BHC Chicken @ Marina Square - Popular Korean Fried Chicken Chain Arrives In Singapore Serving Popular Signatures

BHC Chicken, one of South Korea’s most popular fried chicken chains, has arrived in Singapore with a range of its best-selling signatures!

Even though they have opened for over a couple of weeks, they still sport a long queue of diners. This is BHC Chicken's first outlet in Singapore and the fourth internationally. They are located on the second floor of Marina Square, right next to where Eccellente by HAO mart sits.

BHC Chicken Sides 3.8/5

We started with a variety of sides, namely the Cheese Balls ($5.90 for Original, $6.90 for Bburing), Bburing Cheese Stick ($6.90) and Bburing Corndog ($6.90).

The crowd favourite among them is the Cheese Balls of mochi-like spheres with molten cheese within. These are fried to a crunch on the outside while retaining the soft and stretchy chewiness inside. The Bburing Cheese Stick has sticks of breaded cheese, while the Bburing Corndog has sausages with a thicker breaded exterior. Both have a generous coating of the Bburing seasoning, a highlight at BHC Chicken.

Sotteok 3.5/5

The last of our appetisers was Sotteok, which is Korean sausage skewered with rice cake. It costs $5.90 for the spicy Red King or $6.90 for the Bburing option. The rice cakes were a little hard in texture for our liking.

Rabokki 3.8/5

Apart from the range of fried chicken, the menu has different kinds of mains. The Rabokki (from $12.90) has rice cakes, ramyeon, Korean fishcake and a hard-boiled egg in a spicy-sweet sauce. It is a bit pricey for what it has, but it was appetising and quite comforting.

Kimchi Fried Rice 3.8/5

The unassuming Kimchi Fried Rice ($9.90) was a surprising dish for us. We liked the sweet and tangy flavours from the fried red kimchi, which made me keep going back for more. That said, I would have loved the addition of Korean crispy seaweed as garnish and if the rice was not as wet.

Bburinkle 4.2/5

Bburinkle is BHC Chicken's signature chicken flavour. It has fried chicken coated in cheese and vegetable-flavoured seasoning, served with Bburing Bburing dip, a creamy and lighter dip version of the same seasoning. As a result, this has a unique garlicky, sweet and cheesy flavour, unlike the usual Korean fried chicken options you typically expect.

My dining companions and I thought the dip was optional as it was already very flavourful on its own. However, this is best to share as it can get quite heavy after a while. What we liked most was how succulent the chicken meat was, and not greasy even though it was deep fried. Prices of the chicken vary across flavours - a whole chicken is priced from $29.90, wings at $23.50 and boneless at $28.

Hot Retro 4.2/5

If you are a fan of no-frills classic fried chicken like me, check out BHC's Retro. Deep fried in sunflower oil, you will get to enjoy juicy chicken meat with a well-coated crunch in its original form. For that additional kick of appetising spice, opt for the Hot Retro. The spice is manageable and leans to the mild side.

Macho King 3.8/5

The last of the flavours we tried was the Macho King, which uses a coating of aged soy sauce and a sweet honey-based oriental sauce. This was my least favourite of the three as I found the sauce too overpowering for the batter and the chicken. If you are ordering this, dig into it immediately upon serving for the maximum crunch.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


BHC Chicken
Marina Square
6 Raffles Boulevard
#02-332A, #02-332F
Singapore 039594
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Nearest MRT: Esplanade (CC Line), Promenade (CC, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 330pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit B and D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Peppermint @ PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay - Gastronomic Journey To Korea With All-You-Can-Eat Seoul Good Korean Buffet

A few more days to enjoy the unique Seoul Good Korean Buffet at PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay, which was specially put together by Chef de Cuisine Leon Yee and his culinary team. You can expect a range of popular Korean dishes alongside classic international buffet highlights.

The buffet costs $68/adult for Weekday Lunch, $78/adult for Weekend Lunch, $98/adult for Dinner from Monday to Thursday, and $108/adult for Dinner from Friday to Sunday.

Do note that the menus for lunch and dinner across the week differ slightly and are available only till the end of May.

