Can’t get enough of Korean fare? You can now enjoy a variety of different Korean concepts at this new Korean pocha-style food hall in Orchard, with 7 different stalls to choose from and food items from just $3.50!
Taste Myeongdong has just opened in town within Taste Orchard, and the set up resembles that of old-school Korean pochas or outdoor street carts, with a nostalgic and no-frills vibe for dining in. There’s 7 different stalls lined up for you to choose from, and just like a food court, all you have to do is place your order and collect your food directly at the stall itself.
Each stall offers a different kind of Korean food:
Gamtan Express – Hearty meat rice bowls & curry rice
O’Bok Bi Bim Bap – Assorted bibimbap & grilled LA Galbi platters
Hoho Noodles – Piping hot pork bone & seafood noodles
Sindang Bul Dakbal – Spicy tteokbokki, chicken feet & street snacks
Red Cup – Crispy seasoned chicken
Breaders – Korea’s famous creamy egg tarts
LA Galbi, $69
Bibimbap, $8.90
Raw Beef Bibimbap, $16.90
We tried a couple of items from each stall, and our favourites have got to be the LA Galbi ($69) from O’Bok Bi Bim Bap and the Seafood Kalguksu ($10.90) from Hoho Noodles. The bone-in beef of LA Galbi was superbly grilled, flavourful and tender; pairing nicely with the fresh chopped chives. The Seafood Kalguksu was also chock full of fresh clams, with thick-cut noodles and a rich milky broth—the perfect comfort bowl for a chilly day.
Spicy Chicken Feet, $25
Bunsik Feast, $49
Shrimp Kangjeong, $24; Chicken Kangjeong Cup, $8.90
For sharing with a group, definitely get the Bunsik Feast ($49) from Sindang Bul Dakbal that comes with Tteokbokki, Fish Cake Sticks, Assorted Fritters and Gimbap. You get to try a variety of classic Korean street snacks all in one platter, and servings are also pretty generous. For more snack items, try the Chicken Kangjeong Cup (from $8.90) or Shrimp Kangjeong (from $19) from Red Cup. You get freshly fried chicken/shrimp coated in sweet or spicy sauce and in a handy cup that’s great for snacking on the go.
Chicken Tower, $11.90
Beef Rice Bowl, $5.90
If you’re a rice lover, you can try the various rice bowls from Gamtan Express, they’ve got different bowls topped with seafood, meats and curry too. Big eaters can go for the Chicken Tower ($11.90), that’s piled high with fried chicken chunks. Otherwise, there’s also the regular-sized Grilled Eel Rice Bowl ($9.90) or Beef Rice Bowl ($5.90) instead.
Signature, $3.60
Crumble Blueberry, $4.50
Pecan Walnut, $4.90
For dessert, you have to try Breaders, one of the top egg tart brands in Korea, known for their creamy and custardy egg tarts in unique flavours. There’s currently 8 different flavours available, including Crumble Blueberry ($4.50), Pecan Walnut ($4.90), Blueberry Cream Cheese ($4.30) and Sweet Potato ($4.30), among others. The egg tarts were of the cookie crust style, not the flaky kind, and the egg filling itself was dense, rich and custardy.
They’ve also got a bar where you can order beer ($13), soju (from $18), makgeolli (from $22) and soft drinks (from $3.50). You can even request the staff to make soju bombs for you! While Taste Myeongdong’s Korean offerings are probably not the most mind-blowing, we like how you can find a wide variety of different Korean food items all under one roof. We reckon this could be a great option if your group can’t decide on just one kind of food, here you can have them all!
Taste: 8/10
Price: $; ~$10-$20 per person
Would we come back: Yes, if we’re in the area and craving some hearty & affordable Korean eats!
Taste Myeongdong
Address: Taste Orchard, Level 1, 160 Orchard Rd, Singapore 238842
Opening Hours: 11.30am-10pm daily
