Seoul Yummy (The Central)

18 JUL 2009

Received a promotional email regarding Central Food Festival which is held in collaboration with Singapore Tourism Board... One of the featured restaurant: Seoul Yummy, had a fantastic looking mixed Hot Stone pot rice on it... and that got me drooling... *slurp* After successfully selling the idea of Korean food to Wifey, we head down to The Central to check out some of the promotions Seoul Yummy and the rest of the restaurants in The Central are running...

So, Seoul Yummy is currently running a opening promotion... $9.99 per set with a choice of 4 mains. Each set comes with free flow of hot or cold Korean Tea and the usual KimChi and appetizers. Seeing this, we went no further and stepped into the restaurant. Apparently, Seoul Yummy took over Wakashachiya Curry Udon... another one bites the dust! Anyway, service was sparse but still acceptable since the restaurant is new and there wasn't much of a crowd...

Once seated, we quickly ordered two promotional sets ($9.99 x 2) and almost immediately, the KimChi and appetizers were served... I have to say, of the six appetizers served, only one (peanuts) did not quite make the cut... Out of the rest of the five items, at least three were quite outstanding to me (Spicy Tofu, Potato salad, KimChi)... and if I were to pick a winner out of the terrific three, it got to be the slightly sweetish, mildly spicy tofu...

We also ordered a side of Crispy Fried Fish ($5.80) to supplement the meal... Well, the small fish bites were very crispy but tasted average at best with a very slight hint of fishiness coming through the strong flavours of the BBQ sauce... Not really a fish person, I don't know why I ordered this in the first place... Ahhh... I should have ordered another side...

The portion of the Korean Fried Glass Noddle with Beef was huge with many slices of beef within and topped with plenty of thin egg strips. Did it taste as good as it looked? Well, I took a bite and I wish I ordered this... The Q-ness of the glass noodles was evident and it tasted excellent with the tasty and tender beef slices... A very well done dish indeed and definitely great value at the current promotional price!

Out of the various Bibim Bap or Korean Hot Stone Pot rice I tried so far in Singapore, this has to be one of the better ones. Presentation matched the one seen on their promotional emails with nicely lined vegetables, mushrooms and chunky spicy stir-fried chicken pieces... I simply loved it... specially the sauce-soaked crispy semi-burnt rice stuck to the side of the Stone Pot... Another excellent dish that is great value at the current promotional price!

All in, the meal cost $30.35 including 10% service charge and 7% GST... I am actually considering coming back again before the promotion runs out at the end of the month (July 2009)... However, If I do, I will definitely be choosing to seat away from the kitchen... which bring me to the point: Perhaps the management should take note of the kitchen staffs... Loud conversations and hideous laughter can be heard throughout our meals... Service wise, I think it can be and should be improved with more attentive staffs or stationing a staff or two strategically as the restaurant is rather of oddly-shaped...

If interested, all pictures of the meal and write-ups of other reviews can be seen here...

Imagine Korean food and I reckon anyone would immerse their imagination into the traditional and heritage beauty of Korea, exemplified greatly by the popular K-drama series Da Chang Jing. Fast forward that to today and what we get is Seoul Yummy, serving up Korean Casual Dining to all its patrons.

I must comment that service was excellent at Seoul Yummy. Warm greetings flowed through the establishment as all the staff echoed each other with welcome. The dishes served up were prompt as well and the service staff were almost always catering to your attention.

The Cheul Pan Go Deng Or (Hotplate Fried Saba Fish : $10.80) was literally frying in its oil on the hotplate and the sauce that was ladled over was bubbling in delight.

A very crispy skin coated the flesh within and with a delicate break using my chopsticks, I raveled in the delightful music of that little crispy crunch. Only to reveal a sparkle of juices bursting from within. Although the fish has been fried, the flesh remained firm and the taste of the sea never left the Saba. Accolades for this dish!

Read my full review at http://j2k3blogs.com/?p=1599

Honestly, I find that Seoul Yummy offers very affordable Korean fare. Now, if they only had Ginseng Chicken Soup...Hmmm =)

Me and my gf went down to this new eatery last weekend, both of us were looking around and decided to settle on this since there was a opening promotion for their set meals. $9.99 per set. Even without the promotion it was still value for money.

My gf ordered kimchi soup, while i went for the bibimpap(chicken). According to her the soup was not bad, of the same standard like foodcourt under meridien hotel. As for mine, i feel that the stone was not heated up sufficently, as the rice did not turn to a crisp.

Taste wise overall was okie, though not as authentic as compared to the dishes i ate at Korea. To my delight the side dishes and tea was free flow, just like in Korea.

I like the ambience and setting there, would considering asking my frens to visit someday. Service was swift, not too bad.

Will definately head back someday to try its yoghurt icecream, too bad we were too full after the meal. Read from the other reviews on Seoul yummy (square2), sounds promising.