Seoul Jjimdak – Have an Amazing Chicky-licious Meal

Photos by Maureen, Miss Tam Chiak

Opened about a year ago, the concept of Seoul Jjimdak was brought over from Korea. The Singaporean boss of Seoul Jjimdak travels to Korea frequently, and chanced upon a restaurant in Myeongdong that specialises in Jjimdak – a dish of chicken braised in savoury soya sauce. She loved the atmosphere of the restaurant as it’s always vibrant, full of people, and most importantly, the food was really good. Therefore, she decided to introduce “jjimdak” into the Singapore market.

Seoul Jjimdak’s recipe is from a Korean ajumma, but the recipe has been tweaked slightly to cater to the tastebuds of Singaporeans. The original Korean version is very spicy. However, in Singapore, dried chilli is used instead, so locals will still be able to handle the heat. The secret sauces used for the jjimdak marinade are imported from Korea, and there’s only the boneless option offered in Singapore.

Each portion of Seoul Jjimdak is priced at $36.90. Succulent boneless chicken is accompanied by soft potatoes, onions, carrots, and chewy potato glass noodles. You get an explosion of flavours and textures in one big mouthful. For those who prefer the dish with more kick, go for Mayak Jjimdak ($43.90), which is a spicier and cheesier version.

Besides Jjimdak, Army Stew ($36.90) is the other signature here. This dish is supposed to be a promotional item, scheduled to stay on the menu for just a week, but it got so popular that the restaurant decided to include it in the menu permanently. Wondering what’s so special? Well, this classic Korean dish uses homemade kimchi broth instead of chicken broth with red pepper paste commonly found elsewhere.

You can find pork belly, luncheon meat, hotdog, tofu, tteokbokki, fishcake, mushroom, assorted vegetables, baked beans and a portion of ramyeon in the Army Stew. Some of these ingredients soak the kimchi broth up really well, making each bite tasty, with just the right amount of punch. The broth is very appetising, and we couldn’t stop at one helping. Thankfully, it’s refillable at no extra charge, and the friendly waiters will reheat the army stew for you if you decide to add more toppings such as prawn, mussels, mandu, cheddar cheese, and more. Here’s a tip – the cheese should be the last item to be placed into the stew as it melts very quickly.

Moreover, you get the best deal if you’re here for weekday lunch between 11.30am and 3pm! Both the jjimdak and army stew cost $29.90 each instead of the usual $36.90. You’ll save approximately 20% – isn’t this a good deal? As for students, you get 50% off when you order jjimdak or army stew on weekdays between 3pm and 5.30pm! Each portion of jjimdak and army stew is good for 2 to 4 pax.

A new menu item that’s also good for sharing is the Cheesy Sweet Corn (7.90). It’s a simple dish made with generous amounts of mozzarella cheese and corn. Cheese lovers will definitely rave about this dish, and we believe that it’s going to be equally popular with children. You can have some fun challenging each other to see who’s able to stretch the cheese the longest too!

If you prefer having your own portion of food instead of sharing, there are new menu items such as Fire Cheese Ramyeon with Prawns ($15.90) that might tickle your fancy. The springy ramyeon is tossed in a fiery sauce made with gochujang, sesame oil, and other secret condiments. It is topped with fresh prawns and cheddar cheese.

Seoul Jjimdak is a really good place for gatherings with friends and family. Students will also be happy to know that wifi is available here, but you’ll have to spot the wifi password in the menu! If you’re looking for a casual meal in an unpretentious setting, Seoul Jjimdak’s the place for you.

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This post was brought to you by Seoul Jjimdak.