Korean

4 munchies: Who would have thought that the wok hei was strong in this plate of al dente jjolmyeon? Inspired by the Thai flavours found in Pad Thai, the Korean wheat noodles were stir-fried with prawns, clams, and mussels in a sweet and mildly spicy sauce. Definitely my most favourite among the 9 "ppong" dishes! #Burpproved

This was a hosted meal by Nipong Naepong.

4.5 munchies: Frankly speaking, no other places serve up excellent Korean fried chicken as well as Chir Chir does here in Singapore. In this relative new addition to the menu, juicy chunks of crispy chicken are coated generously with curry seasoning powder and other spices. The savoury, crunchy batter was absolutely smashing with a tinge of heat and sweetness, which made the untouched curry dipping sauce on the side seem redundant. #Burpproved

This was a hosted meal by Chir Chir; many thanks to Sixth Sense PR for the warm hospitality and invitation!

2.5 munchies: Served in a sizzling hotplate like the Cheesy Dakgalbi, the Soy Dakgalbi featured here is an alternative option for those who can't handle their spice. The steamed Korean rice might be mixed with seaweed flakes, flying fish roe, and sesame oil, but it lacked flavour and tasted bland. I guess the idea is to pair it with the sweet-savoury roasted chicken thigh that was glazed in BBQ and soy sauce marinade. The chicken might be the star of the dish (of course it's gotta be!), but I'm really not sure if the $32.90 price tag is justifiable for essentially just chicken, rice, and a hard-boiled egg.

This was a hosted meal by Chir Chir.

3 munchies: Tender roasted chicken thigh meat and chewy topokki tossed in a fiery fusion of dakgalbi sauce and gochujang. While the decadent moat of melted mozzarella was the highlight for many, the thick coating of cheese over the chicken was a tad heavy for me. In fact, the well-marinated chicken was good and spicy enough to be eaten on its own!

Caution: The Cheesy Dakgalbi is not for those who can't handle their spice, but definitely for cheese lovers.

This was a hosted meal by Chir Chir.

With a total of 10 hot and cold stations including Korean, Barbecue, Deep-Fried, Hot Dishes & Noodles, Seafood, and Dessert Bar, diners will be spoilt for choice at this new buffet restaurant that features multiple ‘live’ cooking and carving stations. Sea & Blue also rotates its food offerings every fortnight so diners can look forward to a new experience with each visit.

Despite the extensive offering of more than 100 food selections, the only dish that really stood out for me was the Suckling Pig from the Hot Dishes & Noodles station. Prices range from $42++ to $64++ for adults during lunch, and $58++ to $68++ for dinner. Children dine at $22++ to $26++ at lunch and $26++ at dinner. I'm not sure if the suckling pig alone would warrant a second visit, though.

This was a hosted meal by Sea & Blue; many thanks to Sixth Sense PR for the warm hospitality and invitation!

📷: Canon EOS M5, courtesy of Canon Singapore.

In this first collaborative mash up, Artichoke and Joo Bar teamed up to present the best of Middle Eastern and Korean flavours over the past two Sundays! The four mains featured here are Crabbibi (soy-marinated crab & maple-infused bacon with za'atar crouton & kimchi), Arti-Joo Fried Chicken, Pig Bang (Bossam-style braised pork sandwiched in pita bread), and Lambbokki (pulled lamb shoulder & fried tteokbokki in gochujang gravy).

My top pick goes to the shish taouk fried chicken. Coated with rice flour and deep-fried to crisp perfection, the lemon juice and yoghurt used in the marinade not only tenderised the meat, but also kept it juicy and flavourful. What really wowed us was the garlicky and deliciously potent toum dip! Make this dish a permanent on the menu, please! #AnnyeongHabibi

📷: Canon EOS M5, courtesy of Canon Singapore.

3.5 munchies: Back at this fresh-from-tank seafood specialty restaurant and ordered the Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup for the second time, the broth is slow-cooked with premium-grade Korean ginseng, chicken, red dates, garlic, and scallion for at least 3 hours. I liked the subtlety of the ginseng flavour, which, fortunately, did not overpower the whole dish with its earthy, bitter taste. Definitely nourishing and comforting for the soul!

4 munchies: Oozing with melted mozzarella and cheddar, these chunky egg rolls cradled a moist, soft-scrambled interior that serve as an excellent side dish for any meal of the day. The honey mustard added sweetness and zing to the omelette, offering a sweet contrast (or ending) to the savoury stews that this place is known for – the spicy seafood stew and pork rib stew are my favourites. #Burpproved

3 munchies: Featuring freshly-cut and crushed cherry tomatoes encrusting a mound of finely shaved ice, this bowl of bingsu makes for a refreshing treat to share with friends. The stash of plum powder in the middle added a nice salty counterpoint to the natural sweetness of the cherry tomatoes and homemade sweetened milk sauce. If only shaved milk ice were used in this dessert – the milkier, the better!

2.5 munchies: Spicy pork ribs and a combination of premium cheddar and mozzarella served in a traditional Korean iron-cast pan. Unfortunately, the thick strings of cheese that rolled around each individual rib was too heavy for me (flavour & texture wise). The gochujang used for the ribs was one-dimensional – all I could taste was just spice.

The new signature innovation also comes cut fries, corn kernels, pineapple cubes, and garlic mayonnaise. Absolute cheese lovers would dig this dish, though.

4 munchies: Equivalent to 4 espresso shots, 9 blocks of frozen K1 espresso were suspended in temperature-controlled milk to bring out the well-balanced Brazilian and Costa Rican blend and its chocolatey undertones. What I really enjoyed about the beverage was how it started out creamy and as the ice began to melt, it amplified the intensity of the coffee flavour without diluting the drink.

dal.komm COFFEE, which is featured in popular Korean TV drama Descendants of the Sun, launched its first local flagship outlet earlier this month at The Centrepoint.

3 munchies: Filled with seaweed and tuna flakes, these moist and chunky egg rolls were undoubtedly homely and utterly scrumptious. The omelette itself was good enough to be eaten on its own, so I thought it was a tad pity that the tomato sauce and mayonnaise drizzle ruined the dish a little for me. Go for the Honey Mustard Cheese Egg Roll instead if you're a fan of gooey mozzarella and cheddar with some zing!