Last orders at 9pm (Sun – Thu)
11am – 10pm Last orders 9.30pm (Fri – Sat)

* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Chir Chir.

You may be suffering from withdrawal of some sorts, after Korean hit drama “Crash Landing On You” played by Hyun Bin and Son Ye-Jin has come to an end. (Or you haven’t started yet??)

In the drama, South Korean heiress Yoon Se-ri (played by Son Ye-Jin) just loves their Korean Fried Chicken and can be seen delightfully crunching on them.

Yes, good endorsement from Genesis BBQ for its specialty Gold Olive Chicken. (Interestingly, this brand USED to be in Singapore – would they make a come back here?)

Perhaps it is time to jio some friends for some Korean Fried Chicken and talk about the drama and good-looking leads. Here are 10 Korean Fried Chicken Restaurants in Singapore you can head to:

Chir Chir – Bugis Junction
#02-50 Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria Street Singapore 188021
Tel: +65 251 0598
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last orders 9.30pm (Sun – Thu)
11am – 11pm Last orders 10.30pm (Fri – Sat)
Other outlets at 313@somerset and JEM

The Korean Fried Chicken restaurant offers over 20 variations of fried and roasted chicken, using only fresh chicken, never frozen ones.

To ensure flavour consistency across all its outlets, all proprietary sauces and marinades are imported from Seoul.

To keep up with the trends, the chain has introduced four brand-new chicken dishes to tantalise your tongue-buds, including Mala Chicken, Nacho Chicken, Cream Onion Chicken, and Yu-Ling Chicken.

The Mala Chicken ($25.90) contains chunky pieces of deep-fried chicken tenders wok-fried in a tongue-tingling mala sauce included with Szechuan peppercorn and dried chilli peppers.

Then served with sliced onions and creamy onion dipping sauce.

Perhaps the rendition could even remind you of the popular Szechuan dish of La Zi Ji, except that this comprises of bigger pieces of juicy chicken.

If you are the type who has ”wei la” (little spiciness) for your mala dishes, then this should be up your alley. Chir Chir (Bugis Junction)

Twins Korean Restaurant
7 Craig Rd Singapore 089667 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Tel: +65 6221 5205
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3pm, 5pm – 12am (Mon – Sat), 5pm – 11pm (Sun)

Twins Korean Restaurant is known for its array of Korean Fried Chicken, cooked up by a pair of handsome (because the word is always subjective) Korean twins and their team.

Only fresh chicken is used at Twins, not frozen chicken so that the dishes can retain their flavour and juiciness. Even all the coating sauces used are homemade as well.

This is for those who enjoy having different chicken parts, as half or whole chicken is used. The KFC offerings include Original Fried Chicken, Yangnyum Spicy (with very spicy option), Soy & Garlic, Cheese with Garlic Powder, and Boneless with home-made onion sauce.

If you are new to Twins, I would actually recommend trying out the Original Korean Fried Chicken ($18 for half, $36 for whole – 12 pieces) with home-made batter without the sauces, so that you can experience that crisp matched with moist, flavourful meat.

Hongdae Oppa
68 Orchard Road #B2-47 Plaza Singapura Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 9181 3038
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm Last Order 9.30pm (Sun – Thurs), 11:30am – 10:30pm Last Order 10pm (Fri – Sat, Eve PH, PH)

Hongdae Oppa Korean Dining House serves a broad selection of Urban K-Food including its signature Sizzlers (Bokkeumbap), Korean Fried Chicken, Hot Stone Jjigae, Tteokbokki, Ramyeon and side dishes.

Hongdae Oppa’s Chix ($10.90 for 4 pieces, $19.90 for 8 pieces, $36.90 for whole chicken of 16 pieces) features 100% fresh chicken, with each part marinated for 12 hours for maximum flavour.

You cannot go wrong with the Original, seasoning the chicken using an original recipe before deep-frying it to crunchy perfection.

What I liked was that the $10.90 portion was indeed quite sizable, with 4 pieces that are good for two to share. So even if you have ordered other dishes, I would recommend just getting some of the Korean Fried Chicken.

