NKIKICHUA: KoreanCuisine

Chir Chir Singapore New Menu Highlight: Honey Butter Chicken

I'm sure Chir Chir needs no further introductions (basically it’s a Korean fried chicken world!). I would like to take this time to correct the pronunciation as I have heard lots of version among my friends, it is actually pronounced as ‘Chi-Re Chi-Re’. J

It’s my honour to be among the first few to savour over the new items, which were launched on 4April 2016. As you know, Chir Chir is a chain restaurant originated in South Korea and it what better way to attract k-food lovers than to introduce the Honey Butter Chicken | $28.9 derived from the famous Korean honey butter chips. Even for those who haven’t tried the chips (it applies to me too), you can imagine it just by having this chicken because according to my fellow foodie who have tried the chips mentioned that the chicken seasoning were really similar to the chips.

Having the honey butter sauce glazes over crispy buttered chicken, potato wages and pan-fried topokki, and finishes off with honey butter seasoning powder, dried cranberries and sliced almonds. Dip into the honeyed garlic mayo for ultimate satisfaction. It's so irresistible that you won't stop at one!

Quench your thirst with these colourful smoothies such as Raspberry / Mojito / Aqua Double Smoothies | $12.9 each (top-up $3 for soju). These smoothies are be made up of ice-blended mango puree topped with raspberry / lime / mixed tropical fruits, and crowned with fresh whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles.

These smoothies is best shared by two and if you can’t make up your mind, may I suggest going with Raspberry Double Smoothie.

Next off the list, Topokki & Cheese | $9.9 - I would say it’s a spin-off of mac & cheese. Instead of macaroni, it is replaced with topokki (Korean rice cakes) and topped with chicken ham and bacon bits in creamy cheese sauce.

Spice it up with the Spicy Seafood Soup | $26.9, a spicy clam-based soup loaded with an entire squid, crayfish, prawns, mussels and glass noodles. Be wary as the spiciness comes after, however I think it’s quite shiok.

Up a notch, for the (even spicier) Spicy Topokki | $15.9, served in fiery gochujang (red pepper paste) sauce with topokki, sliced fishcake, cubed sweet potatoes, Cajun battered squid and deep-fried hardboiled egg. You may also choose to top-up $4 for breaded chicken tenders. It’s so spicy that I stopped after a few mouthful. I'm sticking to non-spicy fried chickens instead!

Going for something wholesome? Chir Chir serves oven roasted chickens too and it comes in Rosemary, Spicy BBQ and Garlic. The whole roasted Rosemary Chicken | $29.9 went through 12hours of marinating and accompanied with salt-baked egg, baked potato and salsa. My pick among the three, which I have tried previously.

313@SOMERSET OUTLET	BEDOK POINT OUTLET	CHINATOWN POINT OUTLET
Address: 313 Orchard Road,#B3- 04/05/06, Singapore 238895	Address: 799 New Upper Changi Road, #02-05/06, Singapore 467351	Address: 133 New Bridge Road, #01-43, Singapore 059413
Opening Hours: Sun-Thu: 11:00am - 10:00pm Fri-Sat: 11:00am - 11:00pm	Opening Hours: Daily: 11:00am - 10:00pm	Opening Hours: Daily: 11:00am - 3:00am

facebook.com/ChirChirSingapore/

..Hosted Meal..

Tuesday, April 19, 2016
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Masizzim @ 313 Somerset, Singapore

featured

Masizzim (ma-see-sim) is yet another Korean food concept brought to you by K Food Holdings, also the folks behind Chir Chir Fusion Chicken Factory in Singapore. Masizzim can be translated to delicious stew in Korean and they serve a variety of traditional and modern Korean dishes in hearty portions. What distinguish them from other Korean restaurants would be their signature stews, Beef Rib Stew, Pork Rib Stew and Spicy Chicken Stew.

I highly recommend these balls! Rice Ball (Tuna or Anchovy) | $8 – DIY rice balls with medium-grain white rice stained purple from Korean black rice, barley, seaweed crumbs, crushed chilli padi, and a choice of Tuna (with mayonnaise and kimichi) or Anchovy. Here’s how you do it DIY with the gloves provided, mix the ingredients well and mould them into balls or any shapes you like. It would be a tough choice to pick which is nicer, and I really like both. One gives the extra crunch with crispy anchovy and the other is packed with flavour from the flakes of tuna mayo.

