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
Facebook
Instagram
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]

Dakga @ Duxton Road - First And Only Chicken-Centric Korean Barbecue Restaurant In Singapore

Dakga at Duxton Road is Singapore's first and only chicken-centric Korean barbecue restaurant. Unlike other Korean barbecue places, Dakga offers farm-fresh chicken straight from the coop to the table. You can also enjoy different parts of the poultry on the grill.

Chicken Heart and Gizzard

I am a fan of chicken innards, so I am glad I can get Chicken Heart ($13/100g) and Gizzard ($13/120g) at Dakga. It is also the first time having them on the grill.

Chicken Oyster

One of the juiciest parts of the chicken is the Chicken Oyster ($24 for 6pc). It is considered one of the tastiest parts of the chicken, just behind near the thigh area.

Boneless Neck Meat

The most prized cut of the chicken has to be the Boneless Neck Meat ($28 for 150g). Unfortunately, only limited qualities are available each day. As you can imagine, a chicken only has a neck, and there is not a lot of meat around. After grilling, it has a delightfu l crunchy texture.

Marinated Bone in Thigh ($28 for 400g)

Another favourite among the different cuts of the chicken is the Marinated Bone In Thigh ($28 for 400g). It is marinated in a house-blend seasoning, lifting the taste profile.

  Kimchi Pancake 3/5

There are several sides to complement the barbeque experience, each carefully crafted to match the flavour of the chicken. Firing up the appetite is the sour and spicy Kimchi Pancake ($16), which is a bit too doughy for my liking.

Curry Fried Chicken 4/5

The Curry Fried Chicken ($22 for 3 pc) is a delightful side seasoned with curry powder and coated in crisp. I recommend dunking this into the cheese fondue for accentuated enjoyment.

Old School Lunch Box 4.5/5

If you are still not full, you can fill up with the Old School Lunch Box ($10) which consists of fluffy rice, Korean chicken spam, sunny side up, myeoichi-bokkeum (stir-fried anchoivies) and kimchi. You can suppose to close the lid and give it a good shake to mix everything together.

Dakga takes pride in capturing that same simple and comforting element of Korean dining by reinventing dakgalbi in its unique interpretation – through prized chicken offerings and colourful sides for an authentic Korean chicken BBQ experience. In addition, diners get free cheese fondue with nachos/tortillas with $50 minimum spend on food.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


[CLOSED]
Dakga
17 Duxton Road
Singapore 089483
Tel: +65 89112487
Facebook
Instagram
Nearest MRT: Maxwell (TE Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 6pm - 1155pm
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Maxwell MRT station. Take Exit 3. Cross the road and walk down Duxton Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

88 Pocha @ Holland Village - Korean Street Food In A Vibrant Pojangmacha-style Eatery

Newly joining the variety of dining options in Holland Village is 88 Pocha, brought in by a South Korean chef who has been living long-term in Singapore. Chef hopes to introduce the Korean Pojangmacha (covered wagon) culture and recreate the taste of his favourite Korean street food. The eatery is vibrantly styled with bright blue and red plastic dining furniture and has K-pop tunes playing through the space.

The menu is interestingly categorised into A, B, C, D and E, alongside canned drinks, alcoholic options and desserts. Each category is priced in tiers, ranging from $8.88 to $28.88. We tried a couple of dishes across the categories.

Gimmari 3.5/5

We started with the Gimmari ($8.88), which came in a portion of 4 pieces. Gimmari is fried seaweed rolls with a filling of glass noodles. Albeit crunchy, we found them too pricey for the size.

Sausage Gimbap 3.5/5

Rolled in seaweed with rice, sausage and cheese filling, the Sausage Gimbap ($11.88) had a pleasant mild aroma of sesame oil.

Corn Cheese Ramyeon 3.5/5

Their Corn Cheese Ramyeon ($11.88) reminded us a lot of the instant Samyang Volcano Noodles, with a milder heat. The noodles are tossed in the spice and topped with kernels, cheese, seaweed strips and sesame seeds. It wasn't too surprising in terms of taste, and we wished there was more to it at this price tag.

Kimchi Pancake 4/5

Despite being a little oily, the Kimchi Pancake ($15.88) impressed me with its taste. The pancake was done nicely thin with a good crisp all around. Their rendition has less batter, with more kimchi and melted cheese laid on top.

Half Fried Chicken 4.2/5

The Half Fried Chicken ($15.88) was done surprisingly well. Served with a side of sweet chilli sauce, each piece of fried chicken was fried to a spot-on crunch while retaining juicy meat within.

Oden Soup 4/5

Lastly, we had the Oden Soup ($18.88). We appreciated how the Korean fish cake soup was served in a kettle over a gas stove that kept it hot throughout our meal. We wished they were a bit more generous with the comforting soup. We enjoyed the intentional slight heat in the soup and the sticks of soft Korean fish cakes.

Beverages

For drinks, we opted for the canned drinks of Haitai Pear Juice ($3.88) and Milkis ($3.88). If you are interested in alcoholic beverages, you can expect a selection of Suntory highball creations, bottled beers, classic makgeolli and soju.

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.


