Seoul Restaurant @ Regent Hotel - Charcoal Grill A La Carte BBQ Buffet With Stew & Noodle Dishes

Do you know that there is a Korean restaurant located on level 3 of Regent Hotel? I didn't know that either until a couple of years back when the hotel Marcom shared with me. Since then, I have been wanting to check out Seoul Restaurant and finally got to do so recently. The restaurant serves authentic Korean dishes as well as premium BBQ on charcoal grill. I would recommend making a reservation as the place is quite crowded. I also notice a lot of Koreans dining at the restaurant, it just shows the food gets the recognition from the Korean community in Singapore too.

I decided to have the Seoul A La Carte Buffet ($69.90++ for adult / $42.90++ for kids). Besides the choice of beef, pork, chicken, sausage and seafood for BBQ, Diners also have the choices of a la carte, stew and noodle dishes. Not to forget the flew blow banchan which you can eat to your fill.

Grilled Meat 4.5/5

It is great to see that the restaurant still uses charcoal for the BBQ. It emits a consistent heat to cook the meat while infusing a smokiness to them.

For the beef section, diners get to have beef brisket, marinated beef boneless short rib, boneless short rib and marinated bone-in short rib.  As for the pork section, customers can eat their fill from the selection of pork belly, pork jowl steak, preserved pork prime rib and marinated pork collar.

For seafood lovers, the choices are smaller, but diners still can pick from the selection of squid, mackerel fish and prawn.

Sundubu-jjigae 4.8/5

Just having BBQ meat alone can be a bit heavy for the palate. Hence, it is nice to have something soupy to wash down the grilled meat. It is great that the a la carte buffet comes with a selection of stew dishes too. There are a total of six stew dishes to choose from, and I tried the Sundubu-jjigae (spicy soft beancurd stew with clams and egg yolk). This is legit authentic and delicious. In fact, I asked for a bowl of rice to go with it.

Mul-naengmyeon 4.5/5

BBQ is quite heaty for the body, so I am glad that among the noodle dishes, there are a few cold noodle dishes. I had the Chilled Buckwheat Noodle Soup (cold), which is really cooling and refreshing.

For those that have a bottomless stomach or prefer more premium items, you can pay for additional charges to enjoy another 10 more a la carte items on top of the buffet. These items include more premium beef, eel, crab, japchae, galbi-jjim, ginseng chicken and kimchi hotpot.


Seoul Restaurant
Regent Hotel
1 Cuscaden Road
#03-02
Singapore 249715
Tel: +65 63388548
Website
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 12pm - 3pm, 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit E. Walk towards Wheelock Place via ION. Exit Wheelock Place and turn left towards Liat Tower. Continue onwards to Forum Shopping Mall. Walk further down to Orchard Parade Hotel. Turn left onto Tanglin Road. Continue walking down Tanglin Road. Turn left onto Tomlinson Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 18 minutes. [Map]

Yakiniku Heijoen @ 100AM - All You Can Eat Wagyu Beef

For my age, buffet is no longer my thing. However when I heard of Yakiniku Heijoen that serves unlimited wagyu beef, I have been wanting to visit the place which is known to serve good quality beef for the BBQ buffet. Yakiniku Heijoen is established in 1976 in Japan, and it has over 24 outlets in Tokyo alone. Currently it has 2 outlets in Singapore, one at Wisma Japan Food Town and the other at 100AM Itadakimasu by PARCO.

Japanese Wagyu Kalbi and Harami in Sweet BBQ Sauce 4.2/5

If you are going for the All You Can Eat Buffet, basically there are 3 pricing - Beef ($35.90/pax - 35 items, 70min), Rich ($48.90/pax - 46 items, 90min) and Premium - ($59.90/pax - 56 items, 90min). I decided to go for the Premium which has more items. Do not that there is a time limit for the buffet.