Get 1-for-1 Fried Chicken, Sizzlers, Tteokbokki, Ramyeon, Budae Jjigae (Army Stew) at Hongdae Oppa. Valid every weekday till 31 Mar 2020. T&C apply.
Head over this blogpost for more details.

Burger+ – Orchard Road
Wisma Atria Shopping Centre #01-37/38, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore 238877
Tel: +65 6694 1226
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Sun – Thu), 8am – 11pm (Fri – Sat)

Burger+ – Clarke Quay Central
#01-07, Clarke Quay Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Singapore 059817
Tel: +65 6909 5684
Opening Hours: 8am – 1am (Sun – Thu), 8am – 3am (Fri – Sat)

Perhaps you do not know Korean Burger place Burger+ also serves up Korean Fried Chicken. Using chicken that is always fresh, never frozen, this dish is available in Mix Parts, Drumsticks, or Wingettes & Drumettes.

What I liked is there are variable options, depending if you come dine as an individual or with a group. Drumsticks are priced at $10.80 for 3pcs, $19.80 for 6pcs, $29.80 for 9pcs; while Wingettes & Drumettes go at $9.20 for 6pcs, $17.20 for 12pcs, $24.80 for 18pcs.

Order the all-time favourite Honey Chicken ($15.80 for half, $28.20 for whole) , glazed with the candy sweet honey sauce, another B+ signature sauce.

The Yangnyeom Fried Chicken is another favourite – sweet, tangy and tingly. What I enjoyed was the stickiness of the sauce, that did remind me of the ones I had in Seoul. Burger+ (Clarke Quay Central)

I personally preferred the Wingettes & Drumettes which are more manageable to eat, and also better marinated on the inside.

Mom’s Touch
10 Paya Lebar Quarter #01-37 Singapore 409057
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Sun)

Popular Korean Fried Chicken brand Mom’s Touch Chicken and Burger has opened at Paya Lebar Quarter (PLQ).

The brand is called “Mom’s Touch” because it is supposed to represent the way a mother prepares for a meal for her family.

The chicken is hand-battered, hand-breaded, and marinated with Mom’s Touch special blend of seasoning for a fuller, tender and juicier taste. No ajummas spotted at the Singapore store though.

The menu is divided into chicken and burgers, with fried chicken items including Mom’s Fried Chicken in Original or Spicy ($8.70 for 2 piece set, $11.70 for 3), Mom’s Spicy Sauce Chicken ($8.90 for 2 piece set, $12 for 3), Chicken Tenderloin ($7 for 3 piece set).

A bundle of 9 pieces is priced at $27, and 12 pieces for $35.80 for the Mom’s Fried Chicken.

The Original Mom’s Fried Chicken reminded me of some of the other familiar brands, except that this was much cruncher and crispy. Not greasy to the touch too. Slightly dry though. Mom’s Touch (Paya Lebar Quarter)

Jinjja Chicken
249 Victoria Street (Bugis Village), Singapore 188032 (Bugis MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 9:30pm (Sun – Thu), 11am – 10pm (Fri – Sat)
Other outlets at Northpoint City, Jewel Changi Airport, Clementi Mall, Changi Airport T2

Jinjja (which is a colloquial way of saying “really?” in Korean) is found at the front part of Bugis Village (right opposite Bugis Junction, near the bus stop).

With the operational and cooking techniques sourced from a famous (but shall remain unnamed) fried chicken shop in Korea, some of the flavours such as the seasoning of the food are adapted to suit the local palates.

The signature food is the Jinjja Chicken that would come in the form of wings or drumlets, in portions of half or whole. Sauces available are Soy Garlic, Yangnyeom (spicy and sweet) and Monster (numbing chilli).

Crispy on the outside with tender flesh on the inside, I enjoyed the flavourful and well-sauced Soy Garlic Chicken.

The wings were evenly coated with a layer of savoury sauce with a touch of sweetness, yet did not ‘steal’ away the crisp of the outer skin. Also, you would realise that the chicken parts were moist yet not fatty.

