It’s no secret that I have a (completely healthy) obsession with Korean food. I’m always on the lookout to find new places that can satisfy my Korean food cravings and lucky for me, there’s an underrated restaurant located in the west.
Tucked away in NEWest, just a short bus ride away from Clementi, is Nana Bunsik. The cosy store serves authentic Korean food along with homemade kimchi and more. The store is run by a friendly couple who first started selling their dishes online.
Step inside and you’ll feel like you’ve been transported into a homey restaurant in Korea. There’s even a shelf of crocheted Korean food that adds a touch of personality to the store.
One of the most popular dishes on the menu is the Beef Bulgogi Bibimbap (S$18.80). Unlike the regular bibimbap which comes with a dollop of gochujang sauce, the beef bibimbap at Nana’s Bunsik comes with the sweet marinade instead, alongside fresh vegetables, mushrooms, and a runny sunny side-up on top.
The beef was very well-marinated and very tender. I totally recommend leaving the rice to char for a while to get a nice crunchy and sweet scorched rice.
The vegetables and mushrooms also add a nice crunch and flavour to the dish. Top it off with a slice of fresh kimchi and it’s simply perfection.
Another dish that came highly recommended was the Japchae (S$12.80) and having tried it, I can see why it is so popular. The japchae is sweet and fragrant but a little bit on the peppery side.
It comes with pork but there’s also a vegetarian option for those who can’t take meat. The dish comes with a generous serving of carrots, capsicums, mushrooms, spinach, and onions.
I would have preferred it if it was a little less peppery, but the pepper does elevate the sweetness of the japchae sauce. It’s a great option for those looking to get a healthy and fuss-free meal.
I love jjajangmyeon, so of course I had to order it here. Nana Bunsik’s Jjajangmyeon (S$12.80) ticks all the right boxes.
Starting with the black bean sauce, it was super fragrant and a little on the sweeter side. There were also small bits of the black bean in the sauce which adds a nice texture to it.
The dish came with a generous serving of sauce which coated every strand of noodles perfectly. The sauce also elevated the flavours of the lean pork.
The only thing that was missing from this dish was the pickled radish to give it a nice crunch. This might be my new go-to spot for jjajangmyeon now — it’s really that good!
No trip to a Korean restaurant is complete without having some kimbap and we got the Spam Kimchi Kimbap (S$11.80).
The kimbap had a nice mix of ingredients, but it was a little on the saltier side. The radish and kimchi does help to balance out the flavours while also adding a nice crunch into the mix.
Nana Bunsik also has a selection of classic stews like the Kimchi Stew (S$16.80). The stew was fragrant and had a nice spice kick to it. The soup also elevated the sourness of the kimchi with the pork belly adding a nice savouriness. It was the perfect remedy for a cold rainy day.
Speaking of kimchi, if you love their kimchi, you can order their fresh kimchi, radish kimchi or spring onion kimchi for takeaway — I’ll be back for the radish kimchi for sure.
Do you miss the taste of Korea? Head down to this Korean restaurant to satisfy your cravings!
Nana Bunsik
Instagram | Website
📍 1 West Coast Drive, NEWest #01-84, Singapore 128020
🕑 11.30am—3pm, 5pm—9pm (Tue to Sun), Closed on Mon
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Photos by Marcus Leong
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