Without further ado, the highlight of the meal, STEWS. They comes in two “sizes” and each pot is chock-full of succulent meat that fall-off-the-bone tenderness such as Australian beef short ribs, Australian pork mixed ribs and assorted chicken parts. The process includes marinating the meat overnight followed by slow-cooking it for at least 6hours in Masizzim’s recipe sauce.

Beef Rib Stew | $18 for single, $32 for double and Pork Rib Stew | $16 for single, $29 for double - can be served spicy or non-spicy, the non-spicy soy flavour is an umami blend of soy sauce, pineapples and Korean pear - unassumingly lip-smacking.

The Spicy Chicken Stew | $16 for single, $29 for double - is only served spicy, the spicy base is made with gochujang (red pepper paste), offering the adventurous four levels of increasingly fiery, and tongue-tingling heat.

Here's how you can personalise your stew:

- Choose the stew

- Choose flavour – soy (for beef and pork only) / Spicy (level 1 to 4)

- Choose noodles – Korean udon / glass noodles

- Choose optional add-ons – cheese / toppoki (Korean rice cake) / extra noodles | $2 each

- Beef and spicy chicken in spicy level 1 with glass noodles

- Pork rib in soy with udon

Korean pancakes are one of the sides not to be missed. Masizzim's pancakes are crispy-chewy, which boast an impeccable golden-brown tan across both surfaces and around their crinkly edges. All pancakes are served with their house-blended dipping sauce of soy sauce, vinegar, sesame, chilli powder, pepper and onions.

Started with the interestedly creation of Tomato Cheese Kimchi Pancake | $13 - kimchi and minced beef-stuffed pancake topped with tomato paste, mozzarella and chopped basil. Looks a lot like a small pan of pizza and possibly taste like one too! Nothing beats the traditional kind, Squid and Leek Pancake | $14 - tradition Korean pancake with tender slivers of squid and leek, filled with chewy squid. There's also one that is stuffed with potato, Potato Pancake | $12.

The interior is an industrial-looking space with rustic grey walls, dark fixtures, concrete floors and mesh dividers filled with stones. To enhance the experience as though it was back in Seoul, the warm-cosy lighting and K-pop music videos in the background plays a part.

313 Somerset, #B3-02, 313 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238895

Opening Hours:

Sun - Thu: 11am - 10pm (L.O. 9.30pm)

Fri - Sat: 11am - 11pm (L.O. 10.30pm)

www.facebook.com/masizzimsingapore

..Hosted Meal..

Tuesday, December 15, 2015
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[CLOSED] Andong Zzimdak (安东찜닭) @ Raffles City | City Hall, Singapore

KoreanCuisine

Singapore has recently became the bustling pot for Korean frenzy, and I’m referring to the endless franchise stores. One of the newer hypes located at the basement of Raffles City Shopping Centre, Andong Zzimdak (安东찜닭). They have more than 65 stores in Korea and you might have actually seen this in the heart of Seoul, Myeongdong.

Brought to you by the same folks that brought in Yoogane in Singapore. Andong Zzimdak specialises in Andong jjimdak, a dish that originated in Gyeongsangbukdo, Andong, and jjim means a Korean steamed or boiled dish + dak means chicken. There you have it, a dish made with chicken, various vegetables such as potatoes and carrots, marinated in ganjang (Korean soy sauce) based sauce and simmered to perfection. Andong jjimdak is often enjoyed by many and is served in big portion that are meant for sharing.

There are four types of jjimdaks and we choose the Boneless Jjimdak | $49.90 for Medium (shares 2-3pax) | $59.90 for Large (shares 3-4pax) - this is an alternative to their signature, the original ones with bones. This plate of goodness is filled with tender and boneless chicken thigh meat, carrot, potatoes and thick chewy sweet potato noodles, and marinated in spicy ganjang (Korean soy sauce) based sauce. Dokboki (rice cake) was an additional toppings at $3.90. You could also order additional noodles or steamed rice. It would really taste so much yummier if it was in hot pot style keeping it hot, especially it'll take time to finish savouring this big plate and the food turns cold after a while.

Although jjimdak are generally spicy, we don’t think it’s spicy at all, spicy lovers should probably go for Maya Jjimdak (spiciest with three chilli symbols whereas the rest are just with one chilli symbol).

