What springs to mind when you think of Korean restaurants? The wide selection of appetisers? Soot-coloured tabletop grilled? Insistent trail of meaty smoke? Well, Korean BBQ is only the tip of the iceberg.
And as soon as you enter So Seoul Korean Dining and Bar, it’s evident that this isn’t your typical Korean BBQ restaurant. So Seoul, located in Tanjong Pagar, is the latest addition to the diverse food scene, decked out in modern-chic decor, sleek granite surfaces, and a pop of emerald. Its stylish and grease-free ambience makes it ideal for special occasions and a brief respite from the bustling office crowd. Fans of soju and makgeolli will be happy to know that there’s a sleek bar in the establishment.
I think anybody with a modicum of imagination dreams occasionally of another life, for instance, finding myself transported to Seoul amidst the daily grind, and just savouring the scenery and delicacies.
The menu at So Seoul turns out to be an indulgent affair featuring Korean delicacies like Soy Marinated Flower Crab (air-flown from Korea), bibimbap with Korean snow crab, and a spruced-up wagyu tartare that features Korean pear and gochujang. Of course, when it comes to Korean cuisine, Kimchi is a staple! In fact, the Kimchi served here is freshly made every day. The cabbage is crisp and the spices are perfectly balanced. If you’re a fan of Korean food, you absolutely must try the Kimchi here. You won’t be disappointed. The kimchi here is some of the best I’ve ever had.
I have to say, the Soy Marinated Flower Crab (Ganjang-gejang) was quite something, given that I’m eating this dish for the first time. Ganjang-gejang is a traditional Korean dish made by pickling raw crab meat in soy sauce. It is usually served as an appetizer or side dish.
It’s colourful and doesn’t look intimidating for someone who hasn’t consumed raw crab before. It arrived with a bowl of rice and seaweed on the side. I was told to the best way to enjoy crab roe is to mix it with some rice on the top shell and wrap the mixed rice with the seaweed. The result is an explosion of umami flavour that will satisfy every seafood lover. The crab meat has a jelly-like texture that practically melts in your mouth. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this dish and would recommend it to anyone who’s looking for something different.
Another dish that piqued my interest was the Bossam, which is a Braised Pork Wrap. Traditionally, a thick cut of pork belly is boiled in a lightly flavoured broth until it’s tender and juicy. Then each person makes a wrap with a cabbage leaf, a slice of the cooked pork belly, and a variety of side dishes – such as spicy radish, salted fermented shrimp (saeu-jeot) and kimchi. Each bite of the braised pork was flavourful and delicious when combined with the fresh vegetables and side dishes. Give it a try. If you don’t like it, you can always return to feasting on barbecue meat.
While So Seoul is not your traditional Korean BBQ restaurant, it does offer different cuts of beef like ribeye, sirloin, and beef short ribs in Korean BBQ marinades.
The seafood pancake was well prepared too. Although the dish may look simple, achieving the crisp texture while retaining the softness of the pancake is no easy feat. The savoury pancake was packed with shrimp, scallion and squid. I could’ve eaten an entire plate of them and been perfectly content.
Finally, one of my favourite Korean dishes is the Ginseng Chicken Soup. Here at So Seoul, the Ginseng Chicken Soup is not what you’d expected. Instead of a whole chicken, they have deboned it and turned it into a chicken roulade stuffed with glutinous rice. This unusual twist on the classic dish is not only a delicious and nutritious dish but also easy to consume. The collagen-rich broth is lightly seasoned, so if you prefer a more savoury flavour, you can simply add salt to taste. Portion wise, the Ginseng Chicken Soup is more like a starter that is good for two.
If you’re looking for an authentic Korean dining experience, without having to book a flight, So Seoul Korean Dining and Bar definitely hits the spot.
So Seoul Dining and Bar
49 Tras St, Singapore 078988
Opening hours: Monday to Sunday (Closed on Tuesday), 12pm – 2pm, 5pm – 11pm
