Sun Kimchi

If you have ever craved authentic Korean flavours without splurging, Sun Kimchi at Fook Hai Building might just be your next go-to spot. Tucked away in the heart of the city, this humble eatery serves up comforting Korean dishes that are mostly priced under $10. From hearty stews to sizzling plates, it’s a place where you can indulge in your Korean food fix without breaking the bank.

Sun Kimchi

When I was in Korea for two weeks a few months back, I quickly grew fond of their food and drinks  and I have been missing them ever since. Thankfully, in Singapore, we are spoiled with endless choices of cuisines, and even something as simple as a Korean barley rice drink can instantly quench my thirst and bring back those memories.

Korean Drink

I have been missing Sikhye, the traditional sweet Korean rice beverage and what will be a better way to kickstart my Korean meal than with this refreshing drink?

Korean Drink 韩国饮料 - $2.50

Above all the cravings, what makes Sun Kimchi even more attractive is its straightforward pricing, no GST, no service charge, just honest and affordable Korean food.

No Hidden Cost

To be honest, during my two weeks in Korea, I only managed to try corn cheese once, so I was pretty excited to spot it on Sun Kimchi’s menu. The golden corn kernels came sizzling on a hot plate, blanketed in melted cheese and of course, we couldn’t resist having a little fun with the satisfying cheese pull before digging in.

Corn Cheese 芝士玉米 - $5.90 

Korean steamed egg, or Gyeran-jjim, is the ultimate comfort side dish. Served piping hot in a stone bowl, the eggs are whisked until fluffy and gently steamed, creating a soft, custard-like texture. Often garnished with chopped spring onions and vegetables, it’s light yet satisfying — the kind of dish that warms you from the inside out.

Korean Steamed Eggs 韩式蒸蛋 - $4.90

The Chive Pancake caught our attention at first sight! Unlike the usual large, round serving, these came in petite portions almost the size of a sauce dish. Bite-sized, crispy, and flavorful, they were undeniably addictive.

Chive Pancake 韭菜煎饼 - $6.90

The Smoked Duck Rice Bowl is beautifully presented with slices of succulent smoked duck fanned around a perfectly soft poached egg. Vibrant vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots add a fresh pop of color, while a generous sprinkle of roasted sesame seeds and shredded seaweed on top enhances both texture and visual appeal. A feast for both the eyes and the palate!

Smoked Duck Rice Bowl - $11.90

Kimchi Chicken Soup is a hearty and fiery Korean classic, simmered to perfection with tender chicken pieces, soft tofu, and crunchy vegetables.

Kimchi Soup with Chicken 泡菜鸡肉汤饭 - $7.90

The tangy, spicy kick of fermented kimchi blends harmoniously with the rich broth, creating a bold and soul-warming flavor. Topped with fresh green onions, chili slices, and enoki mushrooms, this dish is perfect for those who love a good balance of spice, umami, and comfort in every spoonful.

Appetizing

he Beef Bulgogi Hot Plate was absolutely delicious. These tender beef slices infused with a flavorful marinade and paired with sweet, caramelized onions. A true comfort dish!

Hot Plate Beef with Rice 铁板牛肉饭 - $12.90

Another dish I miss is their Ramyeon. We had the Kimchi Ramyeon with pork, and it was so appetizing! The noodles were springy and delicious. Cravings satisfied!

Kimchi Ramyeon with Pork 泡菜牛肉拉面 - $8.90

Cravings Satisfied

Though the eatery isn’t big, the menu is more than adequate with comforting simple Korean dishes. Plus, it’s pocket-friendly and, most importantly, a pretty good eat!

Our Orders

Sun Kimchi
Location: Fook Hai Building, 150 South Bridge Road, #01-11 Singapore 058727

Dongducheon Budae Jjigae 동두천부대찌개

Running out of ideas for Korean food, a light bulb moment struck, "How about Army Stew?" I was all for it, especially since I hadn’t seen Budae Jjigae on many menus and was curious if it’s something Koreans actually eat regularly. A quick search led us to a nearby spot that served it. The location was quite unexpected, it turned out to be a basement eatery. 

Dongducheon Budae Jjigae 동두천부대찌개

Menu on Wall

We walked down a flight of stairs into a cozy dining space with no windows, giving it an oddly tucked-away, hidden gem kind of vibe.

