Gagahoho – Ox Bone Soup Restaurant

Gagahoho Ox Bone Soup restaurant is a Korean restaurant specialising in Ox Bone Soup. One of our fondest memories when we visited Korea was their beef soup. Whether it is in Seoul, Busan or Jeju, there is always an old shop/s that sells traditional soup and we will be happy with just a soup and white rice.

Gagahoho Shop Front

LD found Gagahoho and suggested we give it a try. The front door of the restaurant is decorated like a traditional shop in Korea. The furniture is unique, as some of the tables look like they come with a round hole in the middle, ready for Korean bbq, while the rest are just simple square tables. The most eye-catching decor is the ceiling, decorated with artificial flowers from the entrance to the cashier.

Entrance

Dining Area

The kimchi is unique according to LD. Unlike the usual kimchi that is soft, the version here is housemade, has a strong fermentation and is crunchy. It is uncut and the length can easily reach around 30cm.

KimChi

LD ordered Seoul Beef Soup [$15.90], it comes with a bowl of rice. The soup looks milky white and covered with chopped spring onions and a touch of ground pepper. We can taste the broth has been cooked over a long period and is packed with the essence of the beef bone. However, it can taste a bit bland and you will need to sprinkle some salt to bring up the flavour.

Seoul Beef Soup

The beef brisket is thinly sliced. Although it looks very dry, the meat is very tender.

Thinly Sliced Meat

I ordered Beef Soup Banmian [$15.90]. This broth is the opposite of the Seoul beef soup. It was fully seasoned, when I took the first sip, it was robust, peppery and packed with punch. The noodle is thin, but a bit on the soggy side. The toppings include fried egg, sliced cucumber, carrot and green onions, but there is no beef meat inside.

Beef Soup Banmian 

I was very impressed with the broth in the noodle, I ordered a bowl of rice [$2] to polish off the broth. (*the sliced beef is from LD’s order)

Egg, Cucumber & Spring Onion

Finishing the Soup with Rice - Korean Style

SABA Braised Mackerel [$12.90]. We had this dish last year in Korea and LD likes it. So, she decided to order to try. The fish is nicely braised, and all the seasoning and spices are absorbed into the firm flesh. Initially, LD thought the sauce would be very spicy, however, it is closer to sweet and spicy. The spiciness level is around 7/10.

SABA Braised Mackerel

Do take note that Gagahoho does not serve free water or tea, so you need to order a drink for yourself. Service is efficient and friendly.

Menu

Overall, it was one of the better places to have Ox Bone Soup. We’ll definitely return when we have a craving for the soup or to try other items on the menu. Geonbae!! Cheers!!

Food & Drink: 7.75/10

Value: 7.75/10

Service: 7/10

Ambiance: 6.75/10

Budget per Person: $11 - $25; $26 - $50

Gagahoho Ox Bone Soup

175 Bencoolen St

#01-57A, Burlington Square

Singapore 189649

T: +65 6518 4157

W: https://www.quandoo.sg/place/gagahoho-ox-bone-soup-97546

F: https://www.facebook.com/kagahohosg/

IG: @Gagahoho_sg

OH:

Tue – Sat: 12.00 – 22.30

Sun: 12.00 – 21.30

Closed on Mondays

Niu Dian Bugis Junction – Braised Pork Belly and Yakiniku Pork [MEDIA INVITE]

Niu Dian, Michelin Bib Gourmand Taiwanese Beef Noodles has opened their 3rd outlet in Singapore. It is located in at Bugis Junction and they have officially launched their new curated dishes, that has NO BEEF.

Niu Dian @ Bugis Junction

These new creations will feature in-house made braised and yakiniku sauces, meticulously prepared following time-honoured Taiwanese recipe. The latest additions are Braised Pork Belly Rice Bowl, Braised Pork Belly Noodles, and Yakiniku Pork Pearl Rice Bowl.

Salted Vegetable &
Beef Bone Marrow Chilli Oil

Yakiniku Pork Pearl Rice Bowl ($15.90) – served with a bowl of soup. The grilled pork sits on the bed Taiwanese pearl rice, bask in yakiniku sauce and soft scrambled egg. I can taste the fatty texture in the juicy pork meat. The yakiniku sauce is sweet and pack with umami flavour, complimented by the scrambled eggs and chopped onions. The sesame seeds and furikake sprinkle on top add a pleasant aroma and different flavour to the rice bowl.