88 Pocha
26A Lor Mambong
Singapore 277685
Tel: +65 62359950
Facebook
Instagram
Nearest MRT: Holland Village (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 12midnight
Sat-Sun: 1130am - 12midnight

Direction:
1) Alight at Holland Village MRT station. Take Exit B. Turn left and walk to Lorong Liput. Turn right onto Lorong Liput. Walk down Lorong Liput and turn right onto Lorong Mambong. Walk to destination. Journey time about 5 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
Facebook
Website
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]

Open Farm Community @ Minden Road - New Farm To Feast, Reinvigorate The Different Relationships Found On The Dining Table

Open Farm Community (OFC), Singapore's pioneering urban farm and restaurant concept, launches Farm Feast. It is a new family-style tasting menu designed to reinvigorate the different relationships on the dining table - between friends and families, as well as diners and their food. Each feast serves an array of snacks, starters, mains, house-made accompaniments, and desserts that can be adjusted to any group size. It is priced at $88 per pax for dinner, with a minimum company of two.

SG Grown Radishes 4.2/5

We started with the SG Grown Radishes that is freshly plucked and served from farm to table. It is paired with cultured cream and sourdough crumble. It is my first time having raw radish. It has an enjoyable sweetness similar to a guava couple with a delightful crunchy texture.

Cauliflower Wings 4/5

Interestingly the Cauliflower Wings are shaped to look like chicken drumettes. It is coated in an addictive tamarind miso sauce, finished with sprinkles of sesame and green onions. It works for me, and I think children that dislike eating vegetables will enjoy this too.

OFC Farm Sweet Corn 4.2/5

One of my favourite starters is the OFC Farm Sweet Corn from the restaurant's farm. The grilled corn is very sweet. It surprises me that our local farm can produce such top-quality ingredients.

Hokkaido Scallop 4.2/5

The Hokkaido Scallop was plump, sweet and beautifully seared. However, what caught my attention is the sweet, smooth and creamy corn puree that complement the scallop excellently.

Grassfed NZ Short Ribs 3.8/5

For the mains, we had the Grassfed NZ Short Ribs. The bone-in meat is roasted to tender and doused in a Mexican mole sauce, giving it a spicy, smoky and sweet note. It is further enhanced with the topping of caramelised, pickled and deep-fried onions.

Accompanying the mains, we have a couple of house-made accompaniments such as Ancient Grains & Seeds, Smashin' Pumpkin, SG Green Salad and QJ's Kimchi. Unfortunately, I didn't quite get my head around the concept of the accompaniments as they did not complement the short ribs.

Before moving to the dessert, we had the refreshing Cucumber Sorbet for pre-dessert. 

Wrapping up the Farm Feast is the decadent Chocolate Dessert made from Single Origin beans from neighbouring countries. Chocolate lovers will adore the dessert for its delicate sweetness.

Wine lovers can also opt for wine pairing with the Farm Feast for an extra $40 per guest. Guest will get 3 glasses of natural wine to pair with the sumptuous meal.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Open Farm Community
130E Minden Road
Singapore 248819
Tel: +65 64710306
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 9pm
Sat-Sun: 11am - 330pm, 6pm - 9pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT. Take Exit B. Cross the road and walk to bus stop at Boulevard Orchard opposite Orchard MRT (Stop ID 09022). Take bus no. 7, 77, 106, 123 or 174. Alight 5 stops later. Walk to Minden Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 20 minutes. [Map]

Pint & Dine @ Kensington Square - New Cafe In Bartley Serving Korean Fusion Western Food With Soju Tower In A Fire Extinguisher

Cafe by day and bistro by night, Pint & Dine is a Korean Fusion Western Cafe that has recently opened within Kensington Square.

Seafood Ramyeon 3.5/5

We had their Seafood Ramyeon ($10). The warm and comforting bowl comes with noodles, squid, clams, mushroom and egg.

Kimchi Spaghetti 3.8/5

The Kimchi Spaghetti ($16) is creamy with generous servings of kimchi and bacon bits embedded within the pasta. It packs a delightful burst of tangy flavour from the kimchi, yet not too overpowering. Break the egg and stir in the yolk for a creamier mouthfeel.

Korean P&D Chicken Wings 3.5/5

Besides the mains, they also offer a variety of finger foods. Their Korean P&D Chicken Wings (6pcs/$12) are available in original, soy garlic or Yang Nyum. We opted for the soy garlic. The battered chicken has a crispy skin and tender meat, with a subtle soy garlic flavour.

Yakult Soju Tower 4/5

The Yakult Soju Tower ($28) comes in a 1.5L fire extinguisher where you can pump the drink out. While the interesting and instagrammable presentation caught our attention, the drink itself also stood out with a prominent taste of yakult and grape soju sweetness. You can't really taste too much of the alcohol, which is perfect for your non-alcoholic friends. The fire extinguisher tower is available for the Yuzu Milkis Soju and Conjinganmek Soju Tower as well.

Yuzu Soda 3.8/5

Besides coffee and tea, a non-alcoholic option is the Yuzu Soda ($5.50). This punchy drink is refreshing and bold with citrusy notes.

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.


Pint & Dine
Kensington Square
2 Jalan Lokam
#01-48
Singapore 537846
Tel: +65 88915928
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Serangoon (CC Line, NE Line), Tai Seng (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Fri: 12pm - 1030pm
Sat-Sun: 11am - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tai Seng MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn right and walk to bus stop at Tai Seng MRT station (Stop ID 70281). Take bus number 22, 24, 43, 58, 62, 70, 76 and 80. Alight 5 stops later. Cross the road and walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit C. Walk to bus stop opposite Serangoon MRT (Stop ID 66359). Take bus 22, 43 and 70. Walk to destination. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]

3) Alight at Serangoon MRT station. Take Exit H. Turn right and walk to bus stop at Serangoon MRT station (Stop ID 62131). Take bus 58. Walk to desintaion. Journey time about 15 minutes. [Map]