BB.Q Chicken Myeongdong Star

Meeting friends who are also in Myeongdong during the same period as me for a BBQ chicken and beer dinner.

BBQ Chicken Myeongdong Star

The interior was kept simple, with an industrial vibe featuring cement floors and walls.

Interior

The cheese balls were a little on the dry side, which made them less enjoyable for me.

Cheese Balls

We went for the two-flavoured plate, featuring Soy Garlic and BBQ Seasoned chicken. Personally, I leaned towards the Soy Garlic, as its savoury profile suited me better.

Fried Chicken

Overall, the place was pretty noisy since it’s in Myeongdong, but I was glad the restaurant had an English ordering system, which made things quick and easy.

BB.Q Chicken Myeongdong Star
Loacation: 2 Myeongdong 4-gil, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Legend Wonton Mee (Bukit Batok)

I was thrilled to see Legend Wanton Mee open in Bukit Batok. I arrived at 7 AM and waited 20 minutes for the stall to open and start taking orders.

Legend Wanton Mee

The menu is fairly straightforward, featuring their signature wanton mee in both dry and soup versions. For dumpling lovers, the noodles are also available dry or in soup. You’ll also find classic sides like vegetables, wanton soup, dumpling soup, and crispy fried wantons.

Menu

The Signature Dry Wanton Mee was a delight, served with three plump wantons, slices of lean char siew, and blanched greens. Presented in an old-school metal plate alongside a comforting bowl of soup, it carried a touch of nostalgia.

Signature Dry Wanton Mee - $5.50

The noodles were springy with a pleasant chew, well-coated in a flavorful mix of sauce and seasonings that made them delicious on their own. The Hong Kong–style blanched greens, briefly soaked in seasoning before being placed on the plate, added a simple yet savory touch.

Close up

The char siew boasted a beautifully caramelised outer layer that gave a gentle sweetness with every bite, while its lean cut offered a clean, meaty chew that paired perfectly with the noodles.

Char Siew

Overall, it was a simple yet satisfying bowl of wanton mee, with each element, from the springy noodles to the lean char siew and seasoned greens, coming together in comforting harmony.

Legend Wonton Mee (Bukit Batok)
Location: Blk 177 Bukit Batok West Ave. 8, Singapore 650177

Yenmat Seoul Bulgogi

We returned to Myeongdong and, after checking in, began searching for a meal. To our surprise, we realised we hadn’t tried Korean Bulgogi yet. Spotting a nearby eatery, we decided it was the perfect time to give it a go.

Yenmat Seoul Bulgogi

Since it was past peak hours, the place was empty except for us. It was spacious, with each table equipped with its own built-in stove.

Environment

I loved how the eatery surprised us with its vibrant banchan spread, tangy kimchi, crisp fresh vegetables, refreshing salad, and earthy wood ear mushrooms, each adding a delightful burst of flavor to the meal.

Banchan

It was my first time enjoying bulgogi cooked from raw on a sizzling hot stove. The marinated meat was placed in the center, surrounded by enoki mushrooms, onions, and springy vermicelli along the pot’s edge. As the beef cooked, its sweet, savory juices flowed into the sides, infusing the accompaniments with rich flavor, every bite was irresistibly delicious.

Bulgogi

The tender meat curled up alongside the sweet, softened onions and fragrant scallions, each mouthful brimming with flavour, a truly satisfying meal.

It's so yummy

Yenmat Seoul Bulgogi
Location: 24-28 Myeong-dong, Jung District, Seoul, South Korea

Dongbaek Restaurant 동백식당

On our last day in Busan, during a morning walk around our accommodation, we spotted Dongbaek Restaurant and decided to give it a try.

Dongbaek Restaurant 동백식당

With an open-concept kitchen, it was fascinating to watch the Azumma skillfully prepare trays of dumplings ready to be steamed.

Open Kitchen Concept

We ordered the mixed dumplings, five original and five kimchi-flavored—and found them quite delicious.

Dumplings - ₩ 6,000

A simple Korean egg rice that somehow makes everything taste better. After so many days in Korea, seeing a sunny-side-up egg brightened my morning. The comforting rice won me over and I’m usually not a fan of rice for breakfast, but this was different.