Basement Eatery

To complete the meal, we ordered some beer to pair with dinner. While waiting for our Army Stew to be prepared, we were served a few banchan, those classic Korean side dishes that always help set the tone. It was a nice way to ease into the meal and made the wait feel shorter.

Beer & Banchan

Along with the banchan, we were each served a bowl of rice topped with a perfectly fried egg, simple, comforting, and just right to go with the hearty stew that was coming.

Rice with Egg

And yes, finally, the Army Stew! While it didn’t wow us compared to versions back in Singapore, it still had all the essentials: tofu, enoki, tteokbokki, veggies, and noodles. A comforting, no-frills rendition of this Korean classic.

Budae Jigae (9,500 each)

Dongducheon Budae Jjigae
Location: 33-1 BIFF gwangjang-ro, Jung-gu, Busan, South Korea

Paris Baguette

There’s a running joke among Singaporeans about this bakery chain, we would cheekily ask, “Want some Paris Bak Kut Teh?” Of course, we’re talking about Paris Baguette, which amusingly hails from Korea, not France. While passing by Busan Train Station, we decided to pop in for a quick breakfast. It was a simple meal of two pastries, one of them being a Kouign-Amann, paired with milk and coffee. A nice way to kickstart the day!

Breakfast

Paris Baguette Busan Station (1F)
Location: 206 Jungang-daero, Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea

 

Busan Raw Fish Restaurant 부산횟집

As the sky gradually darkened and the air grew heavy, it was clear that rain was on its way. Having just finished our walk around the Haeundae Beach area, we quickly picked a spot for dinner, thinking it would be the perfect way to wait out the rain since we didn’t have any umbrellas with us.

We settled down and quickly placed our order, opting for a hotpot for two and a fish dish. Soon, a variety of banchan (Korean side dishes) arrived at our table, many of which we hadn’t encountered elsewhere during our trip. 

Banchan

There was seaweed, octopus, edamame, assorted vegetables, tempura prawn, and a surprisingly tasty cheese corn kernel dish. Too bad I forgot to snap a photo of the cheesy kernels!

Tempura Prawn

Fish is what I had been craving during the trip. It was beautifully deep-fried without being overly browned, slit in half, and topped with pickles.

Fried Fish

The seafood hotpot was stunning. It was filled with scallops, large mussel shells, abalone, crab, bean sprouts, potatoes, spring onions, and more, all simmered in a rich, flavorful broth.

Seafood Hotpot

The staff came to the table and assisted in removing the shells from the seafood, thoughtfully cutting them into smaller pieces for easier enjoyment.

Big Shells Removed

It felt good to be served this way, a thoughtful gesture that kicked off the meal on a warm note. We had a feast, deeply satisfying and comforting. The hearty spread left us with warm, full stomachs, just what we needed for the cold, rainy weather outside.

Abalone

Busan Raw Fish Restaurant 부산횟집 
Location: 28 Dalmaji-gil 62beon-gil, Haeundae-gu, Busan, South Korea

Gamcheon Sagol Somyeon Gomtang 감천사골소머리곰탕

Another spot I marked on my Gamcheon Culture Village map was this eatery, I was drawn in by the grilled beef patties I had seen featured in Google reviews. Plus, their high rating made it even more tempting.

Gamcheon Sagol Somyeon Gomtang

The interior was simply furnished, but the walls were interestingly adorned with plenty of positive feedback left by customers from all over the world.

Interior

The place felt welcoming, with friendly staff and a menu that was easy for foreigners like us to navigate. The ordering chit made it even simpler, as it was in English.

Order

Their menu was also well illustrated with tempting food photos alongside the dishes.

Menu

There was also an introduction page in the menu with a short write-up about the place, explaining that they serve traditional Korean food, not low-quality instant meals. They even had a section highlighting a few dishes based on foreigners’ favourites.

Introduction Page on the Menu

The banchan served included three types: fermented vegetables, green chilli, and cuttlefish.

Banchan

We had dumpling beef soup with rice. The soup was milky and comforting, filled with ingredients like sliced rice cakes and fish cakes. It paired perfectly with the bowl of white rice.

