Bibigo Tasting Session - Closed
252 North Bridge Road
#B1-74 Raffles City
23 Serangoon Central
#03-08 NEX
3 Temasek Boulevard
#B1-107 Suntec City
12 Marina Boulevard
#01-02 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 3
Opening Hours:
Daily: 11am - 10pm
http://english.bibigo.co.kr/index.asp
This was an invited media review. I did not pay for the meal during the free hosted tasting session, but I did pay the standard price during subsequent visits.
Attended with representatives from Hallyu SG, and Jos Loves Food.
Fresh, Healthy & Tasty Korean Food
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 8
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 8
Value for Money: 8
Budget about SGD $25 ++ per person.
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Operating under the reowned Korean conglomerate CJ Group, Bibigo is a global Korean casual eatery, known for its fresh, healthy and authentic Korean food. A portmanteau of the Korean-English words "To Mix (Bi Bi Da)" and "To Go", Bibigo first opened its doors in Singapore in 2010.
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| Bibigo Exterior |
Ambience at Bibigo reflects its concept, with clean, straight lines, and colours themes of white, leaf green, and wood, representing freshness. The interior really does seem fresh, and inviting. Floor space is maximised, creating a bustling sort of atmosphere during peak periods, but non peak periods at Bibigo are almost serene in nature.
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| Bibigo Interior |
Service at Bibigo is good, with staff being knowledgable on the menu. More senior staff are able to give more precise information and recommendations, though junior staff sometimes have to check if questioned. Orders are taken and fulfilled rather quickly, typically within 10 minutes. Staff are friendly and welcoming, and I notice they do their best to offer greetings in Korean!
Food at Bibigo revolves around the concept of fresh and healthy. Expect several options of Korean soups, salads, and appetizers. Mainstays on the menu include popular traditional Korean dishes such as Bibimbap, and portion sizes are usually suitable for sharing between 2 - 3 people. Prices at Bibigo are wallet friendly even for students, typically around SGD $25 ++ per person, about the same as a mid-range cafe elsewhere.
The Beer Hite Ice Point (SGD $10 For 2 Bottles) is a light, refreshing, pale golden beer, with a thin body, and a light taste of grains and malt. Great for beginners or young people, but serious drinkers may need something stronger or more flavourful.
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| Beer Hite Ice Point (SGD $10 For 2 Bottles) |
Beer Kirin Ichiban (SGD $8) is a clear, golden Japanese beer, with an aroma of malt and grains, and is light in texture, with a slight sweetness and slight bitterness. Very drinkable, crisp, and refreshing.
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| Beer Kirin Ichiban (SGD $8) |
The Boricha / Korean Roasted Barley Tea (SGD $3) has an earthy taste of roast barley and grains, with a hint of smokiness. Very different from Chinese style barley tea, and rather refreshing on the palate.
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| Boricha / Korean Roasted Barley Tea (SGD $3) |
I love the sweet glaze on the Ddukbokki / Tteokbokki / Sweet & Spicy Rice Cakes (SGD $6), which isn't too spicy at all. These strips of rice cakes and yam are pan fried and garnished with ginko nuts. Whilst the kohot (hot) sauce isn't hot at all, the texture of the soft, chewy rice cakes, and crisp outside, soft inside yam strips, is excellent.
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| Ddukbokki / Tteokbokki / Sweet & Spicy Rice Cakes (SGD $6) |
I think the Japchae / Stir Fried Silver Noodle With Char-Grilled Bulgogi (SGD $8) / Stir Fried Silver Noodle With Spicy Grilled Pork (SGD $8) is extermely tasty! Sweet potato cellophane noodles are pan fried with a mixture of vegetables, including onions, bell peppers / capsicum, shiitake mushrooms, and garlic chives. You also get a choice of 1 meat topping. The dish is fragrant and aromatic, and the noodles are soft, smooth, and easy to slurp. Highly recommended!
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| Japchae / Stir Fried Silver Noodle With Char-Grilled Bulgogi (SGD $8) |
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| Japchae / Stir Fried Silver Noodle With Spicy Grilled Pork (SGD $8) |
The authentic Kimchi Jjigae / Spicy Kimchi Stew (SGD $10) has a winning savoury combination of spicy heat, warming soup / broth, and sour tangy taste. While the recipe is a secret, I picked out various ingredients including firm tofu, kimchi baechu / kimchi pickled cabbage, onions, garlic, ginger, pork belly, gochujang / red pepper paste, doengjang / soybean paste, and spring onions. Very good!
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| Kimchi Jjigae / Spicy Kimchi Stew (SGD $10) |
I love the Bibigo has a variety of rice on the menu, including the sticky Korean Steamed White Rice (SGD $2), the healthy Korean Steamed Black Rice (SGD $2), and the fragrant Korean Steamed Barley Rice (SGD $2).
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| Korean Steamed White Rice (SGD $2) |
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| Korean Steamed Black Rice (SGD $2) |
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| Korean Steamed Barley Rice (SGD $2) |
A huge bowl of Jjam Ppong / Spicy Seafood Noodle (SGD $9), perfect for sharing. The noodles are thick, similar to a Japanese Udon noodle, and the seafood includes clams, prawns, and squid. Hearty and warming, but I would have liked to see more balanced ration of ingredients to noodles.