Chicken Up
48 Tanjong Pagar Road Singapore 088469 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Tel: +65 6327 1203
Opening Hour: 5:30pm – 2am (Mon – Fri), Closed Sat, Sun

Chicken Up has been commonly known as “The Best Korean Fried Chicken In Singapore” (Straits Time’s Hsueh chose it in a blind-taste), and their expansion doesn’t stop.

Their Spicy Up Chicken has batter crispy with a ccccrunch.

Though my personal favourite is the Soya Chicken Wings coated with Korean soy sauce, matched with quite juicy and moist meat. If only their quality is consistent between branches.

Kko Kko Nara 꼬꼬나라
68 Tanjong Pagar Road Singapore 088489
Tel: +65 6224 7901
Opening Hours: 12pm – 3pm, 6pm – 3am (Mon – Sat), 6pm to 3am (Sun)

Unlike the other restaurants where the focus is fried chicken, Kko Kko Nara is a typical Korean restaurant with the usual Korean fare, which happens to be very known for their Korean Fried Chicken.

Interesting to know: The self-taught Korean owner used to rummage through rubbish bins of restaurants back home to find out what was used to make these fried chicken.

For those who love variety, get the Combo Chicken Set which has 9 pieces with 3 different favours – original, sweet and special garlic soy sauce chicken.

I liked the garlic chicken best, which was evenly marinated and tasty on the outside. Tried on various occasions, and didn’t seem consistent enough.

Hoho Chimek
East Village, 430 Upper Changi Road #01-45 Singapore 487048
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm (Mon, Wed – Sun), Closed Tues

Korean fried chicken of a different style. Smaller sized. The chicken Combo came in an individual friendly 6 pieces with fries set at $9.90. No GST or service charge.

When the chicken arrived, I thought they looked dry and small. Swiped them across the brown soy and garlic sauce, took a bit, thought, “Hmmm… so salty” and didn’t think much, initially.

Before I knew it, I kept repeating those actions, using those little drumlets to sweep across that sauce which I claimed to be salty just moments earlier.

There was a part of these chicken wings that were downright addictive. (HoHo Chimek (East Village))

4 Fingers Crispy Chicken
Ion Orchard B4, 2 Orchard Turn #B4-06A Singapore 238801
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm (Sun – Thurs), 11am – 10:30pm (Fri, Sat)

4 Fingers is easily the most popular Korean Fried Chicken brand among the youths.

Its specialty: the 4 Fingers Crispy Chicken Wings and Drummettes (6 pieces for $10.95 for combo) coming in flavours of soy garlic, spicy or mixed.

The seasoning was very tasty and you would want to slowly lick the sauces off the skin.

Note: quality between branches differ quite a bit so sometimes the chicken wings felt like they went for an extended sun-tan session, and were dry.

If you want something more moist and piping hot, then order the Chicken Drumsticks (3 pieces for $11.95 for combo).

Other Related Entries
Nipong Naepong (JEM)
Hongdae Oppa (Plaza Singapura)
Burger+ (Clarke Quay Central)
Chir Chir (Bugis Junction)
Dosirak (313@somerset)

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.

With the “Circuit Breaker” measures in place, many have turned to watching a lot of Korean dramas on Netflix from Itaewon Class, Kingdom, Hi Bye Mama, Hyena, to Hospital Playlist.

All these K-dramas may just make you craving for Korean food all over again.

While you cannot dine in for now, why not order some to your place while you eat some Korean Fried Chicken and rewatch Crash Landing On You all over again?

(Just a note: the opening timings of these restaurants are only indicative because as they are likely to change during the “Circuit Breaker” period.)

Chir Chir
#02-50 Bugis Junction, 200 Victoria Street Singapore 188021
Tel: +65 251 0598
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last orders 9.30pm (Sun – Thu)
11am – 11pm Last orders 10.30pm (Fri – Sat)

The Korean Fried Chicken restaurant offers over 20 variations of fried and roasted chicken, using only fresh chicken, never frozen ones.