Seafood Island

The popular Seafood Island featured a selection of fresh seafood. Among them include Lobster, Snow Crab, Tiger Prawn and Freshly Shucked Oyster. We were especially impressed by the quality of the Lobster and Snow Crab, which had firm and fresh meat.

Starters

Other starters include a salad bar with an assortment of cheese, cold cuts, and bread and rolls that offer a variety, such as Mini Ciabatta and Dark Rye Sour Bread.

Japanese - Chilled

In the chilled selection at the Japanese Corner, there are four types of Sashimi on rotation, Maki and Sushi, chilled Soba and Udon, and more.

Japanese - Warm

You can enjoy Steamed Chawanmushi, Tempura, Miso Soup and other fried items for their warm selection.

Korean Highlights

Moving on to the main highlights of the buffet, the Korean dishes. During our visit, we had the comforting Samgyetang (Ginseng Chicken Soup), four types of Banchan - Spicy Fish Cake, Roasted Sesame Seaweed, Braised Potatoes and Cabbage Kimchi.

The hot Korean dishes were what we enjoyed most. These include Spicy Stir-Fried Octopus, Korean Cheese Grilled Lobster, Korean Spicy Chicken Skewers, Korean Rice Cake and Korean Style BBQ Premium Meat. They were each flavourful and authentic, reminding us of our recent Korea trip.

Korean Noodle Stall

At the Noodle Stall, there was Jjampong, a Korean Spicy Seafood Noodle Soup with a mini lobster and slices of cheese to pair. It packed a substantial heat.

Korean Dishes

Other Korean dishes featured include Soegogi Beef, Seafood, Noodles & Grains on rotation.

During our visit, there was Korean Grilled Angus Beef Slice, Seafood Scallion Pancake and Kimchi Fried Rice.

Indian Selection

The Indian section of the buffet was pretty popular among diners, especially for the light and crisp Pappadum and Vegetable Dahl.

Desserts

For Desserts, our favourites were the Whole Cakes - Gianduja Hazelnut, Tropical Mango and Strawberry Mascarpone.

Other sweets available were Durian Pengat, different Shooter Desserts and Korean specials, such as Yakgwa and Fried Rice Cake.

The dessert selection continued further. There were also Sliced Fresh Tropical Fruits, Nonya Kueh, Ice Cream and Cookies.

Reservations to the buffet can be made at https://www.tablecheck.com/en/parkroyal-collection-marinabay-peppermint/reserve/message or via a phone call to +65 6845 1111.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Peppermint
PARKROYAL COLLECTION Marina Bay
6 Raffles Blvd
Level 4
Singapore 039594
Tel: +65 68451111
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Nearest MRT: Promenade MRT (CC, DT Line), Esplanade MRT (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Lunch
Weekdays: 12pm - 2.30pm
Weekends: 12pm - 3pm

Dinner
Daily: 6.30pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn right and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Cafe Usagi TOKYO @ Suntec City - Featuring Mochi Creations, Teas And Other Modern Japanese Desserts

Cafe Usagi TOKYO opened its space late last year in Suntec City, with a second kiosk recently introduced at 111 Somerset. "Usagi" translates to rabbit in Japanese, and decorations in the cafe are in line with its name.

Led by Japanese Chef/Creative Director Yuka Shigeno and co-founder Artini, the cafe features a range of Japanese desserts with modern twists, focusing on mochi and tea-based creations. Coming 9 and 10 April 2023, enjoy a 1-for-1 Mochi Ice Cream Promo at their Suntec City outlet (limited to 2 orders per customer, while servings last).

Strawberry Daifuku 4/5

All of Cafe Usagi's desserts are crafted in-house, including the Strawberry Daifuku ($6.90). It was well-liked among my dining companions. Wrapped in freshly made soft and chewy mochi skin, the decent-sized strawberry had a thin layer of red bean paste around it. While the red bean paste could be smoother, the strawberries were juicy and sweet.

