Seorae Korean Charcoal BBQ @ Northpoint - Launches Singapore’s First Ever Hangari Dry-Aged Meat

Seorae Korean Charcoal BBQ is renowned for being the first restaurant in Singapore to offer the exclusive Korean galmaegisal, a premium pork skirt meat. This delicacy, once reserved for Korean royalty, has become a favourite among Korean food enthusiasts. First conceptualised in Seorae village, South Korea, it has grown into the leading Korean BBQ chain and cemented its reputation as a rare pork-cut specialist, with over 300 outlets established globally. Seorae has since expanded to 6 outlets in Singapore, with its newest outlet in Northpoint City. They are dedicated to presenting the authentic flavours of Korean BBQ and traditional cuisine, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking a taste of Korea's culinary heritage.

Hangari Dry-Aged Pork Belly 4.5/5

Seorae's latest addition to their Signature Collection is the Hangari Dry-Aged Pork Belly ($32/200g), a culinary masterpiece aged in traditional Korean Hangari pots with a proprietary blend of three essences. This careful ageing process in a controlled 3-degree chill chamber produces a uniquely flavourful and tender pork belly cut. It promises a melt-in-your-mouth texture that is a true indulgence for the senses. To elevate the experience further, this exquisite dish complements exceptionally well with a side of sambal kimchi onion, adding a delightful hint of spice and complexity to the rich flavours of the dry-aged pork belly. Make a classic lettuce wrap by placing a piece of pork belly within a lettuce leaf and topping it with the sambal kimchi onion.

Pork Skirt 4.2/5

Seorae Korean Charcoal BBQ's signature dish, the Pork Skirt ($23.90), is a rare and exclusive delicacy as only 250 grams of this premium pork skirt meat can be sourced from a full-grown pig. The meat undergoes a meticulous 30-minute marination process using Seorae's authentic Korean spices, resulting in a juicy and flavourful experience. What sets this dish apart is its remarkable flavour profile, with all the succulence you'd desire from pork while being notably leaner, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a delectable and indulgent yet less fatty meat option.

Iberico Black Pork Tasting Platter 4/5

The Iberico Black Pork Tasting Platter ($68/350g) at Seorae Korean Charcoal BBQ introduces diners to the exquisite flavours of Iberico black pork from Spain. This exceptional tasting platter showcases a carefully curated selection of premium cuts, totalling 350 grams of succulent Iberico pork per serving. It offers a unique opportunity to savour each distinct cut, allowing you to explore the nuances of this exceptional pork variety: Abanico, Rib Finger, Skirt Meat, Jowl and Pork Tongue. The Rib Finger meat is known for its juicy and well-marbled qualities, delivering a delightful combination of tenderness and flavour. The Pork jowl is exceptionally tender and showcases a luxurious fattiness that adds depth and succulence to every bite. Our favourite is the Abanico, which is delicate and beautifully marbled, offering a rich and buttery flavour.

Watermelon Soju 4/5

The Watermelon Soju at Seorae Korean Charcoal BBQ is a refreshing and visually captivating beverage served inside a hollowed-out watermelon with balls of watermelon meat. This delightful drink combines fresh watermelon juice with soju, offering a perfect balance of natural sweetness and a mild alcoholic kick. It serves as a palate cleanser and pairs excellently with the restaurant's grilled meats.

Seorae Korean Charcoal BBQ also offers a tempting array of free-flow sides such as kimchi, potato macaroni salad and braised pumpkin that perfectly complement the main barbecue dishes.

Photos and words by Crystal. A girl who likes to eat, photograph, and write about food, and dreams about travelling around the world one day. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Seorae Korean Charcoal BBQ
Northpoint City
North Wing
930 Yishun Ave 2
#B1-37
Singapore 769098
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Nearest MRT: Yishun (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Yishun MRT station. Take Exit C or E. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Sawa De' Kafe @ Chinatown - Offering both Traditional Thai Dishes And Fusion Plates

Sawa De'Kafe on Temple Street is a modern Thai bistro cafe that offers a delightful combination of well-loved Thai classics and fusion plates enriched with Thai flavours. The founders, Mr. David and his Thai wife from Chiang Rai, were former chefs during their time studying in Japan, where Japanese Western-style cafes are common and popular. Drawing inspiration from these fusion cafes, Mr David aims to offer diners a different way to enjoy Thai cuisine by creating Western-style dishes infused with Thai flavours alongside the classics, all within a cosy and comfortable environment. Overseeing the kitchen is his wife's ensuring the most authentic Thai flavours reach every table.

