Yoogane Tasting Session 2017
200 Victoria Street
#02-47 Bugis Junction
3 Gateway Drive
#03-08 Westgate
313 Orchard Road
#B3-37 313@Somerset
4 Tampines Central 5
#01-33A Tampines Mall
23 Serangoon Central
#B1-28 NEX
Opening Hours:
Daily: 11:30am - 10pm
http://yoogane.com.sg/
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 HungryGoWhere, Purple Taste, Epicurious Caniggia, and Madame Chewy.
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| Dosirak / Lunch Box - Chicken Bulgogi (SGD $12.90), Beef Bulgogi (SGD $13.90), Chicken Galbi (SGD $12.90) |
Great Tasting Korean Chicken Galbi
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 7
Ambience & Setting: 7
Food & Beverage: 8
Service: 8
Value for Money: 7
Spent about SGD $32 per person.
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The founders behind Yoogane Singapore, who brought this franchise over from the city of Busan, Yeongnam region, South Korea, have done rather well since opening in May 2014. I have good memories of dining here, their delicious signature chicken galbi consistently tastes the same no matter which stall in the world you visit, a testament to their success. Now with 5 stores across the island, Yoogane is celebrating their 3rd anniversary in Singapore with the launch of new dishes!
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| Yoogane Signage |
Ambience at Yoogane is clean, modern, functional. The brightly lit place, in shades of red, white, and wood, is neatly and comfortably spaced with large tables and booths. The open concept feels welcoming, and is best suited for group / communal dining, contributing to the bustling atmosphere. The free-flow salad bar of banchan / sides dishes takes centerstage here, the items on display look appetizing, and staff regularly refill it and keep the area clean. Quirky, in-house decor completes the look, featuring a variety of musical instruments, and their mascot in different whimsical settings.
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| Yoogane Exterior |
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| Yoogane Interior |
Service at Yoogane was good during our visit. The relatively young staff carry out requests quickly and efficiently. I note they also help to keep the place clean and presentable, clearing away empty / dirty tables when guests leave. Because we were hosted, we were regaled with the history and creation of dishes, however, I find that the regular staff haven't yet achieved this depth of product knowledge. Staff still assist in preparing dishes tableside, right in front of diners, with the senior staff still being trained by the Korean chefs at headquarters. This personalised service also allows for engagement of diners.
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| Seating |
Food at Yoogane is focused on their speciality of chicken galbi, which is marinated chicken meat that is grilled on a hot pan. The meat itself is marinated in a house recipe for ganjang sauce, a type of soy sauce made from fermented soy beans, giving it a savoury, sweet, and spicy taste. This sauce features heavily in most dishes here, and quality is ensured by headquarters. As a result, dishes are consistently tasty, and you're assured of a good meal no matter which outlet in the world you visit. However, side dishes and appetizers are largely left to the local franchises to manage, which is where you get unique, novel creations. Portions are now sized for group / communal dining, having gotten larger since my previous visit. Prices are decent, budget about SGD $32 per person for a meal with drinks here.
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| Salad Bar |
The Yuzu Soju (SGD $29.90 per jug) is zesty, sour sweet, and refreshing, complementing the heavier flavours of the food by cleansing the palate. The Yakult Soju (SGD $29.90 per jug) has a lovely creamy milky texture, with a good fruity sweet flavour, loved it.
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| Yuzu Soju (SGD $29.90 per jug) |
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| Yakult Soju (SGD $29.90 per jug) |
The free-flow salad bar has a decent variety of banchan / side dishes, much more than when I last visited. The authentic Kimchi Baechu / Kimchi Pickled Cabbage is crunchy and sour spicy, with a nice bite. The Kkakdugi / Cubed Pickled Daikon Radish is more thickly sliced than the Korean version, but still has that refreshing zesty sour with a hint of bitter flavour that cleanses the palate with acidity. Loved the crunchy Coleslaw With Strawberry Sauce, and the unique dressing lends a fruity sweet note. The Caesar Salad is fresh and crunchy, its light texture pairing well with the full flavours of the main dishes.
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| Sides - Kimchi Baechu / Kimchi Pickled Cabbage, Kkakdugi / Cubed Pickled Daikon Radish, Coleslaw With Strawberry Sauce, Caesar Salad |
The new Cheesy Duet Chicken Galbi (SGD $59.90) features their signature marinated chicken, along with assorted vegetables (spring onions, leeks, daikon radish, cabbage) and a combination of original and sweet potato tteokbokki / ddukbokki / rice cakes. The difference here is the circular ring, which holds a base of gooey cheese, and up to 2 different toppings; we had cream of mushroom, and sweet corn kernels. Very filling and satisfiying! The combination of flavours is good, and I particularly liked the corn with the marinated chicken.