Japanese Wagyu Kalbi and Harami in Garlic Salt 4.2/5

As it is my first time dining at the restaurant, I asked the staff for recommendation. She is nice and helpful, suggested we tried the four different cuts and marination of the wagyu beef. Hence we ordered the Japanese Wagyu Kalbi and Harami in Sweet BBQ Sauce and Japanese Wagyu Kalbi and Harami in Garlic Salt. I prefer the harami cut more for its richer flavour with the garlic salt marination. The sweet bbq sauce is slightly too sweet for me, masking the natural flavour of the beef.

Beef Tongue Garlic Salt 4/5

If you are adventurous, you can try the Beef Tongue in Garlic Salt. It is not as fatty as the kalbi or harami cuts but it has an enjoyable crunchy texture once cooked.

Scallop, Prawn, Mackerel in Foil 3.5/5

Besides the wagyu beef, there are many more items on the menu. For the seafood, I had the scallop, prawn, mackerel and squid.

Pork 4/5

On top of the different beef selections available on the menu, there are other meat selections such as Pork and Chicken. If you are a carnivorous, you can eat to your fill.

Assorted Namul 4.2/5

It can be quite boring if the bbq buffet is still all about meat. Lucky it offers other side dishes such as beansprouts, spinach, zenmai, radish and kimchi. Actually you can order a plate of lettuce, have it together with the grilled meats.

Egg Soup 4/5

Akaoni Spicy Soup 4/5

There are even soups on the menu. I tried both the Egg Soup and Akaoni Spicy Soup. The Egg Soup is light, flavourful and comforting. The Akaoni Spicy Soup is a beef stock base soup which is packed with a spicy robustness, whetting up the appetite.

If you are a big eater and you love our meat, I really think the buffet is worth it. The quality of the meat served for the buffet is not the top graded one but it is still quality premium cuts. A little small tip here, just whack the wagyu beef and don't get distracted by the other items on the menu.

Yakiniku Heijoen
100AM
100 Tras Street
#03-11
Singapore 079027
Tel: +65 65382981
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 3pm, 5pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk towards Gopeng Street and turn into Tras Street. Walk to Amara Hotel. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

K.COOK Korean BBQ & Steamboat Buffet @ Westgate - Quality Meats With Affordable Price Tag

Ever since its first outlet in town, K.COOK BBQ has been known for its quality meats that come with an affordable price tag. Its second outlet in Westgate has even more to offer - you can now enjoy both Korean barbeque and steamboat at the same time at K.COOK BBQ & Steamboat Buffet.

Meat & Seafood

Greens, Fruit and Salad

A fixture commonly found in authentic Korean BBQ restaurants, drop-down vacuums hovering on top of each table are installed. I have been to a few Korean BBQ and K Cook stands out in terms of its offering and presentation. There are 2 big chillers of seafood and meats, a wide range of fresh greens, mushrooms, even noodles are available for you to create your own version of army stew. Create your own Banchan with its assorted salads fruits.

The way the meats are being handled impresses me. Organised and kept in 2 big chillers instead of being displayed out openly, they do look a whole lot more appetising than some of the restaurants which I have been to. What I really appreciate is the fact that the thin slices of meats for steamboat are neatly stacked in tray, like how they will be served in a Shabu Shabu restaurant. So even if you or your friends ain't big on barbeque, this is worth the trip. There are pork belly, pork collar, pork skirt meat, beef short ribs and even ribeye! Seafood such as prawns, squids and clams are offered as well.

Steamboat

For steamboat, you can choose up to 2 soup base, in which I had Korean Soybean Paste and Spicy Seafood. Other options include Chicken, Pork and Beef soups.

Bossam

The hot food section is quite decent with a mix of Korean and international dishes such as pasta, fried rice etc. My favourite is the Bossam, a Korean style pork belly. It may look rubbery at first glance but it actually has a surprising melt-in-your-mouth texture.

Jajangmyeon

If you still have some room for Korean small dishes, you can try to DIY your own Jajangmyeon (black bean noodles).