Mango Salad 4.8/5

Papaya Salad 4.8/5

I had the Papaya Salad ($7) and the Mango Salad ($7). Both dishes whetted my appetite with the utmost amount of peanuts and dried shrimp tossed into the shredded fruits, all brought to life with piquant Northern Thai-style sauce.

Kor Moo Yang 3.8/5

Kor Moo Yang ($15) features slices of grilled pork collar. While they weren't as tender as expected, they were quite delectable despite the visibly good amount of fats present, especially when paired with the dipping sauce.

Red Coconut Curry 5/5

Red Coconut Curry ($15) with Prawn is a dish that's impossible to discuss without salivating. It's robust and vibrant, packed with aromatics and spices. Staying true to its café concept, besides rice and glutinous rice, diners have the option to add on a Butter Croissant ($3.50) to soak up the irresistibly moreish curry. This pairing draws inspiration from the way we savour chilli crab with fried mantou.

Tom Yum Spaghetti 4/5

The menu offers a diverse range of pasta dishes infused with Thai flavours, including Green Curry, Red Curry Prawns, Basil Pork, and even Phad Thai with Spaghetti. I had the Tom Yum Spaghetti ($17). Brimming with seafood ingredients, the al dente spaghetti was zingy with a well-executed Tom Yum sauce. While most Tom Yum sauces out there tend to be relatively rich and creamy, the version here had a lighter consistency, which was much more elegant, and the heat level was just right. I particularly appreciate its bright and citrusy notes, which elevated the dish's overall taste.

Vegetarian Green Curry 3/5

Catering to the increasing demand for meatless options, most curries and pasta dishes have vegetarian alternatives. I opted for the Vegetarian Green Curry ($13), which included Konjac prawns, tofu, and brinjal. It's worth noting that a greater variety of vegetables would have been more complementary to the robust curry.

Ice Hale's Butterfly Pea Tea, Red Ruby, Green Tea Butterfly Pea Basque Cheesecake

Other than Thai desserts, there is also a range of cakes which one can enjoy with Thai beverages or coffees. Red Ruby with Jackfruit ($6) was rather average. I recommend the Green Tea Butterfly Pea Basque Cheesecake ($6), which is homemade by one of the couple's daughters and one of the best cheesecakes I have had for a long time. It was light and mildly sweet with a hint of lemony note, laced with an alluring tea fragrance. Its light bluish-green colour was aesthetically pleasing and tasted as elegant as it looked. Ice Hale's Butterfly Pea Tea ($6) was pretty with Thai pink milk, which was refreshing after all the spicy dishes.

High Tea sets are also available if you want to try more of their desserts and cakes. As Sawa De'Kafe is still relatively new, it will be adding more Western fusion dishes to the menu in the future.

Photos and words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Sawa De'Kafe
30 Temple Street
#01-01
Singapore 058575
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Nearest MRT: Chinatown (DT, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon, Wed: 11am - 9pm
Fri-Sun: 11am - 930pm
(Closed on Tue)

Direction:
1) Alight at Chinatown MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk down Pagoda Street. Turn right onto Trengganu Street. Walk down Trengganu Street and turn left onto Temple Street. Walk down Temple Street. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

OMMA Korean Charcoal BBQ @ Cheong Chin Nam Road (Bukit Timah) - Singapore's First Wood-Fire Korean Charcoal BBQ's 2nd Outlet

OMMA Korean Charcoal BBQ has recently opened its second outlet at Bukit Timah. Pride itself on being Singapore’s first wood-fire Korean Charcoal BBQ. Selecting natural wood charcoal that burns smokelessly, diners get to choose from five types of carefully selected wood to enhance the flavours of the ingredients.

You have 5 options of wood to choose from: Applewood, Cherry, Pecan, Hickory and Jarrah. Opt for any to cook your meal for only $3 per 30g. We started with Hickory Firewood ($3/30g), specially selected to go with the Japan A4 Grade Beef Ribeye ($81/180g). Hickory is meant to cut through the fattiness of meats to cook with punchy smokiness thoroughly. With such a high-quality piece of meat, it was such an experience to be able to barbecue it using real firewood.

For variety, a recommended item will be the Special Beef and Pork Set ($105). The set includes Iberico Pork Collar, Pork Belly, Beef Ribs, Beef Striploin, Steam Egg, Kimchi Soup and Side Dishes.