To ensure flavour consistency across all its outlets, all proprietary sauces and marinades are imported from Seoul.

A good starting point is the Signature Fried Chicken available in Crispy, Garlicky, and Spicy. You can enjoy them as whole cuts, just the wings and drumlets, or as boneless tenders.

Note they deep-dry their chicken only upon order. It will take about 8 – 12 minutes before they are ready.

Some of their special highlights include the Nest Snow which features Cajun chicken tenders stacked with melted cheese and whipped cream; and Honey Butter Chicken made with boneless fried chicken mixed with Chir Chir’s proprietary honey butter seasoning and sauce. Chir Chir (Bugis Junction)

Delivery: Online Order Form
– Minimum $20 to order with $5 delivery fee
– FREE delivery for orders of $40 and above
– Get 10% off orders of $50 and above
– FREE bottle of soju for every $20 spent when customers self-pickup

Masizzim
313@Somerset #B3-02, 313 Orchard Road, Singapore 238895
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Some of Masizzim’s signature stews include the Beef Rib Stew, Pork Rib Stew, and Spicy Chicken Stew, with bubbling pots of succulent meat.

The recommended is the “King’s Ribs”, with beef ribs are first slow-cooked in Masizzim’s secret stew sauce until fork-tender, then stir-fried with capsicums, red dates, king oyster mushrooms, chilli powder and sesame seeds.

Also get the Honey Mustard Cheese Egg Roll, which would ooze out with stretchy mozzarella and cheddar, brightened with sweet-zingy honey mustard. Daebak! Masizzim (Westgate)

Delivery: Online Order Form
– Minimum $20 to order with $5 delivery fee
– FREE delivery for orders of $40 and above
– Get 10% off orders of $50 and above
– FREE bottle of soju for every $20 spent when customers self-pickup

Nipong Naepong – JEM
JEM #01-16, 50 Jurong Gateway Road, Singapore 608549 (Jurong East MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Jjamppong 짬뽕? It is a Korean-Chinese noodle dish in spicy seafood or pork broth usually flavoured with gochutgaru chilli powder.

Classic Jjamppong, Vongole Jjamppong, Alfredo-Jjamppong, Thai Jjamppong, Tomato Jjamppong, and even Salad Jjamppong… you get this dish transformed in 9 different renditions inspired by flavours from around the world.

The Jjolmyeon (wheat noodles) used are made in Korea exclusively for the brand, relatively thin and long, with chewy and tender bite.

The Cha Ppong is the Classic Jjamppong noodles, a bowl which came loaded with fried cabbage, mussels, squid, prawn, and quail eggs.

The soup was actually quite addictive, of richly flavoured seafood broth, balanced with the sweetness of the broth.

Cooked in high heat, it imparted some wok-hei and drinking the deep-spicy soup could result in some tissue-worth of head sweat. Nipong Naepong (JEM)

Delivery: Online Order Form
– Minimum $20 to order with $5 delivery fee
– FREE delivery for orders of $40 and above
– Get 10% off orders of $50 and above
– FREE bottle of soju for every $20 spent when customers self-pickup

Burger+ – Orchard Road
Wisma Atria Shopping Centre #01-37/38, 435 Orchard Road, Singapore 238877
Tel: +65 6694 1226
Opening Hours: 8am – 10pm (Sun – Thu), 8am – 11pm (Fri – Sat)
https://www.facebook.com/BurgerPlusSG
https://burgerplus.com.sg

Burger+ – Clarke Quay Central
#01-07, Clarke Quay Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street, Singapore 059817
Tel: +65 6909 5684
Opening Hours: 8am – 11pm (Mon – Sun)

This is perhaps the first Korean fast-casual restaurant in Singapore that offers Korean Burgers AND Korean Fried Chicken in the same place.

These knock-out K-burgers use buns made in-house using potato flour. Baking is done daily so you get hot, fluffy buns in every burger.

The meat patty, the heart of the burger, is made from premium beef imported from the US. The cheese is also US-sourced and is exclusive to Singapore.

