There’s been a huge spate of restaurants and bars opening this year-end and aside from a Japanese influx, there’s also been a Korean invasion. The best part is that most of these dishes can’t be found in other Korean places, so save your stomach for that next trip out.
Guksu Homemade Noodle House
The first outlet of this famed Korean noodle house brings these handmade noodles to town. It comes in three shapes (thin, thick and thickest) and flavors like classic, spicy and miso-based soups. Popular bowls include Janchi Guksu with a broth made from anchovies and Naeng Meon that’s served with cold soup or gochujang sauce. It’s a casual affair, just come ready to slurp.
Joo
A fun bar in the Bugis area, this is one place that’s not overflowing with soju. Instead, the poison of choice is makgeolli, a traditional Korean rice wine. Nothing about this place is traditional, with Korean-inspired bar bites and makgeolli and soju-based cocktails like the soju mojito and makgeolli-flavored black raspberry drinks. Plus, the food is equally thought out with dishes of slow-roasted Mangalitsa pork belly, kimchi chicken potpie and seafood gochujang risotto.
SYNC Korean Tapas Bar
First there’s Japanese tapas (aka: the izakaya), now there’s a Korean form, too. This fusion tapas bar has dishes like toppoki, muneo (a sauteed octopus dish in kimchi jus) and even chicken paella loaded with kimchi and sausages. The place is super casual and brimming with K dramas, K jazz and K pop.