Yakiniku Pork Pearl Rice Bowl 

Braised Pork Belly Noodles ($16.90) – dry version, served with braised egg, blanched vegetables and salted vegetable. This signature noodle is silky and bouncy, coated with the pork braising sauce. The pork belly is fork tender and infused with braising sauce like traditional Taiwanese “Lu Rou Fan”. The taste of the Taiwanese braising sauce is subtle compare to Singaporean braised pork belly. LD adds the chilli sauce in the noodle and she said it brought up the flavour.

Braised Pork Belly Noodles 

For the side dishes, we have Cold Century Egg Tofu with Bonito Flakes ($5.90) and Braised Beancurd ($3.90). Served cold, the tofu is soft and silky, topped with century egg, covered with sweet brown gravy and loads of shaved bonito. The overall dish is just creamy, refreshing finished off with umami flavour from the gravy and bonito.

Cold Century Egg Tofu with Bonito Flakes

The braised beancurd supposed to be serve warm. This time the braised beancurd was served at room temperature. Kind of missing the traditional smoky flavour that usually found in Taiwan.

Braised Beancurd

For the drink, we ordered the Lime & Sour Plum Green Tea with Aiyu Jelly ($5.70) and Lychee Mint Black Tea ($5.70). Both teas complemented our meal nicely. The Lime & Sour Plum balance the “jelakness” from the meal. While the Lychee Mint offer a refreshing end to the meal.

Lime & Sour Plum Green Tea with Aiyu Jelly 

Lychee Mint Black Tea 

Overall, the new dishes provided beef alternative for the diners. Initially, only Black Sesame Sauce Noodles were available. Now, diners can choose from more options like Braised Pork Belly Pearl Rice Bowl, Braised Pork Belly Noodles, and Yakiniku Pork Noodles. Cheers!!

Part of Dining Area

Thank you very much Protegie and Niu Dian Beef Noodles for the invitation.

For the full review of Niu Dian Beef Noodle (Click Here) and Niu Dian Beef Rice Bowl (Click Here)

Food & Drink: 8/10

Value: 7/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7/10

Budget per Person: $11 - $25; $26 - $50

Niu Dian @Bugis Junction

200 Victoria Street

#02-50, Bugis Juntion

Singapore 188021

W: https://linktr.ee/niudiansg

F: www.facebook.com/niudiansg/

IG: @niudiansg

OH:

Sun – Thu: 11.00– 21.30

Fri & Sat: 11.00 – 22.00 (LO 21.30)

Menu available from the website.

Bulgogi Syo – The Art of Grilling [MEDIA INVITE]

Bulgogi Syo is the brainchild of Chef Chul Park, the founder of SEORAE. Bulgogi Syo introduces the art of Korean hot stone grilling to Singapore. The concept uses an unprecedented 3-step Hot Stone grilling process that fuses Perfect Fire (Bul) with Perfect Meat (Gogi) to create the Perfect Experience (Syo/Show).

Bulgogi Syo @ Bugis

The 3-step processes are Sear, Torch and Flambé. First, prime cuts of meat are seared to perfection on hotstone pans especially custom-made in Korea, to lock in the natural juice and flavours. Second, the powerful Fire Blaster can reach a temperature of 1,400 degrees, to deliver delicious char and smokiness to the meat exterior. Third, the selected meat is served on individual hotstone, doused with Special Essence and flambé on the table.

Second Process - Torch with Fire Blaster
Image Credit: Ivan Teh RunningMan

After you complete your order, you can proceed to the banchan station. They have kimchi, pickled radish, potato pasta mayonnaise and tomato with balsamic vinegar. My pick is the potato pasta mayo, it is sweet, creamy and offers dual texture of al-dente pasta texture and crunchy potato. LD says the aged Kimchi tasted good. The pickled radish is usually served in a Korean Chinese restaurant, it is good to offset the “jelakness” from all the meat.

Banchan Station

First dish to arrive is LA Galbi ($39.90). It uses USDA Choice Grade Short-ribs and it goes through A 3-step process. Once it reached our table, the service staff prepared for the third step and set it on fire. The flambé lasted around 6 seconds. The result is juicy and fork-tender beef ribs. It is well marinated, sweet with packed with umami flavour plus you can taste the nice charred flavour in the ribs.