Using chicken that is always fresh, never frozen, the Korean Fried Chicken is available in Mix Parts, Drumsticks, or Wingettes & Drumettes.

The all-time favourite is the Honey Chicken glazed with the candy sweet honey sauce; while the Yangnyeom Chicken would be sticky-sweet and just slightly-spicy. Burger+ (Clarke Quay Central)

Promotion: 30% OFF Total Bill for Takeaway & Deliveries
– Until 24th April 2020
-Both outlets @ Wisma Atria & Clake Quay Central
* not applicable on promotional items like “Beer O’clock”
* cannot use vouchers for redemption.
For delivery, please visit https://burgerplus.com.sg/order-now

Deliveroo special promo: Order any 2 Mains and get one FREE Kids Meal.
Plus, stand a chance to win a family trip to Disneyland Tokyo worth $5000.
Valid until 12 April 2020

Dosirak
313@Somerset #B2-15 Singapore 238895
Opening hours: 10am – 10pm (Mon – Fri), 11:30am – 10pm (Sat, Sun, including PH)

Dosirak, which refers to the traditional Korean lunchbox, is part of the product concept. Here, they serve the Bibimbap and all its ingredients inside your “lunchbox’, in this case, a capped pint.

The colourful pints which may remind you of those which store ice cream, making it easy for takeaways as well.

The fun part happens when you add the sauce and shake the Bibimbap until all the ingredients mix up and come together.

Their Bibimbap veers away from tradition, mixed by shaking, inspired by the traditional Korean lunchbox.

But how they balance the dish with the right ingredients, nutrition, and flavour remains true to Korean food philosophy.

Expect home-made quality for food ingredients, including kimchi and condiments. Dosirak (313@somerset)

Delivery
– Catersmith ($150 min island-wide, delivery charge varies)
– Deliveroo (for areas within Orchard and somerset, there’s a small delivery fee for orders under $12, free delivery for deliverooPlus members, island-wide delivery minimum $50, delivery charge $10) Single person bundles available.
– Grabfood (free delivery for orders within Orchard and Somerset, small delivery fee for orders below $10) Single person bundles available.
– Bulk delivery above $80 (order through www.dosirak.com.sg or email info@dosirak.com.sg, no delivery charge)

Seorae Korean Charcoal BBQ
Plaza Singapura #02-01 68 Orchard Road Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 9181 2709
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Seorae is one of the first Korean restaurants in Singapore that offer the signature Korean galmaegisal (premium pork skirt meat).

It is known for its Hameul Pajeon. Pajeon is a traditional Korean pancake dish that is made from a batter of wheat flour, rice flour, eggs, and scallions/fresh spring onions.

If you’re a fan of spring onions, you’ll love this dish as it’s stuffed with generous portions of it. And I mean chunks of highly visible long pieces.

Aside from the scallion being its prominent ingredient (the “pa” in panjeon means scallion, “jeon” means pan-fried battered food), this version (Hameul Pajeon) has seafood in it, such as prawns and squid.

The pancake here has a mildly crunchy exterior, but inside it is fluffy and almost mochi-like in texture.

Delivery:
– FREE delivery island-wide (min $39 purchase): https://seorae.oddle.me/en_SG/
– Also via foodpanda, GrabFood and Deliveroo (no promo for this)
– 20% OFF Pick up orders. Use promo code PICKUP20 (Plaza Singapura #02-01, Jem #B1-10)

Hongdae Oppa
68 Orchard Road #B2-47 Plaza Singapura Singapore 238839
Tel: +65 9181 3038
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 10pm Last Order 9.30pm (Sun – Thurs), 11:30am – 10:30pm Last Order 10pm (Fri – Sat, Eve PH, PH)

Hongdae Oppa Korean Dining House serves a broad selection of Urban K-Food including its signature Sizzlers (Bokkeumbap), Korean Fried Chicken, Hot Stone Jjigae, Tteokbokki, Ramyeon and side dishes.