K.COOK BBQ & Steamboat Buffet surpasses my expectations with its range of ingredients and their quality. If you have more to spare, simply top for its Premium Buffet, in which you get a free flow of premium meats such as Sirloin, Short Ribs Boneless and Tiger Prawns.

Price
Lunch: $19.90++ (Mon to Fri), $29.90++ (Sat, Sun, Eve of PH, & PH)
Dinner: $29.90++ (Mon to Thu), $31.90++ (Sat, Sun, Eve of PH, & PH)

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. Note: This is an invited tasting.


K.COOK Korean BBQ & Steamboat Buffet
Westgate
3 Gateway Drive
#B1-02
Singapore 608532
Tel: +65 63526680
Facebook
Nearest MRT: Jurong East (EW Line, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Fri: 1130am - 3pm, 530pm - 10pm
Sat-Sun: 1130am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Jurong East MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Sea & Blue @ Marina Bay Sands - Feast Of More Than 100 Dishes

If you are a fan of Korean food, you would have probably already heard of Sea & Blue, a continental and korean buffet restaurant at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Other than an extensive curation of popular Korean dishes and desserts, there are over 100 food selections ranging from fresh seafood, roasts, western highlights, Japanese fare to our local favourites.

A rather unique choice of name which extends to its theme and interiors. As you walk in, you will notice the ship that docks on the oceanic ceiling. I thought I would only see this kind of thematic restaurant in a theme park! There are a total of ten hot and cold stations at Sea & Blue, coupled with live cooking and carving stations– Korean, Barbecue, Deep-Fried, Hot Dishes & Noodles, Seafood, Salads + Fruit, Pizza & Pasta, Wine & Beer, Beverages, and Dessert Bar

Korean
I head straight to the Korean section. I was delighted to see assorted Pajeon (pancake) freshly pan fried on the spot. It's so difficult to get individual portion when dining at Korean restaurants. I got to satisfy my cravings for Japchae and Kimchi Fried Rice too! I had fun building my own Bimbimbap bowl with the array of toppings available such as beansprouts, seaweed, omelette and topped it up with spicy bulgogi available at the side as one of the Korean staples. If you would like yours to be more professionally done, simply ask the Korean chef stationed within to help you with it. Other DIY items includes Guksu (hot noodles).

Barbecue
This is where the fun begins especially if you are dining with a big group of friends and families. Within the Korean section, you will find the must-have Korean barbecue. Indulge in its top-grade Pork Belly or Short Ribs in either a spicy gojuchang (red chilli paste) marinade or unseasoned. The way to enjoy the sizzling meats in a Korean manner is to cradle the meat with crisp fresh lettuce, wrap it with some cucumber sticks and some other crunchy vegetables before stuffing in the goodness. You can get all that fresh greens just right opposite at the salads & fruits section.

Salads & Fruits
I have never seen a salad counter that looks so pristine, yet exuberant and inviting, almost like a walk-in chiller with the cold air rising. Around the counter is the fruits section, where I got a Watermelon cooler topped with fruits to go with my BBQ meat.

Seafood & Sushi
Being an underwater themed restaurant, it does deliver good quality seafood. You get to choose and have your Canadian Oysters shucked on the spot. Also available are the Cold Prawns, chilled Scallops on the half shell and Snowcrab Legs on ice. My favourite is still the sashimi which I had along with really delicious salmon aburi rolls and unagi roll as well as Gimbap (Korean rice rolls). The sushi here are notable, unlike those boring and stale maki sitting at some other buffet counters. The chef creates bites size sushi that allow you to enjoy more.

Hot Dishes & Noodles
Apart from sushi, roasts are the stars here as well. On the carving board, the slab of Oven Roasted Ribeye Striploin is the mainstayer, with one other daily special. Further to its right, another trying to grab my attention the Suckling Pig. What took me by surprise is the grilled Salmon - the skin was evenly crisp all over and the meat was pink, extremely moist and tender. It is easily one of the best I ever had. I like the Kurobuta Pork as well, which even comes with charred pineapples. There are also local dishes such as chilli crabs, salted egg prawns and roast duck.