Gyeran Bap - ₩ 7,000

Dongbaek Restaurant 동백식당
Location: 1205-1 Choryang-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea

Simplicité by Fresh Fruits Lab

Flashback to 10 years ago, I was visiting the same café, Fresh Fruit Lab. Now, thanks to the recent hype over my favourite plush toy, Jellycat, I’ve found myself back here again, only this time in different company. 

Simplicite

The café now goes by a new name, Simplicité by Fresh Fruit Lab, and stepping inside isn’t so much a wave of nostalgia as it is a warm welcome into an atmosphere buzzing with hype and the many interesting characters that Jellycat has to offer.

Can you Spot them?

Most diners were indulging in the Jellycat Whimsy Hour set, designed for two at $55.90. Presented as a charming two-tier high tea, it features an array of patisseries and savouries. The set also includes your choice of a pot of tea or coffee to complete the experience.

Jellycat Whimsy Hour

We opted for calming chamomile tea over coffee, and were delighted to find that even the teaware was as lovely as the set itself.

Camomile Tea

For the patisserie selection, we had macarons, strawberry tartlets, raisin scones, milk tea vanilla mousse, and raspberry glacé rings. While most were enjoyable, the milk tea vanilla mousse tasted a little off for us.

Patisserie and Savouries

For the savouries, we enjoyed truffle cold angel hair, smoked salmon canapés, and prawn bruschetta. The truffle cold angel hair was my clear favourite, elegantly presented in a neat bundle, topped with fish roe and a sprinkle of seaweed. Light, fragrant, and full of umami, it was especially appetising for me.

The mushroom soup was completely my style, a comforting blend of wild button mushrooms, white onion, and butter, served with a side of crusty baguette.

Mushroom Soup - $13

Dipping the crusty baguette into the mushroom soup was absolutely yummilicious, pure comfort in every bite.

Bagette

With its charming theme and stylish décor, this place is definitely Insta-worthy. If you’re seated near the walls, you’ll find plenty of interesting spots for unique shots.

Simplicite

The Messy Breakfast features bockwurst sausage, shio pan, crispy bacon, wild mushrooms, tomatoes, and truffle scrambled eggs, all served with fresh garden greens tossed in a tangy balsamic vinaigrette.

Messy Breakfast

Grass-fed NZ Angus Rib-eye served with rich brown sauce, crispy fried Chinese kale, and a side of golden fries.

NZ Angus Ribeye - $32.50

While we didn’t try the rest of the menu, the Jellycat collaboration offerings were just average for us.

Simplicité by Fresh Fruits Lab
Location: 351 Changi Rd, Singapore 419818

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

Dunkin' Busan Station

While Busan is renowned for its traditional seed hotteok, we were pleasantly surprised to find a playful take on this local favorite at Dunkin' Donuts. Their Busan Edition donut came generously topped with a hearty mix of seeds, think sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, sliced almonds, and crushed peanuts, all drizzled with a sticky syrup reminiscent of the hotteok’s signature filling.

The donut retained Dunkin’s signature mochi-like chew, contrasting the nutty crunch on top with a delightful texture. It's an interesting blend of modern and local, comfortingly familiar yet unique to Busan. Definitely a fun and satisfying bite for anyone curious to try a fusion twist on a street snack staple.

Busan Edition

We also picked up another donut that leaned more towards the classic side, coated in a glossy layer of chocolate and topped with cheerful rainbow sprinkles. It looked pretty mainstream, but sometimes simplicity hits the spot. The donut was soft and fluffy, and the chocolate added that familiar richness we all love. While it didn’t have the local twist like the Busan Edition, it was still a fun and satisfying pick-me-up that brought a smile with every bite.

Usual

I’m not usually a fan of donuts, especially since they tend to be on the sweeter side for me, what with the sugar glaze and all. But since this shop was right along my usual walk back to the accommodation, and I couldn’t exactly avoid passing by it, I gave in and decided to give it a try. Even if it’s not something I would typically go for, it was still worth a bite out of curiosity.

Dunkin' Busan Station
Location: 1187-21 Choryang-dong, Dong-gu, Busan, South Korea