Calm down your noodle cravings with this Korean-style Oppa! Ramyeon ($13.90), a signature dish served with springy noodles in a house-made spicy soup.

Joining the party are minced pork, slices of luncheon meat, onion, zucchini, fresh enoki mushrooms, seaweed, seasoned meat, and topped with an egg.

Counting calories? Go for the skinny noodle option with only 10 kcal.

I personally prefer the usual ramyeon for that al dente bite. But the plainer skinny noodles (sometimes called “miracle noodles” or “konjac noodles”) gels with the rich soup quite well. Hongdae Oppa (Plaza Singapura)

Delivery
Via foodpanda

Twins Korean Restaurant
7 Craig Rd Singapore 089667 (Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Tel: +65 6221 5205
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 3:00pm, 5:00pm – 12:00am (Mon – Sat), 5:00pm – 11:00pm (Sun)

Twins Korean Restaurant is known for its array of Korean Fried Chicken, cooked up by a pair of Korean twins and their team.

Its revamped menu includes more Korean-Chinese dishes, and the three primary Junghwa dishes of Jajangmyeon, Jjamppong, and Tang Soo Yook can all be found here.

The Tang Soo Yook is prepared based on a recipe shared with the twins, by one of the well-known restaurants in Seoul specialising in preparing this type of pork.

Said to be the Koreanised version of sweet and sour pork, the deep fried battered bite-sized pork pieces were served separately from the sauce. This is so as to retain the crispness. I loved the lemony twang to the sauce.

Delivery
Via foodpanda, GrabFood and Deliveroo.
20% OFF Takeaway Fried Chicken orders.

Kimchi Korean Restaurant (Suntec City Convention)
Suntec City Convention Tower, 3 Temasek Boulavard #02-387, Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 6337 7811
Opening Hours: 11:00am – 3:00pm, 5:00pm – 10:30pm (Mon – Fri), 11:00am – 10:30pm (Sat – Sun)

This home-grown brand has been popular and fairly successful, having gone on to open Guksu next door, and Hanguk Kitchen – which supplies cooked and dry food to other restaurants, cafes and hotels.

‘Sundubu’ is freshly curdled soft tofu stew. Kimchi’s version – the Daeji Gogi Sundubu Jjigae comes with seafood-based broth, soft tofu, pork collar, vegetables and egg, served with rice.

I ordered the pork version, though are other choices of chicken, clam, tuna and seafood.

Between all the stews, I actually liked this best. Perhaps because the taste was cleaner, with not that much going on.

Delivery
Via foodpanda, Deliveroo.

9PM Kkochi
Causeway Point #B1-K11 1 Woodlands Square Singapore 738099 (Woodlands MRT)
Tel: +65 6219 5884
Opening Hours: 11:30am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)

Inspired by the night markets of Korea such as the popular Myeongdong Street Market, 9PM Kkochi is a Korean Street Skewer specialty stall in Singapore, found at Woodlands Causeway Point’s basement.

Calm your pork barbecue cravings and try this Korean-style skewer. The Pork Belly Zig Zag is a skewered pork belly coated in an authentic Korean marinade, then grilled à la minute over charcoal.

The pork is threaded in a zig zag fashion (hence, the name of the dish) with 2 pieces of bell peppers in between.

The torch-flaming melts some of the pork fat and adds to the smoky taste of the Kkochi.

You can enjoy this hearty kkochi with a refreshing radish kimchi on the side, with the Pork Belly with Kimchi.

Delivery
– FREE delivery island-wide (min $39 purchase): https://9pmkkochi.oddle.me/
– Enjoy 20% off pick up orders – Use promo code PICKUP20 (At Causeway Point #B1-K11, JCube #B1-K08)

Other Related Entries
10 Korean Fried Chicken Restaurants In Singapore
12 Popular Restaurants In Singapore With Food Delivery & Takeaway
10 Delicious Singapore Hawker Food That May Taste Better DABAO
8 Popular Zi Char In Singapore With Islandwide Deliveries

* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube for more food news, food videos and travel highlights.