3rd Process - flambé

The LA Galbi is served with kimchi, zucchini, sliced pumpkin and chopped onion on a hotstone. While the kimchi and zucchini suit the dish, I find the sliced pumpkins kind of out of place in the plating.

LA Galbi

Oyster Blade Bulgogi ($27.90). The USDA Choice Oyster Blade beef is marinated in bulgogi sauce. Instead of going through a 3-step process, it only went through the a 2-step process, sear and torch. The beef is then topped with raw pasteurised egg yolk. The meat is juicy, well marinated and I can even taste the charred parts. The marinate is a bit sweet and I can taste the fruity flavour of the apple and pear. When we try to mix the egg with the meat, like in a donburi, we find the yolk becomes harden instead of oozing.

Oyster Blade Bulgogi

Seaweed rice is served with the main dishes. Bulgogi Syo got the ratio of the seaweed and rice perfectly. The rice is super tasty, bursting with umami flavour from the seaweed. Though it is super tasty, it still goes well with other dishes. Yummy.

Seaweed Rice

Spicy Baby Octopus (Nakji Bokeum, $25.90). The baby octopus is fresh, bouncy and easy to chew. The sauce is on the sweeter side and the spiciness level is manageable. I usually can’t eat spicy baby octopus in some Korean restaurant, luckily, I can enjoy this dish at Bulgogi Syo.

Oyster Blade Bulgogi & Spicy Baby Octopus

Baby Octopus

Cheesy Tteokbokki with Kimari ($17.90). Korean rice cake with Korean fishcake and Kimari (glass noodles rolled into seaweed sheet and deep fried). When the dish was brought to our table, it was covered with shredded cheese. The service staff then torched the cheese to melt it. The chewiness of the rice cake is on point and the kimari added a crisp texture to the overall dish. The sauce is on the sweeter side and the spiciness level is manageable.

Cheesy Tteokbokki with Kimari 

Cheesy Gyeran Jjim ($10.90) - Korean steamed egg with cheese. The steamed egg is fluffy and tasty. The taste of the cheese is very mild and can easily be overlooked, however, it makes the texture of the steamed egg firmer compared to the version without cheese. In some parts of the steamed egg, we also get to see the pulled cheese effect, but it was very short.

Cheesy Gyeran Jjim 

Bacon Kongnamul Pancake ($15.90) – Bacon and beansprouts Pancake. Crispy and crunchy is the theme here. The flavour from the bacon seeps into the pancake though making it tasty enough without dipping sauce.

Bacon Kongnamul Pancake 

Seafood Sundubu Jjigae ($18.90) – Spicy soft tofu stew with tiger prawns, clams, mussels and squid. They are not shy with their ingredients here. The bowl is packed to the brim with ingredients and the broth is just a flavour bomb.

Seafood Sundubu Jjigae 

If you are into Korean Beer, Bulgogi Syo is having a promotion on their Terra Beer. It is 1 for 1.

Terra Beer

The décor of the restaurant is a modern casual open concept. When you walk towards the second floor of the restaurant area in Bugis junction, you will be able to see it straight away. The open concept allows everyone to see each other from outside through to the cooking area. You can even see the kitchen crew holding the Fire Blaster, torching the meat through the glass window. This can be considered entertainment on its own.

Bulgogi Syo 

Kitchen

Overall, I like the concept of Bulgogi Syo. The food is good, tasty and the spiciness level is kids friendly. I recommend their LA Galbi, Cheesy Tteokbokki with Kimari, Seafood Sundubu and not forgetting the super yummy seaweed rice. Definitely a good place to dine with your friends and family. Geonbae!! Cheers!!

Thank you very much Protegie and Bulgogi Syo Team for the invitation.

Food & Drink: 7.25/10

Value: 7/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 7.5/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

Bulgogi Syo @Bugis Junction

200 Victoria Street

#02-49, Bugis Junction

Singapore 188021

T: +65 9880 9719

W: https://www.bulgogisyo.com/

F: https://www.facebook.com/bulgogisyo

IG: @bulgogisyo

OH: Daily 11.30 – 22.00 (LO 21.00)

Other Location

Bulgogi Syo @Woodleigh Mall

11 Bidadari Park Drive

#01-33/34, The Woodleigh Mall

Singapore 367803

T: +65 9880 9729

Menu available online