kormmandos's Reviews
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The colleagues and I came here to celebrate for a birthday boy. I didn't really know what to expect from this Korean restaurant. Previously, I looked at the menu and was really put off by the price. The list of meats for the barbeque ranged from $22 to $28 and they didn't really look like huge portions. On top of that, there was a requirement that you needed to order at least 2 items from that menu if you wanted the barbeque. So that means you will probably part with at least $50 for two, and that's pretty exhorbitant for me. A colleague shared that a meal for two set her back by over $70.
But once the food is served, I realize the price is actually rather reasonable. Apart from the main dishes, the side dishes (about 8 different items) were free flow. So for kimchi lovers, it's all you can eat!
Some said that it felt like re-enacting 大长今 (Jewel In The Palace), but I can't be sure, because I never caught a single episode of the popular show.
Most of the dishes had that characteristic zing of Korean cuisine. And one very memorable ingredient is the onion. Each of us were served a plate of onions. It tasted quite alright and I ate them all, only to be reminded hours later of its effects on the digestive system, but that really felt good.
Service was pretty good here. The staff who attended to us provided very truthful recommendations where portions were concerned. For 9 of us, he recommended to just take 4 portions. There was also the option to have their chefs prepare the food for you instead of doing it yourself, and ending up with the smell of barbeque in your hair and clothes. So it's great for people who are hopeless at cooking.
We also ordered their Kimchi Casserole which was a spicy thick soup with plenty of ingredients. Its full-bodied flavour was very pleasant, though not recommended for people who can't take spicy food.
So I recommend this to people who love authentic Korean cuisine for its spread of side dishes. I also recommend this to people who prefer vegetables to meat. The warning for this place is really the taste of the side dishes, and particularly onions. So come prepared.
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Whatever you do, do not order the Portuguese style Beef Brisket Noodle.
Despite the fact that the Portuguese style beef brisket noodle was a chef recommendation, it tasted like a expressway to a heart attack. Beef brisket served with a thick, coconut-based gravy and noodles deep-fried till crispy, there is nothing about this dish worth recommending, but yet it is labelled a Chef's Recommendation. It was a traumatic experience having to shove that dish down my throat. I finally gave up after finishing the meat and half the noodles.
To simply describe how I felt - I was beyond consolation. It was appalling that a brand like Crystal Jade even serves such a horrendous dish. Especially so when everyone else ordered something better tasting than mine. Now I know what horrible food is and what a torture it is to eat it.
Redeeming factors: fast efficient service, pleasant aunties and uncles as wait staff, cozy ambience and the other dishes.
Must Tries: Anything but the Portuguese style Beef Brisket Noodle
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You can potentially look younger eating this as the soup is laced with collagen. The place has a good variety of ramen for customers to choose from and the set meals are quite a bargain.
The soup is rich and has a full bodied taste and you can even choose the 'grade' of your soup from normal, spicy or thick.
I would avoid the soft-bone pork ribs ramen because I felt that the meat was not as well cooked as I would have like it. The cartilage could have been softer. But everything else was quite decent.
The place is brightly lit by sunlight during the day, which is quite pleasing. And the seating is spacious and comfortable.
Must Tries: their ramen with the thick or spicy soup option
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The Soup is too Salty...
but you can request for a base soup which you can add into your soup to make it less salty. Half an hour later, I realised the soup was actually loaded with lots of MSG, as the throat got very dry. I can't imagine the amount of Ajinomoto the chef might have put.
The Char Siew is not as soft as I would have liked it
Compared to Ken Ramen, the char siew tasted a little dry and hard. I wouldn't say it tastes bad, I just prefer the char siew from Ken Ramen.
The curly noodles reminded me somewhat of some quality instant noodles, but then again, ramen is Japanese. And Japanese invented instant noodles. The texture of the noodles was in fact nicely springly and chewy.
Free flow of water from a jug
This is something I wish more restaurants would adopt. Water should be free and freely available by the jugs for customers to self serve. Serving water is a lousy excuse for service charge. Plus, wait staff conveniently forget your request for a refill habitually. And reviewers start complaining and throwing profanities about bad service.
The laid back atmosphere
What I liked about this place is the homely and woody furniture which helps take the patrons away from the hustle and bustle of the outside. It was very tempting to just set there, relax and while the day away.
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For me, I would finish the every bit of the soup, fish and bee hoon without fail simpply because it is so satisfying.
Personally the fish bee hoon here is excellent due to the following reasons:
Very good soup base
The broth is cooked with plenty of deep fried fish bones, yellow beans, ikan bilis and perhaps also pork bones. For those who know cooking, these ingredients are the essential items for good soups. Usually the soup is mixed with condensed milk to add extra sweetness and to create a cloudy soup, but to test the mantle, you can opt the milk out of the soup to taste the lighter and original flavour.
Fresh Fish
Most know that the freshness of fish can easily be tasted, especially when boiled or steamed. Safe to say, this stall serves their fish bee hoon with the freshest fish available, even for their fried fish. Speaking of which their fish is fried to perfection, sealing in the natural juices until you sink your teeth into a piece.
Fish Head
The pieces of fish head here are deep fried until the bones can be easily chewed up to release the full flavour that is sealed within. People who shun fish head don't know what they are missing. But then again, this is pretty much for "purists" who can appreciate the fish head.
Sliced Bitter Gourd or Seasonal Vegetable
The default is seasonal vegetables for your fish bee hoon. However, you can ask for sliced bitter gourd instead. Somehow, bitter gourd and fish make a mean combination. Bitter gourd is also good to have especially under the scorching sun.
The Deep Fried Egg
This is probably unique to Blanco Court Sliced Fish Bee Hoon. Eggs are poured into hot oil to be deep fried and hauled out. A generous amount is then served in the soupy dish, to add to the flavour.
Login to add your comment. Or, Register for an account now. It's free!The eggs are not unique. They appear in teochew fish soups. And the last time I ate at Blanco, the fish wasn't fresh at all. Overly salted. :S
18 Jan 2008 at 4:43 am
Which one did you go to? The branch in China Square isn't as good as the one at Beach road.
18 Jan 2008 at 10:24 am