Dumpling Beef Soup - 9,000

Soup

Though simple, the dumplings, a staple in Korean cuisine, were also part of the beef soup we ordered.

Dumpling

The dumplings had a sweet flavour and were filled with noodles inside. Take a look at the fillings!

Dumpling Fillings

Besides the dumplings, I also liked the fish cake that added more depth to the soup.

Fish Cake

Here’s the grilled short beef patties served with rice and a side of mayonnaise. The meal came with five small patties.

Grilled Short Beef Patties - 9,000

The beef patties were evenly grilled, with a glossy, juicy appearance that made them very appetizing.

Look so yummy!

Dipping the grilled short beef patties into the mayonnaise made them even better they really looked and tasted great.”

With Mayonnaise

After the meal, we were served the traditional Korean drink, Sikhye. It was cooling and refreshing, to be honest, I really love this drink in Korean cuisine.

Free Sikhye

I’m really happy to have enjoyed such a satisfying meal before leaving my footprints in Gamcheon Culture Village.

감천사골소머리곰탕
Location: 173 Gamnae 1-ro, Saha-gu, Busan, South Korea

Hwanggong Eomuk (Fish cake) 환공어묵 부산역점

While at Busan Train Station, we came across another traditional fish cake brand that has been around since 1940. With such a high turnover, we quickly grabbed a few freshly fried fish cakes and found a spot near the station for a quick bite. Yes, this was our breakfast!

Hwanggong Eomuk (Fish Cake) in Busan Train Station

We made a quick selection, so we didn’t really remember exactly what we picked. 

Fish Cake

These fish cakes, as usual, came in all kinds, from cheese-filled to vegetable-mixed, all with that springy texture we love. 

Fish Cake

Some had a rough, crispy coating while others had the usual smooth bite.

Fish Cake

If you ask whether they were good or if I ever get bored of them, honestly, I find them interesting every time. And to think that in my entire life, I’ve never spent more than $10 on fish cakes for breakfast like this!

Fish Cake

When I compare these to the Samjin Amook Eomuk we had earlier from the Busan Train Station branch, honestly, I can’t really tell much difference, even though this brand is supposed to be more senior in the industry than Samjin Amook Eomuk, which was established in 1953.

Hwanggong Eomuk (Fish cake) 환공어묵 부산역점
Location: Jungang-daero, 초량제3동 Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea
Nearest Station: Busan

Bonjeon Dwaeji Gukbap 본전돼지국밥

We couldn’t get enough of Dwaeji Gukbap, a hearty Busan-style pork soup served with rice, so here we go again! While reading reviews, we found out that Bonjeon Dwaeji Gukbap is just a stone’s throw away from our accommodation, and we’re lucky there’s no queue this time! 

Bonjeon Dwaeji Gukbap 본전돼지국밥

The interior was spacious, and as we settled in, more customers gradually started to fill the place.

Interior

I have noticed that restaurant menus in Korea are rather straightforward, and luckily, I can still rely on my phone’s picture translation to help out.

Menu 

What amazed me was the Korean food culture of serving banchan small side dishes as starters with every meal. It’s always a pleasant surprise to see what banchan will appear at the table. Here, we were served chives, kimchi vegetables, raw green chilies, onions, and garlic.

Banchan

The thin slices of pork in the soup bowl, paired with spring onions, were tender and naturally sweet. 

Pork Soup & Rice - ₩ 10,000

As a soup lover, I found this comforting bowl of hot pork broth with rice so satisfying. I prefer to eat the rice separately, but it’s interesting to see how some Koreans pour their entire bowl of rice right into the soup.

Pork Slices

We ordered the Tripe Soup with Rice too and loved how clean and tender the pig’s stomach was. It really made for a comforting meal.

Tripe Soup & Rice - ₩ 10,000

Overall, this meal reminded me once again why I love Korean comfort food so much, simple, hearty, and full of thoughtful touches like banchan and clean, flavorful broths. Finding a spot like Bonjeon Dwaeji Gukbap so close to where we stayed made it even better. I’d gladly come back for another bowl anytime.

Bonjeon Dwaeji Gukbap 본전돼지국밥
Location: 3-8 Jungang-daero 214beon-gil, Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea

Nearest Station: Busan Station