Entree Kibbles: Wang Dae Bak® Korean BBQ - Couple Set Menu @ Cross Street Exchange (Near Telok Ayer / Chinatown MRT Stations) [Singapore]

Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Wang Dae Bak® Korean BBQ - Couple Set Menu @ Cross Street Exchange (Near Telok Ayer / Chinatown MRT Stations) [Singapore]

Dae Bak means awesome in Korean and to add a 'wang' would infer that the above eatery at Cross Street is the King of Awesomeness! Expectations were high as I stepped into Wang Dae Bak, recommended by a friend for our B.C.C.L meetup.

Those who miss South Korea would find comfort in the interior design, which drew parallels with those home-style barbecued eateries in the land of the morning calm. Oh well, now with the vaccinated travel lanes (VTL), it's time to book for your long awaited trip!

Don't you just love the kind thoughts put in by the operator?! Need a hair tie to keep your hair from the food, a spray of febreeze to get rid of the BBQ stench, or even to charge your phone? Look no further; just contact any of the staff!

Typical of Korean eateries, barley tea was dispensed at no extra charge! This would be unheard of in Chinese restaurants, where operators deem it as normal to impose charges for tea, wet tissues etc.

Since there were four of us, it appeared more worth it for us to go for two couple sets that would give us slightly more variety. Let's have beef and the the unmarinated duroc pork set then!

Kimchi Pancake - a must order, this is easily the best kimchi pancake I ever had. Portion was large, texture was crisp, kimchi was crunchy, not overly spicy and for that extra flavorful oomph; dip the pancake into that saucer of nice, addictive sauce!

Like barley tea, sides are commonly given at no extra cost. It could be as little as just one side (usually kimchi) and over here at Wang Dae Bak; there were five comprising of two types of kimchi, beansprouts, braised eggs and mashed potatoes. p.s. lettuce was for the BBQ meats.

All the sides were good but of course, I was famished at that time and could have devoured a cow! After the amazing mashed potatoes I had at Friends Tasty Korea, I am now way more open to trying mashed potatoes; not bad although still not as memorable as Friends Tasty Korea.

There was more free stuff; cheapo me super love of course! Take a look at the drain with yellow stuff surrounding the griddle sitting above a pot of red, hot charcoals!

Two things came to mind as to what the yellow stuff was; it would either be a thick broth for us to drink or cheese for us to dip our meats in. Only after it started cooking that I realized what it was.

Omelet! Okay lah, it didn't taste any difference from those you could easily cook yourself at home, with minimal seasoning. Please note not to leave them for too long as the bottom would burn!

Now on our meats!

Beef Set with thin sliced beef belly, boneless prime ribs and marinated boneless prime meat. Most expensive of the couple set at S$58.00.

Duroc Pork Set had chestnut duroc pork belly (2cm, which I presume was the thickness) and the chestnut duroc pork collar. Durouc pigs were known for their "high quality meat".

To be frank, the duroc pork set was the less preferred set as the lack of marinate meant I had to use the gochujang, the onions, the kimchi etc to up the flavour. I do have to agree that the meat was juicy, especially the pork collar which was literally a huge chunk of meat.

Beef was delicious and I relished every piece taken from the griddle! I could have been biased though as beef has always been preferred over pork. The adoration started with my first steak from the now-closed Ponderosa!