happy gal 88

This blog is about all things that make me happy. Why happy gal? Because I strongly believe that life is short and we must treasure every second of it. Why brood and live life unhappily?! I hope every reader finds some happiness on this blog : ) See my Korean blog - Seoul Far Seoul Good - @ http://www.seoulfarseoulgood.blogspot.com/

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Mad About Korean Food

Finally, my ratings of Korean restaurants I’ve tried is out. Apologies for taking so long but I kept trying new restaurants and the list just kept growing. There’s one more which I tried last week… but I’ll keep that for another posting. Please note that these are my personal opinion based on the dishes that I tried. It's rather long... read on if you are as crazy about Korean food.

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Two years ago, ask me anything about Korean drama, singers or food and I’ll just stare at you blankly. But ever since I watched Dae Jang Geum in October 2005, my life has changed. And Korean food is one of those things that I’ve grown to love so much so that I must have it at least once a week. Crazy, isn’t it?

All thanks to a friend too who brought me to Han Ka Ram at Heeren more than a year ago. Still, it wasn’t until late last year that my love for Korean food deepened so much so that I’ve even started cooking Korean dishes and I must have kimchi in my fridge.

Recently, I’ve been really lucky to be given the opportunity to contribute an article in a local magazine. In the process, I tried out more restaurants in Singapore. Here’s a review of the 15 Korean restaurants I’ve visited. As I was not planning to do restaurant reviews when I dined in some of these restaurants, you’ll notice that some of the descriptions are not that complete – that’s because I was there too long ago to remember the details. For these restaurants, my review is simply the lasting impression on that place or food. I will try to do more postings with details and pix of those I visited more recently.

As for the ratings used, I gave 1 for poor and 5 for excellent. Factors rated include the quality of food, price and quality of service. For price, 1 would mean very expensive and vice versa. Each review will end with short write-up on whether I’ll recommend to friends or visit the restaurant again.


Top 3 Favourites:
1. Jang Shou Charcoal BBQ (pix above)
2. Ju Shin Jung
Korean Charcoal Barbeque
3. Togi Korean Restaurant
(pix below)


Worst 3 Restaurants:
1. Sera Bel Authentic Korean Restaurant
2. Crystal Jade Korean Restaurant

3. [Yet to be found]
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Auntie Kim’s Korean Restaurant (265 Upper Thomson Road Singapore 574392 Tel: 6452 2112)

Dishes I tried: Seafood Pancake, Grilled Pork Rib, Bibimbap
Complimentary side dishes: 4-6

Food: 4
Price: 3
Service: 3

Would I recommend to friends?
Yes, this place is certainly worth visiting – the Grilled Pork Rib is thick and juicy and quantity given is generous given the price that you have to pay. But the restaurant is not easily accessible and finding a parking lot will be quite difficult especially on a weekend.


BQ Korea (70-74 Telok Ayer Street, #01-01 Far East Square. Tel: 6536 7703 Closed on Sundays)

Dishes I tried: Set Lunch – Bulgogi that came with Kimbap
Complimentary side dishes: 2

Food: 3
Price: 4
Service: 3

Would I recommend to friends?
Guess it’s ok if you need a quick lunch.


Chang Korean Charcoal BBQ Restaurant (18C Dempsey Road Tel: 6473 9005)

Dishes I tried: Seafood Pancake, Marinated Pork Rib, Bean Paste Stew
Complimentary side dishes: 6-8

Food: 3
Price: 2
Service: 2

Would I recommend to friends?
Unlikely. The restaurant is parked in some ulu place which is not easily accessible unless you drive. Plus the service is slow and the food quality wasn’t not that spectacular.


Crystal Jade Korean Restaurant (Ngee Ann City #04-20. tel: 6733-3229)
Dishes I tried: Bibimbap, Ginseng chicken soup
Complimentary side dishes: None. You have to pay $6 for a set of 6 little saucers of side dishes that didn’t taste good.

Food: 2
Price: 2
Service: 3

Would I recommend to friends?
No. This was a big disappointment. The Ginseng soup was quite blend and the bibimbap didn’t quite taste like bibimbap.


Han Ka Ram (The Heeren, #05-02A, Orchard Road, Tel: 67340422)

Dishes I tried: Seafood Pancake, Stir-fried ginseng chicken
Complimentary side dishes: 2-3

Food: 3
Price: 3
Service: 3

Would I recommend to friends?
The quality is so-so but too few side dishes. And they’re nothing to shout about. But it's been about two years since I dined there, so things may have changed.


