6 Korean Marts In Singapore To Shop For Authentic Products

Watching the first episode of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha made me crave for Korean food! I know I am not the only one. While there are plenty of glorious restaurant options in town, you can create your own delicious bowl of sundubu jjigae (soft tofu stew) or ramyeon (instant noodles) at home.

Begin by getting your hands on authentic Korean ingredients and products through visiting the following Korean Marts. Most are available online too!

#1: CHOROK MARKET

Nestled in the bustling Orchard area, Chorok Market sells freshly imported vegetables and branded goods from Korea. Get your favorite Lotte snacks and stock up your Soju as you visit the store. You can also purchase items online through their website. Get free delivery for orders above S$80! Order here.

#2: SHINE KOREA

Shine Korea is regarded as one of the most popular Korean marts in Singapore. With its various branches spread across the country, its best-selling items are the Samyang instant noodles. You can find its cool flavors such as Samyang Buldak Tomato Pasta and Samyang Hot Pepper Jjamppong/Jjajang. For your convenience, you may shop through their website. Orders above S$80 can reap its free delivery. Order here.

Image Credits: Ana Sison Tallod via facebook.com

#3: KORYO MART

For many Singaporeans, they visit Korean markets just to get the feel of being in Korea. They soak in the atmosphere without a shopping list on hand. If that is the experience you are looking for, you can visit the Koryo Mart. Its branches have a variety of frozen meats, kimchi, instant noodles, seaweed, soups, sauces, and marinades. These ingredients are perfect for your DIY Korean BBQ party. Koryo Mart is also available at qoo10. Order here.

#4: AMU MAR-TE

Amu Mar-te has two physical outlets in AMK Djitsun Mall and in Canberra Plaza. Its Ang Mo Kio is unique as it is linked to the Korfe Bakery. In this mart, you will find ready-to-eat meals such as soybean stew, salted egg dumplings, and Korean seafood pancakes. Check out their outlets to enjoy their extraordinary daily selection of items that are under S$3! You can also purchase through their Shopee store, here.

Image Credits: amumarte.sg via facebook.com

#5: LEE MART

Lee Mart is often associated with its Korean side dishes. It offers its customers more than that! You will find other Korean products such as anchovies, kimchi, frozen food, braised lotus roots, and instant noodles.

There are currently four outlets in Singapore: Chinatown Point, Suntec City Mall, Hillion Mall, and Heartland Mall. Visit these outlets or browse their website. Get free delivery for purchases above S$70. Order here.

#6: BLUEBASKET

BlueBasket tickles the modern heart as it offers a lot of trendy items and kitchenware. From minimalist Jeju bowls to trendy food items such as Fishcake Noodle Tteokbokki and Makgeolli Brewing Kits, you can find these items here!

Image Credits: pixabay.com

New BlueBasket members can enjoy free delivery coupon without minimum spending when they purchase online. Nonetheless, orders above S$80 get free delivery. Order here.

Korea has a vast majority of grocery store chains where you can do most of your shopping. From convenience stores to marts, these stores sell a variety of food and household items. Since we cannot easily travel to Korea to purchase what we need, you can stop by these abovementioned marts to get your authentic Korean cuisine experience!

Sources: 1 & 2

Read More...

Top Places For Authentic Jjajangmyeon In Singapore (From S$7)

One of the most common take-away dishes in Korean dramas is Jajangmyeon (자장면) or Jjajangmyeon (짜장면). Jjajangmyeon is a Korean noodle dish coated with a thick sauce made of chunjang, vegetables, and diced pork. Different versions of this dish use seafood or other meats.

It was inspired by the Chinese dish Zha Jiang Mian, which was introduced by a Chinese immigrant living in Incheon. Nowadays, Jjajangmyeon brings delight to people all over the world. Luckily for us, we can satisfy our appetite without having to travel to Korea.

#1: MUKJJA

Mukjja‘s catchy name came from 먹자 (Mukja) meaning “Let’s eat!” and 짜 (Jja) from “Jjajangmyeon”. Located opposite Novena Church, MukJja offers a fusion of dishes from the Korean and Chinese cuisines. It opened last March 2020, before the implementation of the Circuit Breaker.

People who have missed the dishes from Tae Woo Ban Jum (i.e., a Korean restaurant that used to be at Clarke Quay) will be happy to know that its founder is the person behind MukJja.

Now, let us focus on MukJja’s Jjajangmyeon (about S$11). What makes their Jjajangmyeon memorable is its in-house noodles, its black bean paste, and its inclusion of shredded meat. Food blogger and presenter Daniel Ang expressed that its taste is as legit as the one he had before in Seoul. He is not alone! Many online reviews considered it as one of the best Jjajangmyeons in Singapore.

Image Credits: facebook.com/mukjja

Address: 275 Thomson Road #01-07, Singapore 307645

#2: DONG FANG HONG

This list will not be complete without the Dong Fang Hong Korean Chinese Restaurant. Dong Fang Hong serves a mouthwatering collection of dishes, which are suitable for casual dining and family gatherings. Serving people since 2005, Dong Fang Hong is one of the most experienced Korean Chinese restaurants in Singapore.

Try the DFH Jjajangmyeon (about S$12) or the Uni Jjajangmyeon (about S$13) when you are there. The DFH Jjajangmyeon is made with chewy handmade noodles and savory black bean sauce. While the Uni Jjajangmyeon is the spicy equivalent its Jjajangmyeon. The spiciness seeps through the thick savory sauce, making the dish more addicting with every bite.

Image Credits: facebook.com/DongFangHongSg

Address: 92 Telok Ayer Street #01-01 Singapore, Singapore 048472

#3: O.BBa Jjajang

O.BBa Jjajang is the sister restaurant of O.BBa BBQ. One of its well-known dishes is the Jjajangmyeon (from S$13). The restaurant’s Jjajangmyeon is served with fermented black soybean paste, homemade noodles, diced pork, onions, and shredded cucumber. Its size can feed about two people, but you are more than welcome to upsize your bowl for an additional fee.

Its noodles are smooth and chewy. As for the sauce, it has a generous sauce-to-noodle ratio. People who love saucy dishes will consider it a treat. Please mix the noodles and the sauce before consuming it to prevent the noodles from sticking together.

Image Credits: facebook.com/obbajjajang

Address: 77 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088498

#4: ANNYEONG CHICKEN

The most inexpensive Jjajangmyeon (about S$7) on this list packs a punch! You see, it added vibrancy to our local hawker scene with its offerings of popular Korean cuisines such as the Jjajangmyeon. At Annyeong Chicken, the black bean sauce coats every yellow noodle strand. It boasts with a heavy onion flavor too.

You can complete your course with delicious dishes such as the Soy Garlic Chicken (about S$8/3 pieces) and the Haemul Pajeon (from S$10). Haemul Pajeon is otherwise known as the Korean seafood pancake.

Image Credits: facebook.com/annyeongck

Address: Blk 710 Clementi West Street 2, #01-247, Rong Fa Coffee Shop, Singapore 120709

Sources: 1, 2, & 3

Read More...