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Wednesday 14 August 2013

Kko Kko Nara 꼬꼬나라 (Tanjong Pagar)

Kko Kko Nara 꼬꼬나라 a Korean restaurant located at Tras Road, is only a stone throw away (i.e. five minutes away) from Tanjong Pagar MRT station. It is located close to the Maxwell Food Centre too. 

Korean Fried Chicken
Kko Kko Nara specialises in Korean cuisine and their signature dish is their Korean Fried Chicken which has been highly raved. 
The restaurant was cozy and air conditioned. They have quite a small sitting capacity. When we visited during lunch time on Saturday, the restaurant was fully packed. I took this photo as we were leaving at 230pm, by then most of the customers had left and the restaurant was closing (230pm). 
Each table has a box of tissue paper utensils and a metal bin for disposal of bones. I like their menu cover. It was artistically and colourful. The fried chicken looks so appetising! 
Ban Chan / Side Dish (반찬) 
The Ban Chan / Side Dish (반찬) were just normal - average. One of the rare occasions where I did not ask for more side dishes. 
Combo Chicken Set (S) $20 (clockwise from top: Sweet, Special Garlic Soy Sauce, Original)
Since we were here, we just had to order the the signature Korean Fried Chicken! The Combo Chicken Set (S) $20 consisted of 9 pieces of chicken - 3 pieces of 3 different flavours chicken. The flavours were namely Original, Sweet and Special Garlic Soy Sauce Chicken. We notice that the price of this dish during dinner time was $25 instead of $20.
Left to right: Special Garlic Soy Sauce, Sweet
Having tried the Fried Chicken, I now understood why it had been so highly raved about. Each piece was crispy, crunchy, well marinated and fried. The meat were tender, and had the right blend of spices and sauces. In addition, the immense flavour had penetrated all the way into the meat. My favourite was the Special Garlic Soy Sauce Fried Chicken which was made of hand-crushed garlic and 41 kinds of ingredient with soy sauce. 

In terms of execution, I thought that they did quite well. It's a common perception that its easyto cook chicken wings. But its hard to make one that's nice, well seasoned (with the flavours penetrating into the meat) and not oily. 
Bu Dae Ji Gae (부대찌개) $35
We also ordered the Bu Dae Jji Gae (부대찌개) to shared. The Bu Dae Jji Gae when translated, literally means The Army Stew. It was named this way as this dish originated during the Korean War. Back then, the Americans who assisted in the war brought their own food such as spam (canned meat), baked beans, sausages and hot dogs which was not introduced in Korea before. As the Koreans were facing a food shortage, they cooked a spicy stew which consisted of kimchi and gochujang (red chili paste) and mixed the American's surplus food into the stew. This was how The Army Stew / Bu Dae Jji Gae came about.

Kko Kko Nara's Bu Dae Jji Gae consisted of noodles, spam, sausages, mushroom, korean rice cake, baked beans, tofu, kimchi, gochujang and a mixture of vegetables. Red and Green Chilli were added to further enhance its taste. 
Bu Dae Ji Gae (부대찌개) $35
Mix the Bu Dae Jji Gae and once it boils, this is how it should looks like. After that you can let it simmer and slowly savour it. The best part is that the longer the stew simmers, the more robust and flavourful it becomes. Kko Kko Nara's Bu Dae Jji Gae was 맛있어요 (delicious)!! We indulged endlessly into it. The more we dig into it, the more we love it. 

Although the Ban Chan / Side Dish were average, the Special Garlic Soy Sauce Fried Chicken and Bu Dae Jji Gae were just simply delicious! I will definitely be back to fulfill my Korean cravings at Kko Kko Nara 꼬꼬나라 again. Price wise, although some may feel that its on the expensive end, I thought its quite value for money considering the taste and quality of food. 

Kko Kko Nara 꼬꼬나라 (Tanjong Pagar)
#01-0157 
Tras Street
Singapore 078996
Tel:  6224 8186
Opening Hours: Daily 11am to 230pm, 5pm to 3am

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16 comments:

  1. I just love Korean food, first because of the sides and the dishes, depending on which are ordered contains the spicy taste I can't resist. I see some great dishes which are good and tempting.

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    1. Me too. Like how they allow unlimited refills of the side dishes =P

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  2. omg, my mouth watered at the picture of the budaejjigae!

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    1. haha! yea, looking at it now, i miss the food!

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  3. when I was at Korea one of the best parts of a jjigae dish is to add rice and seaweed to it when the stew simmers to a thick gravy-like fluid and you get really tasty fried rice.

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    1. Yea! Some of the eateries in Korea also add other ingredients with the rice. Shiok, now you are making me hungry! yummy!

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    2. haha my personal favourite is Chuncheon-style Dakgalbi. Had the Korean-style fried rice it at Your Woul before (have to request for it), the fried rice brought us back to Korea.

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    3. haha, you are making me hungry!!

      Ate at Your Woul before but did not find it fantastic (maybe I ordered the wrong dish - soon du bu). You mean you ordered the Bu Dae Jji Gae and then cooked rice on after you are done with it?

      Ok, I will try it one day!!

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  4. wow how many pax can the Bu Dae Jji Gae serve? looks huge!

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    1. haha, yes its huge. Actually for this meal 2 pax ate all these. We can be big eaters at times and were very full after the meal

      This Bu Dae Jji Gae would be just nice for 2 pax without ordering any other food. Most pple order this when they have 3-4pax along with other food to share.

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  5. i think i need to bring the hubby here to check it out. he's sorely missing the spicy fried chicken from Chicken Bank in Seoul, and so far, we havent been able to find a similar substitute here in sg.

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    1. Its not bad, one of the best in SG. But might be a similar substitute in compared to what u ate in Korea. I have been looking for similar korean food in sg, but have always been disappointed. Even the authentic ones (such as at bukit timah) seems to taste difference from what I ate in korea.

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  6. I'm really not a fan of Korean food as they don't have much varieties; all their food are heavily marinated & meat taste almost the same :< I usually just go for Ginseng Chicken Soup.

    The chicken combo somehow intrigues me tho. Maybe because I like fried stuff especially if they're real crispy. I may just visit the place for this dish :)

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    1. Any recommendations for Ginseng Chicken Soup in SG? So far those that I have tried have not wow me.

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  7. Replies
    1. Its a korean restaurant, I do believe they serve soju!

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