Hyang To Gol (Amara Hotel 165 Tanjong Pagar Rooad, Level 2 Tel: 6220 7160)

Dishes I tried: Seafood Pancake, Kimchi Pancake, Barbequed Pork Steak, Beef bulgolgi (marinated and unmarinated), Bibimbap, Bean Paste soup with seafood, kimchi hot pot, Grilled Mackarel, Grilled Cod fish, brisket, raw beef, chapjae (fried sweet potato noodles with vegetables)
Complimentary side dishes: 12

Food: 4
Price: 3
Service: 3

Would I recommend to friends?
Yes. While the price is a bit on the high side, this restaurant has one of the most extensive menu compared to many others that I’ve been to. It’s also one of the few which serves raw fish probably ‘cos it caters to a large number of Japanese hotel guests. The food is tasty but they seem to use quite a bit of msg in their soups. And I think they have one of the best bibimbap and pajeon (seafood pancake) among the various restaurants here. While I have not encountered bad service delivery, one of my friends had a very bad experience.


Jang Shou Charcoal BBQ (Esplanade Mall, 8 Raffles Avenue, #01-13A/B Tel: 63378880)

Dishes I tried: Brisket, Jang Shou Special Pork Rib, Bibimbap, Arrowroot cold noodle, beef ribs bulgogi, beef bulgogi, kimchi stew, beef rib stew
Complimentary side dishes: 10-12

Food: 5
Price: 4
Service: 5

Would I recommend to friends?
Definitely! While I’ve only been there twice, it has become my favourite Korean restaurant! Why? Not only ‘cos Rain was there when he came to Singapore. The food is really delicious – no msg is used, the service is excellent and the owner is really friendly and nice. Look out for more detailed posting and of course, photos ; )


Jang Won Korean Restaurant Pte Ltd (44 Mosque Street #01-01 Tel: 6532 6949)

Dishes I tried: Chicken bulgogi set, gimbap, bibimbap
Complimentary side dishes: 4

Food: 3
Price: 3
Service: 3

Would I recommend to friends?
Not really. Compared to its neighbour opposite (TOGI – see rating below), it’s a far cry. The bulgogi was too oily and the bibimbap looks and tastes like those in food courts. Gimbap was nothing to shout about.


Ju Shin Jung Korean Charcoal Barbeque (27 West Coast Highway #01-18/19 YESS Centre, former 88 Restaurant Tel: 6464 0872 or 1018 East Coast Parkway #02-01 Tel: 64479279)

Dishes I tried: Seafood Pancake, Barbequed Pork Steak, Bibimbap, beef ribs bulgogi, beef bulgogi, chicken bulgogi, seafood hotpot
Complimentary side dishes: 10-16

Food: 5
Price: 3
Service: 4

Would I recommend to friends?
Yes, if you order any two grilled dishes, the side dishes that come with it is the most extensive in Singapore. But if you order other main dishes, there are slightly fewer dishes. But I wouldn’t enjoy the seafood hotpot. The octopus meat was so tough that it can hardly be chewed.


Manna Korean Restaurant (101 Telok Ayer Street Tel: 6227 7425)

Dishes I tried: Assortment of Pancake, Bibimbap
Complimentary side dishes: 7

Food: 4
Price: 3
Service: 3

Would I recommend to friends?
I love the kimchi but found the pancake a bit too oily. Bibimbap was not bad too. But I think they use quite a bit of msg.


New Seoul Korean Restaurant (72 Peck Seah Street Heritage Court Tel: 6324 3009)

Dishes I tried: Chicken Bulgogi set lunch, Beef Bulgogi set lunch
Complimentary side dishes: 4

Food: 3
Price: 4
Service: 3

Would I recommend to friends?
This place is frequented by many Korean tourists. I found the bulgogi too oily. The beef set tasted better than the chicken. But I enjoyed the side dishes. Worth considering for a quick and cheap lunch.


Sera Bel Authentic Korean Restaurant (60 Eu tong Seng Street Furama Hotel/Shopping centre #03-01 Tel: 65350336)

Dishes I tried: Seafood Pancake, Beef Bulgogi, Kimchi jjigae
Complimentary side dishes: 4

Food: 1
Price: 2
Service: 2
Would I recommend to friends?
Definitely NO. It’s the worst Korean restaurant that I’ve gone to. I should have guessed when I saw food that was almost untouched left on a table with Korean newspaper – the Koreans who were sat there probably found the food too terrible to be eaten.


Su Korean Cuisine (14 Scotts Road, #01-21, Far East Plaza Tel: 6235 0420)

Dishes I tried: Spicy Rice Cake, Seafood Pancake, Assorted Grilled dish (Pork, beef, octopus, squid), Rice Cake Stew
Complimentary side dishes: 6

Food: 3
Price: 3
Service: 2
Would I recommend to friends?
The spicy rice cake didn’t have much veggie or meat (my friend said what I cooked was better, ha ha) and the rice cake stew was too blend. The rest are not too bad. Unfortunately, they don’t refill the side dishes.


Togi Korean Restaurant (11 Mosque Street, Chinatown Tel: 6221 0830)

Dishes I tried: Ginseng Chicken Soup, Spicy Octopus, Bibimbap
Complimentary side dishes: 7

Food: 4
Price: 4
Service: 3

Would I recommend to friends?
Yes, if you want authentic home cooked Korean food. Very reasonable price. While the eatery is small and the décor is nothing much to speak of, I could feel the warmth and coziness, just like dining at home.