WHUCHU @ UE Square - Elevated Korean Ssam Dining with Aged Jeju Pork and Wagyu Beef

Newly opened at UE Square, WHUCHU reimagines ssam (쌈), one of Korea’s most cherished dining traditions, as a more refined, interactive dining experience. The concept centres on freshness, fermentation, and craftsmanship, bringing together farm-to-table vegetables flown in from Korea, authentic Korean jeotgal (fermented salted seafood), and premium 100% certified Jeju pork aged in-house.

By day, WHUCHU offers a wellness-led ssambap experience, where fresh Korean greens take centre stage. In the evening, the restaurant transforms into a premium Korean BBQ destination, with aged meats grilled over high heat and enjoyed with an assortment of vegetables and fermented accompaniments.

I visited with a friend for dinner and chose the Signature Set ($188), designed for 2–3 people. The set includes a choice of two BBQ meats, Pot Rice, a choice of Cold Kimchi Noodle, Pork Belly Kimchi Stew or Beef Soybean Tofu Stew, a choice of Tofu & Stir-Fried Kimchi, Minari Pancake or Potato Pancake, and finishes with gelato for dessert.

For our meal, we picked the Aged Bone-in Pork Belly and Wagyu Beef Brisket for the BBQ meats, along with the Pork Belly Kimchi Stew and Minari Pancake.

Aged Bone-in Pork Belly 4.2/5

The Aged Bone-in Pork Belly was easily one of my highlights. Made with 100% certified natural Jeju pork sourced directly from Korea, the pork undergoes a combination of wet and dry ageing in-house. The wet ageing helps tenderise the meat, while the subsequent dry ageing concentrates the flavour, giving the pork a deeper and more developed taste.

Cut thick around the bone, the pork belly was beautifully marbled with a good amount of fat. Once it hits the grill, the fat slowly renders, crisping up the edges while keeping the meat juicy and tender. The slightly charred exterior contrasts with the rich, succulent pork within. It is the kind of cut that is delicious on its own, but even better when wrapped in fresh greens with rice and a little jeotgal.

Wagyu Beef Brisket 4.2/5

The Wagyu Beef Brisket offered a completely different experience. With its generous intramuscular marbling, the beef quickly renders its rich fat when grilled over high heat, coating the meat in its own buttery juices. The result is incredibly tender, with a rich, beefy and savoury flavour.

It is definitely on the more decadent side, with the high fat content giving each bite that almost melt-in-the-mouth texture. I found it particularly enjoyable wrapped up with the fresh vegetables, which helped cut through the richness and added a refreshing crunch.

Authentic Korean Jeotgal 4/5

One thing that sets WHUCHU apart is its emphasis on authentic Korean Jeotgal, rather than treating it as a side dish. Traditionally used as a concentrated flavour enhancer, jeotgal brings an intense hit of umami, saltiness and fermentation to the meal. WHUCHU offers a selection including Salted Pollock Roe, Seasoned Sea Squirt, Spicy Fermented Oysters and Spicy Salted Squid, each with its own distinct character. Some are rich and silky, while others are briny, spicy and deeply savoury. Enjoy them in small amounts, paired with the greens, rice, and grilled meats to create your own ssam combination.

Fresh Vegetables

And speaking of greens, the selection of fresh vegetables is an important part of the experience here. The wrap vegetables are flown in from Korea daily and include Fresh Garlic Leaves, Angelica, Red Lettuce, Perilla Leaves and Lettuce. Rather than being an afterthought to the meat, the greens form an integral part of the meal. Pick your preferred leaf, add rice, grilled meat, and a touch of jeotgal, then wrap it all into one bite. Each vegetable brings a different texture and flavour, from crisp and refreshing lettuce to the distinctive herbal aroma of perilla.

Minari Pancake 4.2/5

The Minari Pancake was another pleasant surprise. Instead of the thick, doughy pancakes you might sometimes encounter, WHUCHU’s version uses a light batter to bind a generous amount of whole minari stalks. Fried until crisp, the edges had a satisfying crunch while the minari retained a juicy bite. The Korean water parsley gives the pancake a clean, grassy, slightly peppery herbal flavour that comes through nicely without the batter masking it. It was airy, crunchy and surprisingly light rather than greasy, making it an enjoyable accompaniment to the richer BBQ meats.