We had Mini Seafood Pancake | $9.90 for the side dish. This is unlike the usual Korean pancake I was expecting as this was made locally in-house, and due to space constraint mini ones would be more ideal. It tasted more like Thai fishcake to me, not complaining as I like them and it goes with the dip too.

It's pretty decent for drinks where we tried their signature Iced Citron Tea | $3.50 and Hot Citron Tea | $2.50.

The food were served very timely, less than 10 minutes, somewhat like a fast food concept but with limited seating capacity and close proximity of the tables. Furthermore, it can get a little noisy after a while, not ideal if you want to have chats during your meal.

Raffles City Shopping Centre, 252 North Bridge Road, #B1-44F, Singapore 179103

Opening Hours:

Daily: 11:30am - 10pm (L.O. 9.15pm)

www.facebook.com/AndongZzimdak

..Hosted Meal..

Monday, November 30, 2015
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E!GHT Korean BBQ @ The Central | Clarke Quay, Singapore

BBQ

E!GHT 8 Korean BBQ is a full-service restaurant, where their well-trained team will be prepared and cooked for you at your table. So all you have to do is sit back and enjoy, or feed your cameras first :) E!GHT offers an array of tantalising flavours of premium BBQ meats like their signature Mangalitza (Mahn-ga-leet-za) pork belly, that comes in 8 Colours Set.

I like how it was prepared where the staff cooked and cut the meat and leave it at the hotplate for us to enjoy. BBQ never felt such a breeze!

What's more authentic than having Korean Iced Barley Tea [$2]

They serve alcoholic drinks and even their own concoction such as Soju Bomb and Seoul Train.

The free flow side dishes (known as Banchan in Korean) are seasonal, what were served during the tasting: spicy cuttlefish, pickles with beetroot, pickles with chilli, seaweed, fried anchovies, kimchi and beansprouts. Condiments includes bean paste and chilli.

E!GHT is called 8 because of their 8 Colours Set (each strip weights approximately 100g), ranges from the lightest to strongest flavour. We were invited to try the 8 Colours Set Version 2.0 [$98]: Original, Pine, Green Tea, Yuzu, Plum, Blackberry, Ginger Honey and Kalbi.

8 Colours Set (original): Wine, Original, Ginseng, Garlic, Herb, Curry, Miso Paste and Red Pepper Paste.

Oh and don't worry if you can't finish 8 pork bellies, they comes in 4 Colours Set [$58] too (shares 2-4pax), or you can always order a la carte at $12 each strip

This sheet is thoughtfully placed on top to prevent the oil from splattering, but you might still be splattered now and then haahaa! I am speechless on how good it is... If you love BBQ and pork, this is THE place. The marination is so well done that each bite is so flavourful.

Top up for Army Stew with the Coloured Set at $6 (such a steal!), otherwise it can be ordered a la carte at $24.

It is always a good combination to have stew while barbecuing, well at least that's for me cause it can get too meaty with all the pork going on. Plus army stew is a must try at a Korean restaurant right? The pot looks big but it is pretty shallow, I'm not complaining as it is just the right size to go along with the BBQ.

Seafood Soft Tofu Stew [$24] - the soup tasted too fishy for my liking. Would prefer the Seafood Bean Paste Stew [$18] though (not in photo).

Don't fancy BBQ? They offer a la carte dishes too like this Kimchi Fried Rice [$28] - it is interesting that is is served like the Japanese dish, Okonomiyaki. It's called kimich fried rice but sadly the kimchi wasn't distinctive.

There's always room for desserts but it a miss with their Bibimbap Bingsu [$28] - a bingsu looking like a bibimbap, thumbs up for the effort. The price seems to be too steep for 8 toppings (marshmallow, strawberry, oreo, kiwi, cornflakes, grape, red bean, and mango) on a bed of shaved milk ice. Nothing to shout about for this bingsu.

Available on weekdays at 11.30am - 2.30pm and weekends at 11.30pm - 4.30pm.

Credit: E!GHT Korean BBQ

The chic industrial ambience with K-pop videos playing on the background, ultimate Korean sensation while dining. Brownie points added for their 2-in-1 chairs, where the lid can be lifted and your belongings can be kept inside. It is safe (cause you are literally sitting on it) and I guess the bags won't smell as bad. Outdoor seats are available as well.