Known for serving affordable and authentic Korean dishes, Ajumma’s Korean Restaurant has closed down its original outlet at The Cathay recently and it has officially opened its new location at Bukit Panjang Plaza on 21 Dec 2021.

Ajumma’s is a casual Korean eatery where you can get Korea homestyle cooking minus the frills (and service charge).

Most of the dishes on Ajumma’s menu are affordably priced under S$10 and they include options such as Chicken Bulgogi, Bibimbap, Spicy Ramyeon, and House-Smoked Mackerel.

The Beef Bulgogi (S$10.50) set comes with plump white rice and an assortment of small side dishes. The marinated grilled beef was juicy and savoury, best eaten with rice to balance the saltiness.

The Kimchi Ramyeon (S$8.90+) has a generous portion of noodles, meat, tofu and vegetables.

The opening of Ajumma’s Korean Restaurant at Bukit Panjang Plaza is definitely great news for those who are staying in the west of Singapore.

Ajumma’s Korean Restaurant
1 Jelebu Road
#03-10A Bukit Panjang Plaza
Singapore 677743

Located at the fourth level of Shaw Centre, 8 Korean BBQ—known for its signature Mangalitza pork—is a full-service restaurant with sleek industrial decor serves which serves as a great intimate setting for a meal with friends or family.

On our visit, we had the 8 Colours Set (S$98), the Yucha Makgeolli (S$35), and the Bibimbap Bingsu (S$28).

As their signature dish (which also inspired their restaurant name), the eponymous 8 Colours Set features eight thick slices of Hungarian Mangalitza pork which has been marinated with eight flavours that range from Wine—the lightest in taste, to Red Pepper Paste; the most flavourful of the lot.

We left the grilling in the good hands of our server while we relaxed and enjoyed the K-pop videos that graced the screens. Once the cooking completed, we were advised to start with the lightest in taste so as to ensure we truly enjoy the differences in taste.

The first thing that surprised us was the entire tenderness of the pork belly; including the pork fat. We were able to easily chew and taste the cut pieces without worry. It also helped that the meat maintained its juiciness, making it equally flavourful with or without the accompanying sauce.

Aside from Korean barbecued meats, they also serve up an array of delectable Korean favourites such as Budae Jjigae (Korean Army Stew), Kimchi Fried Rice and Bingsu!

To accompany our meats, we got the Yucha Makgeolli which had a tinge of fruitiness that offered a more refreshing taste than the traditional sparkling rice wine. As the drink comes as a slush, it would be good to order this when your meat is about done grilling!

For dessert, we had the Bibimbap Bingsu, which came with eight different ingredients to mix in with the ice. The only missing piece was the accompanying milk which was not needed as the finely shaved ice is produced together with the milk.

8 Korean BBQ
1 Scotts Road
#04-20/21
Shaw Centre
Singapore 228208
Mon to Fri: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Sat & Sun: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest station: Orchard

Nestled amongst the many food options available in the Katong-East Coast area of Singapore is Doong Ji – a cosy, authentic Korean restaurant that serves up a variety of dishes from the ever-popular Army Stew to more traditional ones such as the Kimchi Stew and Seafood Pancake.

Run by a Korean lady boss, Doong Ji was established in 2008 and has since become a favourite amongst local residents and tourists who stay in the vicinity. Doong Ji also has a weekday lunch promotion with a selection of dishes priced at only S$9.90+.

On our visit, we got the Bulgogi Hot Pot (S$9.90+), Jjajangmyeon (S$9.90+) and the Pork BBQ (S$9.90+).

Almost as if it was just taken off the stove, our Bulgogi Hot Pot arrived at our table piping hot, with the strong but pleasant smell of beef in the air. We were pleasantly surprised to find generous portions of beef, glass noodles and mushrooms in the soup, in addition to the bowl of rice that came with the dish.

It seemed like the beef had been stir-fried before they were added to the soup. The glass noodles were springy and managed to retain its consistency despite being soaked in the broth. The soup itself was naturally sweet and rich.

The Pork BBQ came stir-fried with onions in a spicy-sweet sauce, set atop a bed of beansprouts, alongside a bowl of rice and soup.

On its own, the dish made for a satisfactory lunch value meal though it’s not too bad as a side dish to share either. The pork was juicy, tender, and each piece of meat was well covered with the sauce, ensuring no disjoint in flavour.

As constant hunters of good jjajangmyeon in Singapore, we have to say that Doong Ji’s definitely made it onto our list with their take on this traditional Korean favourite.

Served with three slices of radish on the side, the noodles came with a sunny side up and a generous portion of sliced cucumbers, which we quickly mixed together. The runny yolk from the egg made for a nice extra topping to the sauce, creating a nice and gooey texture – which gave the jjajangmyeon a well-rounded taste that had us wanting more.

Doong Ji Korean Restaurant
222 East Coast Road
Singapore 428919
Daily: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 6pm – 10pm
Nearest station: Eunos