We also had the Pork Belly Kimchi Stew, which brought a comforting, warming element to the meal. The tangy and savoury kimchi broth works particularly well alongside the fatty grilled meats, while the pork belly adds another layer of richness. It is the sort of dish that helps round out the meal, especially when paired with steamed rice.

For those looking for a more elevated Korean BBQ experience, WHUCHU at UE Square offers a polished take on the traditional ssam culture, with premium aged meats and Korean-sourced produce forming the heart of the experience. The Aged Bone-in Pork Belly was my favourite of the two meats, while the Wagyu Beef Brisket will appeal to those who prefer a richer, more indulgent cut. With its focus on ageing, fermentation, and fresh Korean vegetables, WHUCHU brings a more thoughtful dimension to Korean BBQ while still keeping the fun, communal nature of wrapping, grilling, and sharing.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


WHUCHU Korean Dining
UE Square
81 Clemenceau Ave
#01-18
Singapore 239917
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Nearest MRT: Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Sun-Thu: 1130am - 11pm
Fri-Sat, PH: 1130am - 1130pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Fort Canning MRT station. Take Exit A. Turn left and walk to the traffic junction between Clemenceau Ave and River Valley Road. Cross the road. Turn left and walk down Clemenceau Ave. Walk to the destination. The journey time is about 5 minutes. [Map]

Bon Broth @ Raffles City - An Elevated Premium Hotpot Experience

Bon Broth by Chef André Chiang at Raffles City brings a refined spin to the familiar hotpot experience, blending French culinary precision with the deep, nourishing traditions of Asian double-boiled soups.

Instead of heading straight to the table, diners first visit the dedicated Broth Bar, where a soup sommelier introduces the different flavour profiles and helps you choose your broth. You can choose from eight: Sauerkraut, Signature, Herbal, Satay, Suki, Hokkaido, Laksa, and Mala. But don’t be too quick to judge them by their names; some taste quite different from what you might expect.

The broths are made with pure fish, beef, pork, or chicken bones, simmered for up to 16 hours to extract marrow and collagen.

The kitchen also avoids pre-made stocks or broths left sitting around; each pot is prepared to be enjoyed at its peak. The result is a broth rich and flavourful enough to enjoy entirely on its own. In fact, traditional hotpot dipping sauces and condiments aren’t really necessary here. We were simply offered soy sauce with freshly cut red chillies.

Deluxe Set

Premium Set

We tried both the Deluxe Set ($110++ per person) and Premium Set ($138++ per person), paired with the Mala and Signature broths. The Mala has an authentic Chengdu-style flavour that is spicy, fragrant and slightly numbing without overpowering the ingredients. The Signature, on the other hand, features a Pickled Chilli broth with Sichuan green peppers, giving it a gentle numbing sensation and lovely fragrance.

Both sets include six seafood items, three meats, an assortment of fresh vegetables, and a small platter of Fish Dumpling, Handmade Shrimp Paste, and Braised Beef “Three Treasures”.

The Deluxe Set includes Sea Bass, Hokkaido Fan Scallop, Mussel, Tiger Prawn, Squid and Clam, alongside Wagyu Beef Short Ribs MB3, Duroc Pork Collar and Australian Lamb Shoulder.

The Premium Set steps things up with more premium ingredients, including Cod Fish, Rock Lobster, South African Abalone, Tiger Prawn and Clam, accompanied by Japanese Kagoshima A4 Wagyu Sirloin, Duroc Pork Neck, and Duck Breast.

Everything was incredibly fresh, and the portions were much more generous than we expected. We were actually surprised that we couldn’t finish everything!

One service detail we particularly loved was the de-shelling service. Our rock lobster was taken back into the kitchen and returned completely de-shelled and beautifully plated. It’s a small touch, but one that makes the whole hotpot experience feel considerably more luxurious.

For dessert, we were recommended the Pink Guava Sorbet with Preserved Shiso Plum ($12) and Sichuan Ice Jelly with Osmanthus and Japanese Melon ($12). Both were light and refreshing, exactly what we needed after such a substantial meal. The tart, fruity Pink Guava Sorbet was especially refreshing and somehow made us feel a little less full after all that food!

