I don’t know about you, but I love Korean cuisine. This hidden restaurant in Orchard ticks all the right boxes — beautiful aesthetics, chill vibes, amazing food, and a pretty spectacular view. Located in Orchard Central, Kimchi Dining lets you enjoy a vibey and fancy meal, perfect for a date with your significant other or even just hanging with your besties!
What really blew me away was the high ceiling and the large clear windows that illuminated the space with a ton of natural light. The high ceilings, coupled with the lush greenery, will make it feel as though you’re having a private dining session in a glasshouse overlooking the busy Orchard Road.
If you’re feeling boujee, you know where to go, but just make sure to get your poses ready because you’ll be taking lots of pics here for sure.
The three course set menu (S$60+/pax) is perfect if you’re looking to treat your significant other or your bestie to a lovely meal. The set menu for two comprises four starters, two mains, two drinks and two desserts, with dishes that feature your classic Korean flavours but with a slight fusion twist.
For starters, we had the Makgeolli Bread (S$6) which comes with a white bean butter spread. The bread is best enjoyed hot and with the sweet and creamy white bean butter. Fun fact: Makgeolli bread is commonly found in Korean wet markets and having this bun just transported me back to the bustling Gwangjang Market in Seoul.
Probably my favourite dish on the menu is the Gamjajeon (S$19) which is a crispy potato pancake —- kinda like rosti —- paired with radish, onion, bacon and Siberian onion truffle mayo. This was hands down one of the best potato pancakes I’ve had (in Singapore at least).
The potato pancake was super crispy and paired wonderfully with the very umami truffle mayo which had the right balance of truffle fragrance and savoury mayo. The bits of radish also added a nice burst of sweetness while the fried onions gave the pancake a nice fragrance.
The truffle mayo really elevated the flavours of the pancake. Spice lovers might wanna pair the pancake with a slice of kimchi for a slight spice and sour flavour.
For mains, we had the Arongsatae & Dogani (S$40) which is a beef heel muscle and tendon that has been braised for over six hours, drenched in a collagen broth and served with a tangy yuja chives salad on the side. The beef was tender and juicy, while the yuja salad gave a tangy and refreshing crunch. Definitely a must-have when you visit.
We also tried the Pork Jowl Ssam (S$33) which was served with Belgian endive, honey garlic, and chilli jangajji. The pork jowl is best enjoyed with the lettuce and endive, that gives a nice fresh crunch. The honey garlic added a nice sweetness that contrasted well with the savoury pork. The chilli jangajji is pretty muted which might go unnoticed when you eat everything together — so those with a low spice tolerance can still enjoy this dish.
No meal is complete without desserts and we got the Black Sesame (S$9) and the Berry Dalgona (S$9). The black sesame was creamy and sweet with a nice roasted fragrance and some super chewy mochis. There was even little bits of rice krispies in it as well that gave it a nice crunch amidst all the ice cream.
The Berry Dalgona on the other hand comes with a scoop of milky vanilla ice cream and bits of honeycomb. The sweetness of the ice cream together with the honeycomb reminded me of white rabbit candy. It also comes with blueberries and strawberries that add a nice zing to the sweet dessert.
Wash everything down with the Jeju Tangerine Peel tea (S$9) which is light and floral with a hint of orange aftertaste. For something a little sweeter, the Omija Float (S$9.50) will certainly do the trick. The five berry jam mixed with soda and a scoop of gelato makes for the perfect fizzy drink to beat the heat.
But of course, if you’re looking to enjoy some booze, you can have a go at their selection of Korean spirits.
Planning a romantic date with your significant other? Make your reservations here.
Kimchi Dining
Instagram | Website
????181 Orchard Road, Orchard Central #06-10, Singapore 238896
???? 11.30am—3pm, 5.30pm—9.30pm (Mon, Wed to Fri), 11.30am—9.30pm (Sat & Sun), Closed on Tue
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Photos by Marcus Leong
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