We continued with the beef before switching the Hickory Firewood to Apple Firewood as we moved on to the pork. The smell of the burning Apple firewood was extremely alluring, adding a wonderful aroma to the meats.

The accompanying piquant kimchi soup, steamed egg, and side dishes are ideal fillers in between bites to complement the meats or while waiting for them to be done.

With over 60 ala carte options starting from $8.80 and set menus from $49, there is also fresh seafood such as prawns, mussels and even oysters.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


OMMA Korean Charcoal BBQ
20 Cheong Chin Nam Road
Singapore 599744
Tel: +65 65139553
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Nearest MRT: Beauty World (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 1130am to 1130pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Beauty World MRT station. Take Exit B. Walk straight to Cheong Chin Nam Road. Walk down Cheong Chin Nam Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Suk's Thai Kitchen @ Tessensohn Road - New Thai Restaurant Helmed By Thai Chef In Little India

With a Thai chef at the helm of the kitchen, Suk's Thai Kitchen at Tessensohn Road serves up authentic Thai cuisine in a contemporary bistro setting. Its menu is comprehensive, including dishes that are less commonly offered by other Thai concepts.

Homemade Prawn Cakes 3.5/5

Thai Fried Chicken Wings 4/5

For starters, what's recommended are Handmade Prawn Cakes ($10) and Thai Fried Chicken Wings ($10). The latter was excellent. Unlike those dry and skinny ones, these were succulent with a bit of zest on it. Definitely one of the betters ones I had tried so far.

Grilled Pork Salad 3.8/5

For something light but meaty to beef up your meal, Grilled Pork Salad ($14) is a good option with its thinly sliced pork shoulder. Tossed with onions, herbs and a spicy E-Sarn dressing, the tender slices of meat were moreish with a piquant and sharp zing cutting through. What's not quite there is perhaps the lack of char on the meat, which would have kicked its flavours up a notch.

Red Tom Yum Soup with Prawns 3.5/5

Fish Maw Soup 4.2/5

For soups, we had Fish Maw Soup ($14) and Red Tom Yum Soup with Prawns ($12). Simmered with old ginger, garlic and coriander root, the fish maw soup was flavoursome and tasty with a good amount of fish maw slices and mushrooms. I didn't quite enjoy the tom yum soup though. Its saltiness dulled my palate after a few sips of it.

Green Curry Chicken 3.5/5

We also tried Green Curry Chicken ($12). The green curry looked slightly split, but the taste was decent. The meat was tender, but some of the eggplants were still quite tough.

Fried Sea Bass with Suk's Thai Chilli 3/5

I was rather disappointed by its Fried Sea Bass with Suk's Thai Chilli ($28). I find the fish a little dry, and its fried exterior lacked a crisp that I was looking for. The Thai chilli lacks the punch to elevate the dish either.

Suk's Northern Thai Laksa 3.5/5

There is one interesting dish on the menu - Suk's Northern Thai Laksa ($10), made using Chiang Rai recipe. Served with a scoop of spicy minced meat with tomatoes and pickled mustard leaves, these were the 2 ingredients that imparted most of the flavours to the broth. Other than that, I find the broth itself rather bland. I remember having something similar in Chiang Rai, but it was a lot more robust.

Ice Jelly 4/5

For desserts, we had Ice Jelly and Red Ruby ($6). The ice jelly was done with a slight twist to it, incorporating preserved plums into the ice and was a superb palate cleanser after all the highly flavoured food. I enjoyed the red ruby equally, with crunchy homemade rubies that weren't doused in sugar. It would have been even better if a better quality coconut milk was used.

Red Ruby 4/5

Words by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food. Note: This is an invited tasting. 


Suk's Thai Kitchen
136 Tessensohn Road
Singapore 217699
Tel: +65 96699445
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Nearest MRT: Farrer Park (NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 11am – 3pm, 5 – 1030pm
Sat-Sun: 11am - 1030pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Farrer Park MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left to Tessensohn Road. Cross the road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Tapas Club @ Vivocity - Beyond The Repertoire Of Paella And Croquette In Spanish Cuisine

Almost twice the size of its first restaurant at Orchard Central, Tapas Club at Vivocity aims to share with you a slice of Spanish culture, that is beyond the limited repertoire framed by paella and croquette. A Spanish terraza's inspired terrace welcomes you as you first step in, before coming to the full panoramic view of Sentosa Island. Find warmth and rustiness as you sit yourself down in the restaurant, with an ambience emulating a Spanish tavern. The restaurant even houses a mercado where you can purchase authentic Spanish food products, ranging from beers and wines, Spanish preserves, olive oils, preserved vegetables and seafood, to signature cold cuts like Iberian ham. Helming the kitchen is Executive Chef Manuel Berganza who was the opening chef of the Michelin-starred, Andanada 141 restaurant in New York City before moving to Singapore.