Bon Broth is certainly not your everyday hotpot experience. The space is beautiful and elegant, the ingredients are fresh and generous, and there’s a sense of refinement in everything from choosing your broth at the Broth Bar to having your lobster de-shelled and returned beautifully plated.

At $110++ to $138++ per person, it sits firmly in the premium hotpot category, but the experience feels equally premium. What stood out most for us was that the broth isn’t simply the base for cooking the ingredients. It is very much one of the stars of the meal. A good choice for a special occasion, an indulgent dinner, or simply when you’re in the mood for hotpot with a little more finesse.

Photos and words by Jaslyn. An avid cook who lives to eat and travel for food. Note: This is an invited tasting.


Bon Broth
Raffles City
252 North Bridge Road
#03-01
Singapore 179103
Tel: +65 83807434
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Nearest MRT: City Hall (EW, NS Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 3pm, 530pm - 10pm

Direction:
1) Alight at City Hall MRT Station. Take Exit A. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 3 minutes. [Map]

Gotti Italiano @ Amoy Street - A Refreshed Menu Rooted In Italian Culinary Tradition

Gotti Italiano at Amoy Street is now led by newly appointed Executive Chef Alessandro Giustetti. Born and trained in Italy and having led kitchens across Singapore and Europe, Chef Alessandro’s cooking is deeply rooted in Italian tradition. Marking a new chapter for Gotti is a refreshed menu featuring more than 20 new dishes, paying homage to native Italian culinary traditions through slow-built sauces, seasonal ingredients, handmade pasta and more.

Tentacolo di Polpo 4.5/5

We started with one of the menu highlights, Tentacolo di Polpo ($36), a dish inspired by summers spent in Calabria, southern Italy, where tomatoes are abundant. The grilled, wild-caught Australian octopus leg had an enticing smoky flavour from its charred surface, which paired particularly well with the fruity sweetness of the cherry tomato coulis. Slow-cooked confit tomatoes were jammy and sweet, building on the dish’s tomato-forward character, while a drizzle of mint oil added a fresh, herbaceous accent. Sprinkles of almond slices provided a pleasant touch of nuttiness and crunch.

Guanciale di Manzo 4.8/5

For pasta, Guanciale di Manzo ($34) brings the slow-cooked comfort of a 12-hour Wagyu beef cheek ragù. Deep, savoury and richly flavoured, the tender, melt-in-the-mouth beef clung beautifully to the homemade fusilli, which was al dente with a satisfying bite. The pizzas didn’t disappoint either.

Crudo e Rucola 4.8/5

Crudo e Rucola ($38) features luscious ribbons of Parma ham that were so tender they were almost creamy when eaten together with the milky burrata. The dough was well-aerated, with a lightness that balanced the generous toppings without losing its satisfying bite.

Pere e Cioccolato 2.8/5

Millefoglie alla Ciliegia 4.2/5

For desserts, we found Pere e Cioccolato ($16) slightly disappointing. The warm Valrhona chocolate and pear cake was moist but lacked the chocolate intensity we expected. Millefoglie alla Ciliegia ($16), however, delighted us with buttery layers of puff pastry, tart mascarpone-cherry custard and macerated strawberries.

With Chef Alessandro at the helm, Gotti Italiano’s refreshed menu focuses on the fundamentals of Italian cooking, from slow-built sauces and handmade pasta to quality seasonal ingredients.

Photos and words by Si An. A homebody who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, the smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


Gotti Italiano
78 Amoy Street
Singapore 069897
Tel +65 3129 0321
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Nearest MRT: Tanjong Pagar (EW Line), Telok Ayer (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Mon-Tue, Thu: 11:30am - 3pm, 6pm - 11pm
Wed & Fri: 11:30am - 3pm, 6pm - 1am
Sat-Sun: 11:30 - 4pm, 6pm - 11pm

Direction:
1) Alight at Telok Ayer MRT station. Take Exit A. Walk to Amoy Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 5 minutes. [Map]

2) Alight at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Take Exit G. Walk down Telok Ayer Street. Turn left onto Amoy Street. Walk to the destination. Journey time is about 8 minutes. [Map]

NOOR @ Mohamed Sultan Road - Mediterranean Flavours With A Japanese Flair

Located along Mohamed Sultan Road, NOOR is a new dining destination showcasing Mediterranean flavours with subtle Japanese influences. Designed for communal dining, the menu starts with mezze and cold plates before moving on to larger dishes and desserts.