Dessert Bar
Similar to most buffets, petite cakes and pralines are available. What I find more enticing are the Tarts, Bingsoo, Gyeongdan (Korean rice cake) filled with red bean paste and Yakbab (Korean glutinous rice balls with honey and dried fruits). The Bingsoo is really light and fluffy, just right after a heavy meal. I kind of miss the Sour Cherry Tart and regret not trying its Apple Tart. Milk. Soft-Serve is also available if you ain't a pastry person.

Sea & Blue has much room to move around which makes buffet dining here quite enjoyable. It can seat up to 350 pax with several private rooms and a function room complete with AV equipment for bigger events.

Prices at Sea & Blue are between $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.

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. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Sea & Blue 
The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands
2 Bayfront Avenue
Canal Level, B2-01/01A
Singapore 018972
Tel: +65 66887165
Facebook
Website
Nearest MRT: Bayfront (CC Line, DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Lunch
Daily: 1130am - 3pm
Dinner
Mon-Thu: 530pm, 10pm
Fri-Sun, PH: 530pm - 1030pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Bayfront MRT station. Take Exit D. Walk to Hermes at Level 1. Take the lift beside it to level 2. Journey time about 5 minutes. [Map]

Ju Shin Jung Korean Charcoal BBQ @ West Coast Road

There seems to be more and more Korean BBQ restaurant popping up on our shore but Ju Shin Jung Korean Charcoal BBQ at West Coast is probably one of the first and also my favourite. To keep things simple, I always ordered the 2-3 pax set ($129) with comes with a tsunami of the side dishes or banchan and a choice of two meats. Furthermore, the banchan is refillable.

Pardon me for saying this but I have a mental note not to revisit Korean restaurants that charges for their banchan. I have seen a couple of newly opened Korean restaurants doing so. Sorry to say this, this money making concept takes away the soul of Korean cuisine.

For the choice of meat, I went for the Pork Belly and Marinated Beef. The other reason why I enjoyed my experience at Ju Shin Jung is that the staff are very attentive and they will also help to cook the meats. In addition, the service portion is huge and quality is good.

This place seems to be extremely popular for dining so do make sure you make a reservation first. Be also prepared to be smell of BBQ after your dinner.

*All photos in this post is taken using the new Samsung Galaxy K Zoom LTE smartphone.


Ju Shin Jung Korean Charcoal BBQ
WestWay
27 West Coast Highway
#01-18/19
Singapore 117867
Tel: +65 64640872
Nearest MRT: Haw Par Villa (CC Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon: 6pm - 11pm
Tue-Sun: 12pm - 230pm, 6pm - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Haw Par Villa MRT station. Take Exit A. Cross the road and walk toward West Coast Highway. Cross the road at the traffic light and walk to destination. Journey time about 3 minutes. [Map]

Crystal Jade Korean Ginseng & BBQ Restaurant @ Takashimaya Shopping Centre

Crystal Jade is a household name in Singapore but little did I know that the group actually runs a Korean cuisine restaurant established since 2004. Celebrating its 10 years anniversary, Crystal Jade Korean Ginseng & BBQ restaurant has relocated from the 4th floor of Takashimaya Shopping Centre to its new prime location next to the atrium area at the basement with a larger seating capacity and expanded line up of authentic home styled Korean food.

Banchan 4/5

One of the  reasons why patrons enjoy Korean cuisine is the various complimentary banchan or side dishes that are served before the mains. Do note that the side dishes at Crystal Jade Korean Ginseng & BBQ is chargeable. The set of 6 different Banchan ($10) are changed daily, others are available separately at $4 per servicing. Although chargeable, they are refillable.