Croquetas De Jamon 3.8/5

Our evening started with a crowd pleasing Croquetas De Jamon ($11.90) – ham croquettes, a staple at any Spanish restaurant. Within the crispy puffed crumb is creamy mixture of bechamel sauce and Spanish Iberian ham. They were finger-licking good when hot and surprisingly remained so even after sitting on the table for a little while.

Berenjena Con Miel 3.5/5

Another common tapas delicacy in Spain is the savoury-sweet Eggplant fritters, Berenjena Con Miel ($9.90). Fried in a light batter and finished off with a drizzle of honey, these vege chips proved to be just as moreish as its counterparts. With the perception that they are guilt-free, you may have to fight for the last piece!

Piquillos Rellenos 2.8/5

I would have loved this Piquillos Rellenos ($12.90) should it not be deep-fried. The ground beef filling is already rich with bechamel and deep frying them made them a tad too greasy. The piquillo pepper also seemed to have shriveled in the heat, when I would really love to taste its alluring smokey sweetness. The previous Serenity Spanish Bar served up a non-fried version with tuna filling which was really enjoyable but this pales in comparison even though the filling is more indulgent.

Cojonudos 4/5

Introducing Cojonudos ($13.90), a tapas dish originated from the villages located near the border between the regions of Castile and La Rioja in Spain. At Tapas Club, they look like mini Egg Bens with a fried quail egg atop of the crisp Chapata bread with Fermin Chorizo. Made from the famous Iberian pork of Spain, the dry-cured sausage had quite an intense and complex flavour, and what I appreciate is the traces of fat within that moist up the texture.

Bocata de calamares 3/5

Bocata de calamares ($10.90) reminisces a soft shell crab burger with deep-fried squid rings sandwiched between a brioche bread roll. Despite the alioli sauce and spicy red sauce in between, I find the overall combination rather dry.

Filete De Ternera 3.5/5

The Tapas+ section of the menu offers more substantial dishes and each dish comes with one complimentary side. What's good for your wine would be the Filete De Ternera ($24), a medium-rare serving of grilled pork accompanied with homemade garlic aioli. Underneath the charred surface was a good portion of fats and its worth taking your time to savour each piece slowly in your mouth, and down it with a sip of wine.

Pulpo A La Brasa 3/5

Pulpo A La Brasa ($24) features a charred grilled octopus imported from Spain, drizzled with paprika oil, pimenton powder (ground dried Capsicum annuum chillies) and garlic aioli (garlic aioli is made with eggs, vinegar and garlic OR garlic and mayonnaise). Stunning on the plate, the char on the surface lends a pleasant smokey flavour but it wasn't as tender as I wish it would be.

Arroz Negro 3/5

One of its signatures is paella. We had Arroz Negro ($26) - squid ink paella with cuttlefish and clams, served with garlic aioli for a creamier texture. The rice was well cooked through with seafood stock and I really like how each bite of the juicy clams releases the briny, sweet flavour into the rice. However, I would prefer the rice to be more briny, as the squid ink seemed to be just kissing the surface of the grains.

Chocolate Mousse with Caramelized Banana 2.5/5

Churros Con Chocolate 3/5

For desserts, we had Churros Con Chocolate ($9) and Chocolate Mousse with Caramelized Banana ($10). While the churros was delicious with rich chocolate dip, the latter fell flat without any textural or flavour contrast. Be it the sliced bananas, cake or mousse, they were just sweet and soft.

Celebrate the weekends the way Spaniards do, where large communal sharing dishes are enjoyed in a high energy atmosphere. On Saturday, Sunday and PH brunch, between 12-3pm, come down and indulge in unlimited servings of paella cooked in a 1.2 metre wide communal paella pan, for just $10!

Words and photos by Si An. A girl who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Tapas Club
Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#01-98/99
Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 62844680
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Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC Line, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun, PH: 1130am - 1030pm

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