Shok Bread 5/5

We began with the Shok Bread ($15), NOOR’s take on Japanese shokupan. With many restaurants now offering their own signature house breads, NOOR has certainly delivered one worth returning for. Soft, fluffy and lightly buttery, it was served alongside Tahini and Matbucha, a slow-cooked pepper and tomato condiment with flavours that had been beautifully concentrated over hours of cooking.

Trio of Housemade Dips 4/5

The bread also served as the perfect vehicle for the Trio of Housemade Dips ($13): Ikra, Muhammara, and Yaki Feta. Each brought a distinct personality to the table. The taramasalata-inspired Ikra offered an addictive savoury brininess enriched with mentaiko, while the Muhammara Miso delivered deep, smoky flavours from roasted peppers. The Yaki Feta, a reinterpretation of babaganoush that blends feta with roasted eggplant, carried an intriguing funk tempered by its bruleed top.

Aka Beet Salad 3/5

From the Cold Plates, the Aka Beet Salad ($22) paired roasted beetroot with a zesty blood orange vinaigrette and citrus cream cheese. While we enjoyed the bright acidity of the dressing, the sweetness of the cream cheese tipped the dish slightly off balance, especially alongside the naturally sweet beetroot. A sharper, more savoury cheese would have complemented the other elements better.

Ebi Freekeh Risotto 2.8/5

Among the larger plates, the Ebi Freekeh Risotto ($38) featured freekeh cooked in dashi, accompanied by grilled tiger prawns and caramelised onion cream. We loved the freekeh’s satisfying bite and the nutty, earthy flavours that came through in every mouthful. The herbaceous shatta, the restaurant’s housemade green chilli sauce, folded through the grain, further elevating those flavours. However, an underlying sweetness, further amplified by the caramelised onion cream, became rather dominant after a few bites. The tiger prawns were also slightly overcooked, leaving them a touch dry.

Miso Butter Fish 3/5

The Miso Butter Fish ($39) paired Mediterranean snapper with smoked corn miso beurre blanc and was accompanied by robata-grilled cabbage. The beurre blanc was smooth and well executed, though it leaned noticeably sweet, likely due to the corn. While the fish had an appealingly caramelised exterior, it was unfortunately a little dry.

Mia Zaki 3/5

For a more indulgent option, the Mia Zaki ($68) featured Miyazaki Wagyu served with a black truffle and foie gras sauce. The menu describes it as A6-grade, though, based on my understanding, Japanese Wagyu is officially graded only up to A5. Regardless of the terminology, the beef was exceptionally unctuous, though an accompanying starch would have rounded out the dish nicely.

Sticky Goma 4/5

Desserts here are worth a try. The Sticky Goma ($19) featured a black sesame financier baked into a tart shell, topped with white chocolate yoghurt cream and finished with lime zest. The financier had a satisfyingly chewy texture, while the yoghurt cream added a welcome tang that balanced its sweetness.

Kuro Shokolata 4.5/5

Equally memorable was the Kuro Shokolata ($19), a velvety chocolate mousse encased in delicate cocoa tuile tubes atop an umami truffle toffee. The bitterness of the flaky, crisp cocoa tuile was spot on, complementing the silky mousse that flowed out with every bite. We thoroughly enjoyed every element of the dessert, save for the truffle note in the toffee, which was out of place and disrupted an otherwise harmonious flavour profile.

The drinks menu is equally extensive. We tried one of the signature cocktails, Master Mind ($25), a spirit-forward concoction that paired well with the richer dishes on the menu. For a non-alcoholic option, the First Light ($16) was bright and refreshing, offering a crowd-pleasing combination of lychee and pink grapefruit that made for an easy, palate-cleansing sip between courses.

NOOR offers a fresh take on Mediterranean cuisine with touches of Japanese influences. While the house bread and dips were excellent, some of the savoury dishes could have been better balanced and more consistently executed.

Photos and words by Si An. A homebody who is allured by travelling, loves the feel of freedom, the smell of the rain and the aroma of fine coffee and food.