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| Jjam Ppong / Spicy Seafood Noodle (SGD $9) |
Kimchi Jeon / Kimchi Pancake (SGD $9) is a popular snack / side dish in Korea, and the version here is true to its roots. Slightly spicy, tangy, and wonderfully crisp, this pairs well with both rice, and beer.
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| Kimchi Jeon / Kimchi Pancake (SGD $9) |
Perfect for sharing, the Bulgogi / Char-Grilled Marinated Beef (SGD $22) is served in a large portion on a hot skillet, along with mushrooms and sweet peas in a pod. Part of the satisfaction is hearing the meat and vegetables sizzle away in front of you! Unfortunately, the heat tends to dry out the thin strips of meat easily. Still, it's tasty because of the excellent bulgogi marinade, which makes each bite a flavourful, savoury affair, albeit somewhat dry.
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| Bulgogi / Char-Grilled Marinated Beef (SGD $22) |
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| Bulgogi / Char-Grilled Marinated Beef |
With a portion large enough for 2 - 4 people, due to the use of a whole young chicken, the Samgae-Tang / Ginseng Chicken Soup (SGD $22) is great for cold days. The soup / broth is fragrant and light, perhaps a little too light on taste for my liking, but very clean and refreshing. The whole young chicken has fall off the bone tender meat, and within is stuffed Korean sticky rice, ginseng, garlic, and red dates. The rice mixture has fully absorbed the essence of the chicken, and soup / broth that is flavoured with ginseng, and spring onions. Excellent Korean comfort food.
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| Samgae-Tang / Ginseng Chicken Soup (SGD $22) |
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| Samgae-Tang / Ginseng Chicken Soup |
The Kimchi Platter (SGD $3) features a trio of that favourite Korea side dish, Kimchi! Includes Kimchi Baechu / Kimchi Pickled Cabbage, Kimchi Kkakdugi / Kimchi Cubed Pickled Daikon Radish, and Gat Kimchi / Kimchi Mustard Greens. I like that the Kimchi is authentic, slightly spicy, slightly tangy, and slightly crunchy. It's also said to be very nutritious and healthy!
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| Kimchi Platter (SGD $3) |
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| Kimchi Baechu / Kimchi Pickled Cabbage |
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| Kimchi Kkakdugi / Kimchi Cubed Pickled Daikon Radish |
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| Gat Kimchi / Kimchi Mustard Greens |
The Goguma Mattang / Caramelised Sweet Potato (SGD $6) is a unique Korean dessert. Strips of sweet potato are glazed in a warm, sweet rice syrup, then topped with crispy rice cakes and candied walnuts. The result is a sweet and savoury combination, with varying textures of soft, crisp, crunchy, and firm. Highly recommended!
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| Goguma Mattang / Caramelised Sweet Potato (SGD $6) |
Absolutely loved the Dak Dori Tang / Spicy Chicken Stew (SGD $13), which is a hearty, filling stew of tender chicken meat and potatoes! The kohot (hot) sauce is slightly spicy, slightly sweet, and reduced till it thickens and forms the base of the stew. Enhanced with aromatics such as leek, the sauce totally infuses the chicken meat and potatoes, resulting in a burst of flavour with every bite. My only minor complaint; while the staff tell me that a whole chicken is used, the portion I was served seemed more like a half chicken instead. But overall, a very excellent dish, highly recommended!
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| Dak Dori Tang / Spicy Chicken Stew (SGD $13) |
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| Dak Dori Tang / Spicy Chicken Stew |
Chi Maek (SGD $20), which is a combination of the Korean-English words "Chicken" and "Beer (Maek Ju)", is a popular Korean snack. Here, the Gangnam Chicken, which is a Korean style fried chicken, consisting of deboned chicken chunks with a savoury flour and vegetable batter, is served with Pickled Daikon Radish, and a trio of dipping sauces including Seasoned Salt, Sweet & Spicy Sauce, Soybean Sauce. A single serving costs SGD $10, and is large enough for 2 people to share.
Go the full Chi Maek route by getting it together with Beer Hite Ice Point (SGD $10 For 2 Bottles), then chill out while snacking on their awesome fried chicken and beer! Of the 3 dipping sauces, I personally prefer the Sweet & Spicy Sauce, followed by the Seasoned Salt.
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| Gangnam Chicken |
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| Pickled Daikon Radish, Seasoned Salt, Sweet & Spicy Sauce, Soybean Sauce |
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| Gangnam Chicken With Pickled Daikon Radish, Seasoned Salt, Sweet & Spicy Sauce, Soybean Sauce (SGD $10) |
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| Chi Maek (SGD $20) |
The small Mandu / Fried Mandoo Dumplings (SGD $5) packs a flavourful punch! With a savoury, juicy burst of meaty pork, and the crunch of the crisp fried dumpling skin, this is a very satisfiying appetizer!
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| Mandu / Fried Mandoo Dumplings (SGD $5) |
Overall, Bibigo is a great place to dine on a variety of Korean dishes, knowing you'll get fresh, healthy food each time! Communal dining is encouraged, as you get more value for money this way.
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CONVERSATION