Mochi Dorayaki 2.5/5

Apart from the range of mochi desserts, the cafe hopes to focus on dorayaki. The Mochi Dorayaki ($6.90) has a combination of both. Layered between two dorayaki was mochi and red bean paste. The overall texture was dry and needed syrup or sauce to pair. I wasn't a fan of the dorayaki on its own, as it had a slight aftertaste that wasn't entirely pleasant.

Strawberry Matcha Dorayaki Cake 2.5/5

The Strawberry Matcha Dorayaki Cake ($9.90) had matcha cream in the middle and sliced strawberries all around. While this had a better combination than the previous Mochi Dorayaki, the dorayaki affected the overall experience.

Iced Uji Matcha Latte 3/5

Unfortunately, my Iced Uji Matcha Latte ($6.80) wasn't whisked well and came slightly clumpy. It also didn't carry the fragrance and robustness I hoped for. To be fair, I tried the same matcha latte at their 111 Somerset outlet, and the experience was better.

Mochi Waffles with Kuromitsu Syrup 4/5

Our unanimous favourite was the Mochi Waffles with Kuromitsu Syrup ($8.50). We paired this with the Samurai Blue Sea Salt Ice Cream ($5). If you are a mochi fan, you will likely enjoy this. The mochi skin is sandwiched in between, which results in a slight crispness around the waffle edges and a chewy interior. I recommend digging into this while it's hot, as the texture gets slightly sticky after cooling down.

Ceremonial Uji Matcha Mochi 4/5

The use of mochi skin continues in their Mochi Ice Cream ($6 onwards). You can first choose a preferred ice cream flavour, and the staff will prepare the order on the spot by wrapping the selected scoop with mochi skin. We found the Uji Matcha ice cream quite sweet, but it had a much more robust flavour than the matcha latte.

Lavender Hojicha Pot 4/5

After the variety of cold desserts, the Lavender Hojicha Pot ($7.90) was extra welcoming. We learnt that many of the tea blends in Cafe Usagi are Chef Yuka's creations. This hot Lavender Hojicha tea, in particular, was fragrant and smooth.

Matcha with Hokkaido Azuki Red Bean and Mochi Bread 3.5/5

Lastly, it's the newly launched Matcha with Hokkaido Azuki Red Bean and Mochi Bread ($8.80 per Loaf). Available in Original Milk, Matcha and Hokkaido Chocolate Chip flavours, they will be available daily from early April in limited quantities.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Cafe Usagi TOKYO
Suntec City Tower 3
8 Temasek Boulevard
#02-615A
Singapore 038983
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Nearest MRT: Promenade MRT (CC, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Nagai Hokkaido Cuisine @ Suntec City - Omakase From $98, By Sapporo Kaiseki’s First Overseas Outlet

Nagai Hokkaido Cuisine joins Suntec City as the newest Japanese dining concept under Eat at Seven. All the way from Sapporo, Japan, this is Nagai's first overseas outpost, featuring their unique brand of Kaiseki, helmed by Head Chef Makoto Nagai. The 64-seater restaurant offers counter seats, open dining areas and three private dining rooms for private occasions. Sit at the counter, and you can observe the chefs intricately putting your meals together.

The new restaurant offers 4 omakase menus with ingredients procured directly from Sapporo and air-flown into Singapore twice a week to showcase produces of the best freshness and quality. The omakase menus are priced at $98, $138, $198 and $380. I had the $198 menu, which included an appetiser, 5-kinds sashimi platter, a grill item, a daily special, a main dish and a dessert.

Appetiser 3.5/5

The appetiser featured a Fried Ebi, complemented with sides such as mentai and persimmon.

Hand-carved Ice Plate Sashimi 4.2/5

Served on a hand-carved ice plate made from a huge block of ice, the Hand-carved Ice Plate Sashimi was a feast for the eyes and the bellies. You will find a highlight of fresh seafood specially imported from Hokkaido, such as salmon, tuna, kazunoko, whelk, botan ebi and more. The botan ebi was our favourite, being impressively sweet.

Oyster 2-Ways 3.8/5

Next was Oyster 2-Ways - done fresh and tempura fried. Both oysters were fresh and creamy, though I preferred the fresh oyster as it was more distinctly briny and sweet.