NOOR
17 Mohamed Sultan Road
Singapore 238966
Tel: +65 8805 8075
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Nearest MRT: Fort Canning (DT Line)

Opening Hours:
Tue-Sun: 5pm - 12am
(Closed on Mon)

Direction:
1) Alight at Fort Canning MRT Station. Take Exit A. Walk to the traffic junction between River Valley Road and Clemenceau Ave. Cross the road and walk down Clemenceau Ave towards Mohamed Sultan Road. Turn left onto Mohamed Sultan Road. Walk down Mohamed Sultan Road. Walk to destination. Journey time about 6 minutes. [Map]

Hikiniku To Come @ Vivocity - Tokyo’s Cult Hamburg Steak Experience Lands at Singapore

Acclaimed Japanese dining concept Hikiniku To Come officially opened its first Singapore outpost at VivoCity on 29 May 2026, bringing with it a cult-followed “hamburg steak-on-rice” experience from Tokyo’s Kichijoji district. Known for its unwavering focus on simplicity, precision and freshness, the brand has elevated what is typically a humble comfort dish into a refined, almost ritualistic dining journey.

At the heart of Hikiniku To Come’s philosophy is an obsessive attention to detail. The beef is ground fresh in-house daily under strict temperature control in a dedicated room, ensuring optimal freshness and food safety. Each patty is then hand-shaped using a distinctive “popping” technique that minimises heat transfer from the hands, preserving the meat’s integrity. Made exclusively from 100% Japanese beef selected for its ideal balance of richness and flavour, the patties are grilled over binchotan charcoal and served within seconds of cooking — a meticulous process that guarantees consistency in both texture and taste.

The menu is intentionally minimalistic, offering a single Signature Set Meal ($27.90++) centred on three hamburg steaks, each served one at a time. This staggered progression transforms the meal into a thoughtfully paced sensory experience, where each patty is enjoyed at its peak and approached differently to highlight its nuanced flavour profile.

Potato Salad with Minced Meat 4.2/5

Raw Kimchi 3.5/5

We began with a couple of side dishes — Potato Salad with Minced Meat ($7.90) and Raw Kimchi ($7.90) — to complement the meal. The Potato Salad with Minced Meat is comforting and hearty, enriched with savoury minced meat that adds depth to the creamy potato base. It strikes a satisfying balance between indulgence and texture, making it more substantial than your typical Japanese potato salad. The Raw Kimchi, on the other hand, offers a lighter, refreshing contrast. Its clean, mildly tangy profile provides a palate cleanser between bites of the rich hamburg steaks, though it leans towards the subtle side in terms of punch.

Hamburg Steak 4/5

The star of the show is undoubtedly the Hamburg Steak. Each patty arrives sizzling hot, placed atop a bowl of fluffy Japanese rice. Diners are encouraged to savour the first patty as is, allowing the beef’s natural flavours to shine. The meat is incredibly moist and juicy, with a pronounced smokiness from the binchotan charcoal. As it rests on the rice, the juices seep into the grains below, subtly enhancing each bite with savoury depth.

For the second patty, diners are guided to pair it with grated radish and a drizzle of the housemade ponzu. This combination introduces a bright, citrusy lift that cuts through the richness of the beef, offering a refreshing contrast that reawakens the palate.

The third and final patty invites a more indulgent finish. Diners can dip the meat into a glossy beaten egg yolk or mix the yolk with soy sauce into the rice, transforming it into a luxurious tamago kake gohan. The creamy richness of the egg, combined with the umami-laden meat juices, creates a deeply satisfying and comforting finale.

Hikiniku To Come is more than just a meal; it is a carefully orchestrated experience that celebrates the beauty of restraint and precision. By focusing on a single dish and perfecting every element, the brand delivers a dining journey that is both comforting and quietly sophisticated — one that invites diners to slow down and appreciate the subtle evolution of flavours from start to finish. As Singapore continues to embrace specialised dining concepts, Hikiniku To Come stands out for its disciplined approach and thoughtful execution. It proves that even the simplest dishes, when treated with care and intention, can be transformed into something truly memorable.

Note: This is an invited tasting.


Hikiniku To Come
Vivocity
1 Harbourfront Walk
#01-102/103
Singapore 098585
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Nearest MRT: Harbourfront (CC, NE Line)

Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm

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