Korean stall | Toa Payoh HDB Hub Foodcourt

My mum, sis and I decided to check out the new Korean stall in the Toa Payoh HDB Hub Foodcourt for lunch earlier. I skeptically circled the stall while deciding between korean and nonya food..the boss was a friendly korean lady who recommended their Saba Set the moment she saw me. After much deliberation, my sis picked the Ramyeon ($4.50/$5), my mum ordered the Kimchi Fried Rice ($4.50/$5), and I had the Saba Set ($5.50). They also have 2 types of bibimbap, yuk gae jang (spicy beef/pork/chicken soup with vegetables) and kimchi soup on the menu. Not a bad selection for such a small stall.

As it turned out, their Ramyeon wasn’t too good [**.] because the noodles tasted like the instant type and ingredients were limited. The soup was relatively tasty, but could’ve been better. Comparing like for like, Kim Dae Mun Korean Cuisine over at the Meredien foodcourt has a better bowl of ramyeon.

However, all’s not lost. If there is 1 thing I’d definitely come back for…it’ll be their Saba Set [****]. The lady boss was right, the saba was well-grilled and retained its juicy sweetness. Topped with a teriyaki-like sauce, this fish was superb. What you see here is really only half a saba, but a sizeable portion nonetheless. Value for money.

Lastly, do skip the Kimchi Fried Rice [**.]. The rice was too sticky and it clumped together. Ingredients were scarce, consisting of egg and kimchi only. That being said, the kimchi was good even if the rice wasn’t. They do sell their side dishes of kimchi and anchovies (ikan bilis) separately if you’re interested. For korean food fans out there who don’t want to burn a hole in the pocket, do check out Kim Dae Mun at Meredien and the korean stall at Lavender Food Centre (near Jalan Besar) next to Eminent Plaza.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 6/10 (worth visiting for their Saba)
Price – $
Service – 7/10
Ambience – 5/10
Accessibility – 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Address:
Lorong 6 Toa Payoh HDB Hub, Basement,
Toa Payoh HDB Hub Food Court
Singapore 310460

Opening hours:
Mon – Sat: 11 am – approx 9 pm

Dress code: Casual

Nearest MRT: Toa Payoh

Kim Dae Mun Korean Cuisine

Kim Dae Mun is a Korean food stall that has resided in the Le Meridien Food Court since 2002 or so. With Korean cooks and assistants in the kitchen, this place serves up authentic Korean fare at affordable prices. I first stumbled upon this place in 2005, after a visit to the food court for some Thai beef noodles. One of the things I really like at Kim Dae Mun is their Potato Pancake ($3.50) [****] as pictured here. The thin, crisp pancake doesn’t taste starchy despite the use of potato flour, and goes very well with a tangy sauce dip. The addition of white sesame seeds is a must for every dish, and it’s something I noticed while queuing for my food.

Another dish I like is their Korean Glass Noodles ($4.50) [***] which isn’t overly oily, and comes chockful of ingredients like prawns, vegetables, and egg. It’s accompanied by a choice of 1 side. Usually I’ll pick either the anchovies (ikan bilis) or kimchi to go with the noodles. For me it’s always a toss up between the Thai Pad Thai and Korean Glass Noodles. Both of which have somewhat similar ingredients but still manage to taste different. The important thing that sets a good dish of glass noodles apart, is definitely fresh ingredients.

Fancy some Korean-style ramen? [**.] Try some of Kim Dae Mun’s. At $4.50 a bowl, their ramen comes with egg, vegetables, and chicken. The soup’s tasty enough, but it could be spicier I felt. If you’ve got the tastebuds for spicy stuff, do try their Hot Beancurd Soup with Rice ($6) [****]. The soup is served piping hot in a black pot, with sliced pork, straw mushrooms, and la la shells (a variation of clams). Meat lovers will be glad to know that they’ve also got hotplate meats such as spicy pork, beef, and chicken on the menu. Others include spicy squid and more soups. All in all a sizeable selection for a food court stall that has a constant stream of customers (some of them Koreans too) every weekend.

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 7/10
Price – $
Service – 7/10
Ambience – 6/10
Accessibility – 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] – rating(s) for individual dishes

Address:
100 Orchard Road, Level 1, Le Meridien Food Court

Opening hours:
10 am – 9 pm daily

Dress code: Casual

Nearest MRT: Dhoby Ghaut

Franky’s Kaffe Kitchen (now defunct)

Originating from the U.S., founder Frank Y. expanded his delicatessen in California to downtown Seoul in 2002. Since then, Franky’s Kaffe Kitchen has reached our sunny shores in February 2008, and now resides at Millenia Walk Mall. Enjoy a selection of gourmet bistro food with a traditional Korean touch and a warm cuppa. Expect great fries, a special weekday/weekend menu, generous portions, and friendly service! They deliver to nearby offices too with a minimum order of $30. Their Chicken Noodle ($11.90) [***] consists of juicy charbroiled chicken breast in teriyaki sauce with bell peppers over stir-fried noodle, onions and carrots, accompanied by a house salad and radish pickle. Good news is: this is really filling and the chicken oozes charbroiled tenderness with slightly charred edges…I love my meat that way. The Steak Burrito ($10.50) [***.] on the other hand, was a chockful of grilled beef, bell peppers, onions and lettuce, and sour cream all rolled-into-one with a zesty house salsa to dip into. 

Weekend specials include their Beer-battered Fish & Chips ($9.90) amongst others. Franky’s also offers hot and cold sandwiches ($8.50-$14)with a delectable range of salads and sides to go along with it. Some interesting sandwich offerings are Bulgogi ($11.60) which has charbroiled marinated beef and provolone cheese, Stromboli ($8.50) with pepperoni and melted mozzarella cheese in marinara sauce rolled into a tortilla. Their sides include their awesome French Fries ($3.50) [***.] that are served hot, crispy, and less oil compared to other fries out there. For those who want to order a variety of finger food or sides, try Franky’s Sampler ($15) which includes an assortment of calamari, jalapenos cheddar cheese, Mozzarella sticks and whole mushrooms.

Franky's Club

I’d suggest you pop by Franky’s this coming Labour Day to sample their brunch menu that’s only available on weekends and public holidays. Fancy a Beef Taco Salad, Turkey Roll, Asian Pancake, or a Steak Burrito? Head on down for a leisurely brunch to kickstart your day. This is a great place to bring your vegetarian friends as well because Franky’s has a vegetarian selection – Grilled Vegetable Hot Sandwich ($10.90), Po San Cold Sandwich ($8.90), and Vegetarian Avocado Cold Sandwich ($9.90) that looks tempting to even meatlovers like myself. If you find yourself at Franky’s with friends after-dark and would like to grab a couple of beers…they’ve got a 5-bottle Carlsberg or Corona Bucket ($34/$36) for sharing!

/ no service charge

The I-wanna-know[s]:

Taste – 8/10
Price – $ to $$
Service – 8/10
Ambience – 8/10
Accessibility – 8/10

Legend:
[$]-cheap like peanuts: ($10 & below/person)
[$$]-average Jane ($15-$25/person)
[$$$]-you might wanna tke tht card out..($30-$60/person)
[$$$$]-extremely exorbitant ($70 & above/person)
[* to *****] - rating(s) for individual dishes

Tel: +65 6336 7641

Fax: +65 6336 7642

Address:
9 Raffles Boulevard, #01-55/56, Millenia Walk Mall, Singapore 039596

Email: frankyskitchen@gmail.com

Opening hours:
8:00am – 10:00pm daily

Dress code: Casual
Buses: 56, 77, 75, 14, 171…
Nearest MRT: City Hall