Authentic Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup 4.2/5

The Authentic Korean Ginseng Chicken Soup ($28) has been one of the signature dishes for the past 10 years. This is a summer dish whereby the Koreans believe that ginseng can help to cool one from the summer's heat, detox and rejuvenate the body. Using whole chicken, four years old ginseng root, glutinous rice, red dates and gingko nuts, the chicken soup is slow cooked for hours to fully extract the goodness and flavours of the ingredients. The portion served is good for 2-4 pax. I felt that the soup is well balanced without the ginseng taste overpowering it.

Stewed Top Grade Beef Short Rib 4.8/5

The other popular dish at the restaurant is the Stewed Top Grade Beef Short Rib ($29). This is a special dish that will only be served during celebratory and significant occasions. Using prime Australian beef ribs, the dish is braised for several hours in a accompaniment of rock sugar, pepper, sesame, red dates, ginger, garlic, apples, pears, carrots and radish developing a very delish flavour. This is extremely delicious and it is a must try here.

Korean Imperial Hotpot with Assorted Vegetable 4/5

New in the menu is the Korean Imperial Hotpot with Assorted Vegetable ($39). The hotpot which is good to serve up to 4 pax comes with a choice of chicken, beef or pork. Accompanying the flavourful soup stock is a generous servicing of ingredients such as sweet corn, carrots, cucumbers, black fungus, silken tofu, golden enoki mushrooms and straws mushrooms. This is definitely a luxurious and healthy hotpot for sharing.

Korean Handmade Noodles  4.5/5

If you prefer noodles over rices, you can order these Korean Handmade Noodles ($3 per servicing) to enjoy together with the hotpot. Made using eggs and high grade Korean flour, the noodles were very springy. Even being soaked in the hotpot for a while, it still retained a delectable bite in texture.

Crystal Jade Korean Ginseng & BBQ restaurant offers 12 types of marinated meat dishes and two combination sets for its barbeque. A worthy note is the special grilling stations with vacuum capability on the side of the grills, sucking the fumes away. I would say this is the few rare occasions where I can step out a barbeque restaurant without any of the smoky smell on my clothes.

Marinated Beef Short Rib 4.5/5

Pork Collar 4.2/5

Ox Tongue 3.8/5

For the barbeque, I tried the Marinated Beef Short Ribs ($28 per servicing), Ox Tongue ($25 per servicing) and Pork Collar ($22 per servicing). The marinated beef short ribs is my favourite among the three which is marinated similarity as the stewed top grade beef short rib which is extremely flavourful. The ox tongue although juicy and succulent can be a bit gamy for some. The pork collar on the other has a very nice tender bite after it has been grilled.

Double Boiled Snow Pear 4.5/5

The Double Boiled Snow Pear ($5) available in either hot or cold is the perfect dessert particularly after the barbeque or a spicy meal. Doubled boiled with Chuan Bei or fritillaria extracts, dried longans and rock sugar, this soothing yet refreshing dessert helps to cook off the heat as well as cleanse the palate from all the greasiness. This dessert is also known for its remedy for colds and coughs.

I was told by my friend that the food at Crystal Jade Korean Ginseng & BBQ is really good before my visit. After trying it I have to agreed with her. While the food and quality is good, I could not get over the fact that the restaurant is charging for banchan and soup refill. I understand the restaurant is running a business but as a consumers I would compare it with other Korean restaurants. Moreover it kind of taken away the basic enjoyment of Korean cuisine.


Crystal Jade Korean Ginseng & BBQ Restaurant
Takashimaya Shopping Centre
391 Orchard Road
#B2-36A
Singapore
Tel: +65 67333229
Website: http://www.crystaljade.com/
Nearest MRT: Orchard (NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

Direction: 
1) Alight at Orchard MRT station. Take Exit D. Cut through Wisma Atria. Take the pathway between Wisma Atria and Takashimaya. Walk to Takashimaya. Proceed to destination. Journey time about 8 minutes. [Map]