Snow Crab Stew 4.5/5

The Snow Crab Stew was undoubtedly the best surprise of the night. Chunks of sweet snow crab meat brimming in a thick and comforting broth. It provided an extremely comforting pause amidst the rest of the chilled dishes. The chef kindly topped up more crab meat for my bowl as I don't take beef. My dining companion, who had the beef, had great compliments for the tender beef slices.

Sashimi Roll 3.8/5

Before dessert, we were served a slice of Sashimi Roll with a centre of salmon, tuna, and more. It is then topped with briny ikura. We found it average. At the same time, we were expecting a bigger portion for our mains.

Hokkaido Milk Ice Cream with Sweet Potato 3.8/5

Dessert was Hokkaido Milk Ice Cream with Sweet Potato. I appreciated the natural sweetness of the sweet potato, and the ice cream was just right in its creaminess and milkiness.

The overall omakase experience was decent. The freshness of the ingredients shone through, but we hoped for more surprises and bigger portions, considering its price tag. The items are also more seafood-focused, which is something diners may want to take note of.

Premium Kaisen Don

Apart from their omakase menus, you can look out for 15 types of lunch sets. Prices start at $28, and the menu features items such as Premium Kaisen Don, Wagyu Roast Beef Set, Tempura Set and Yakitori Set. The Premium Kaisen Don features a mixture of fresh sashimi served with miso soup, smooth chawanmushi and pickles.

Photos and words by Jo. A girl who loves her Mala (麻辣) at Da La (大辣), discovering hidden food gems and a good cup of matcha latte. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Nagai Hokkaido Cuisine
Suntec City
Tower 1
3 Temasek Boulevard
#03-314
Singapore 038983
Tel: +65 66845054
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Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC, DT Line), Esplanade (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Esplanade MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Black Knight Hotpot (黑武士火鍋) @ Millenia Walk - Authentic & Pioneer Taiwan Hotpot Establishment Well-loved By Celebrities

Black Knight Hotpot (黑武士火鍋) is a pioneer hotpot establishment from Taiwan located at Millenia Walk. The premium Taiwanese hotpot experience is well-loved by celebrities for its house-made soups boiled for 16 hours. In addition, it offers seven different slow-cooked soup bases for an incomparable hotpot experience.

Fish Maw Chicken Pot and Spicy Pot

The hotpot experience comes in two sizes - single and double pot, across seven tantalising soup bases. The seven flavours are Drunken Pot, Fish Maw Chicken Pot, Spicy Pot, Pork Tripe & Chicken Peppercorn Pot, Nourishing Beauty Pot, Sliced Pork Pickled Cabbage Pot and Taro Spareribs Pot.

A good choice is the Assorted Meat Platter (market price) if you need help deciding what to go for. It comprises three different types of beef and pork. Premium choices include Japanese A5 Wagyu, Japanese A4 Wagyu, Japanese Wagyu Beef Shank and Snowflakes Wagyu Beef.

Besides the quality meat cuts, there are classic hotpot items such as fried bean curd rolls, quail's egg, lobster meatballs, beef tripe, a variety of vegetables, fungus and noodles.

There is also fresh seafood on the menu Scallops, Bamboo Clams, Live Prawns, Crab, Lobster, Oyster and Abalone. The Handmade Shrimp Paste topped with ebiko is a must-have. It has a delightful crunchy texture when it is cooked.

Black Truffle Fried Rice

Black Knight Hotpot even offers cooked dishes on its menu, unlike other hotpot restaurants. Diners can look forward to various cooked seafood such as Chilli Crabs, Cereal Prawns, Steamed Fish and more. To complete your meal, you may also complement it with hot dishes such as Mongolian Short Ribs, Sweet & Sour Pork, Fried Frog Leg etc. There are also Fried Rice and Noodles to fill you up if you are still not full.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Black Knight Hotpot
Millenia Walk
Nihon Street
9 Raffles Blvd
#02-02/05
Singapore 039596
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Nearest MRT: Promenade (CC, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 4pm, 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Promenade MRT station. Take Exit A or B. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]