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| Cheesy Duet Chicken Galbi (SGD $59.90) |
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| Cheesy Duet Chicken Galbi |
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| Cheesy Duet Chicken Galbi |
The Naengmyeon / Cold Buckwheat Noodles (SGD $11.90) is a cold noodle dish, with chewy slippery buckwheat noodles, garnished with crunchy cucumber, a runny poached egg, tender pear, and nutty sesame seeds, served in a rich beef broth. Flavoured with vinegar and yellow mustard before eating, this has a lively zesty sharp sour flavour. Great for either cleansing the palate, or opening the appetite. Highly recommended!
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| Naengmyeon / Cold Buckwheat Noodles (SGD $11.90) |
The Haemul Pajeon / Seafood Pancake (SGD $18.90) here is done till crisp, the thin layers barely holding the large chunks of squid and prawns. The seafood is fresh, but falls out of the pancake easily. Love the dipping sauce which lends a salty savoury flavour to the dish.
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| Haemul Pajeon / Seafood Pancake (SGD $18.90) |
The Gyeran Mari / Egg Roll (SGD $10.90) is decent, though I felt the egg could have been more fluffy in texture. The chunks of vegetable within lend a nice crunch, a good contrast.
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| Gyeran Mari / Egg Roll (SGD $10.90) |
The new Galbi Salad (SGD $12.90) is heaped with a generous topping of their signature marinated chicken, giving this fresh bowl of vegetables a layer of savoury spicy flavour. The poached egg is meant to be stirred into the dish, coating the fresh lettuce, cucumber, and carrots in its rich, silky texture and eggy flavour. Worth ordering!
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| Galbi Salad (SGD $12.90) |
The Chicken Galbi And Octopus (SGD $21.90) features their signature marinated chicken in the savoury spicy ganjang sauce, along with assorted vegetables (spring onions, leeks, daikon radish, cabbage) and original tteokbokki / ddukbokki / rice cakes, though we added on the sweet potato tteokbokki / ddukbokki / rice cakes later. This is served with chunks of octopus, which are bouncy chewy in texture, and have a lovely sweet clean flavour. Good!
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| Chicken Galbi And Octopus (SGD $21.90) |
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| Chicken Galbi And Octopus |
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| Chicken Galbi And Octopus |
Same same but different. While nearly everything about the Chicken Galbi And Chukkumi Octopus (SGD $21.90) is similar, the main difference lies in the type of octopus used. Here, baby octopus is used instead of chunks of adult octopus.
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| Chicken Galbi And Chukkumi Octopus (SGD $21.90) |
Befittingly, the Army Stew (SGD $49.90) is a 1-pot dish, surrounded by a hot ring of egg and cheese. Within the savoury spicy sweet soup is marinated chicken in the savoury spicy ganjang sauce, assorted vegetables (spring onions, leeks, daikon radish, cabbage, enoki / golden mushrooms), original tteokbokki / ddukbokki / rice cakes, crab stick, chicken sausages, luncheon meat / spam, baked beans, chicken cheese meat balls, and instant noodles. Although it's meant for 2 people, this can easily be shared amongst 4 people. Love the authentic taste, very hearty and warming dish on a cool day.
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| Army Stew (SGD $49.90) |
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| Army Stew |
The new Dosirak / Lunch Box sets come in 3 flavours; Chicken Bulgogi (SGD $12.90), Beef Bulgogi (SGD $13.90), Chicken Galbi (SGD $12.90), only available during lunch. Similar to a bento, each Dosirak / Lunch Box is generously packed with ingredients, and served in a metal tin. It features the signature Chicken Galbi / Beef Bulgogi / Chicken Bulgogi, crispy chicken spam / luncheon meat, a sunny-side-up egg, sweet and savory anchovies, Eomuk Bokkeum / Stir-Fried Fish Cake, earthy seaweed, Kimchi Baechu / Kimchi Pickled Cabbage, and fragrant white rice. Diners are supposed to vigourously shake the metal tin to mix everything, before eating. A unique experience!
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| Dosirak / Lunch Box - Chicken Bulgogi (SGD $12.90), Beef Bulgogi (SGD $13.90), Chicken Galbi (SGD $12.90) |
Love dining at Yoogane, their food is always tasty, and served in large, hearty portions. Great for groups, especially since their prices are rather affordable. The ambience is decent enough, though depending on the outlet you visit, some are better ventilated than others. Service is casual and functional, though strained during peak periods. Will return to Yoogane again!
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CONVERSATION