I (Tian Tian) finished all of my IB papers today. Yay! And I immediately head to Bugis Village with my best friend cum fellow Korean club member Iswarya, to try out a new Korea Fast Food Restaurant, Jinjja Chicken.
Well, you could've thought that we are interested in the chicken, but no quite so! :) We were actually much more interested in the Korean noodles that Jinjja offers. For instance, we were extremely curious about how the Jjajang myeon (Soybean Paste Noodles), Seafood Jjamppong Noodles and the Bibim Noodles will turn out. :)
We ordered a Jjangppong set ($12.50), which is a sampler platter of both Jjajang myeon and Seafood Jjamppong Noodles. The set includes a 'box' of fries and a choice of soft drink. For the fries, we have the option of 'upgrading' it to a small Ttebokki Fries (Rice Cake & Fries) for an additional $1. (FYI: A small Ttebokki Fries is priced at $3.50)To add on, we ordered a Bibimyeon (Bibim Noodles, $7.50).
The Jjangpong is definitely a new creation. Served in a 2-in-1 bowl, the Jjangmyeon was my favourite. The noodles were chewy, while the sauce is not too salty and the cucumbers were crunchy, and served its job well. The Jjamppong was cooked in a spicy seafood broth, and was rather delicious as well. It was Iswarya's favourite.
The bibimyeon was served with a half-boiled egg, and was aesthetically appealing. One of the highlights of the dish is that the bibimbap is served with kimchi (while some restaurants might not serve theirs with kimchi), so the slight sour taste of the fermented vegetable makes the noodle pretty appetizing. On a side note, the bibimyeon is pretty colourful too.
Ttebokki Fries was absolutely amazing! The fries were fried to crisp, and the ttebboki, which was fried as well, gave a 'crispy-on-the-outside, but chewy on the inside' kind of texture. It was also my favourite. The Gochujang (Pepper sauce) was not too spicy, and its sweet taste complemented the fries really well. I particularly enjoy the ttebokki fries, and it would make a good to-go-dish for anyone just popping by the area as well.
We happen to have a short chat with the owners of the shop, and I could see their passion in bringing the Korean dishes into Singapore for K-food lovers to enjoy. Despite the language barriers, the owners were determined to learn the K-food skills from Korea and bring them into Singapore to ensure the authenticity of the food. In addition, one of the owners, Bernard mentioned that all of the chicken used in Jjinjja Chicken are all 100% non-patty--Yes, including the chicken we find in the bibimyeon and Jjajangmyeon! He also emphasises that the restaurant is determined to cook their chicken burgers with chicken cutlet, so as to ensure that customers get to enjoy good quality chicken. That is not all, Jinjja is going to become one of the first Korean restaurants to become halal certified. :)
We got to also try out a complimentary traditional Korean Sikhye and Yuzu drink. I had the Sikhye drink. It had a tint of lemon taste and it tasted more refreshing then the usual Sikhye. Indeed effort is put in to make sure that the drink makes the consumers happy!
(Bonus Shot: Photograph of our noodles being mixed up.)
We also had a complimentary Oreo bingsu ($5.90) as an aftermeal dessert. The 'snowflakes' are soft and fluffy, and the oreo crumbs tasted really nice with it. A nice dessert to conclude the entire meal, and thank you Jinjja Chicken for the warm hospitality. :)
Last but not least, who could resist taking a welfie with the shop and having a photograph taken with the restaurant's mascot?
[Conclusion]: The restaurant's has interesting menu items like ttebokki fries and the Jjangpong, and the Sikhye drink and Bingsu tasted really good. Visual-wise, the food looked appeasing and appetising. The price is also friendly for me and Iswarya. The fast food restaurant has a student promotion from 2pm-6pm (Sunday to Friday, Selected meals), and students get to enjoy $3 off their meal. Had a great meal at Jinjja Chicken :) Will definitely visit here again.
Jinjja Chicken
249 Victoria Street
Singapore 188034
(Bugis Village, opposite Bugis Junction)
