We’ve heard of different modern fusion cuisine, but Korean-Spanish is a first! Bancheria in Bugis incorporates Korean flavours into classic tapas dishes perfect for sharing.
Chill Hangout Spot In Bugis
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The restaurant is located in the Concourse Skyline Condo, with a simple interior.
There was a plant feature wall and a bright neon sign illuminating the space.
Despite the simple design, it was cosy and relaxing. Our only mild complaint would be the confusing playlist (a mix of K-Pop, 2010s pop and Mandopop) that didn’t quite fit the aesthetic.
Bancheria Menu
The menu begins with tapas, including items such as Korean Rice Balls of the Day ($8) and a Korean Watermelon Salad ($9).
There are also fried foods like Bancheria Mozzarella Balls with Kimchi Tomato Jam ($7/3 pcs) and Paprika Fried Chicken Wings ($12/2 pcs).
A special section is the Montadito, open-faced bread bites. Some unique toppings include the Iberico Bulgogi & Pipparas ($8) and Smoked Salmon & Kimchi Cream Cheese ($8).
For something heartier, get the Braised Spanish Duroc Belly Rice ($22) and a Wagyu Petite Tender with Ssamjang Salsa, Fries & Kimchi Mesclun Salad ($36).
No tapas meal is complete without drinks, including House Sangria (Red, $12) and Solmija ($12) with gin and omija.
Signature Bancheria Banchan Platter
A speciality is their Banchan Platter ($12) with 9 seasonal banchan. This is refillable up to 3 times, shared by the whole table.
Some banchan we tried were the Spanish Leek & Potato Tortilla and Burnt Corn Gochujang with Korean Fishcake.
These were appetising but we wouldn’t say anything stood out to us, and might not be worth the special order.
Tapas
Of the tapas we tried, the highlight was the Wagyu Rib Finger Kalbi ($12) with a kimchi leek salad.
The beef was well-marinated and grilled until tender, with a notable smoky flavour!
While the Corn, Scallop, and Cheese Pajeon ($12) had a nice cheesy crust, we found it a bit confusing. Not the most Korean, but still relatively tasty regardless. The Gambas Al Ajillo ($12) didn’t have a strong garlic flavour. It could do with more garlic!
Montadito
We tried two flavours of Montadito: Sobrasada & Pa-Kimchi ($9) and a “Ganjang Gejang” Crab Salad ($8).
The Sobrasada was salty, spicy and had kimchi undertones, and we wish there was more actual kimchi on it!
On the other hand, the crab salad was not immediately reminiscent of soy-marinated crab. It tasted more like a tuna salad with soy sauce. Other flavours might be better.
Chorizo Tteokbokki
The Chorizo Tteokbokki ($22) took us by surprise! It had a creamy, spicy gochujang cream sauce with smoky undertones from bell peppers and chorizo.
This was the closest to a Korean-Spanish fusion in the meal and it was addictive. Our only complaint was that the cheese chunks were too big, it might have been better grated instead.
Dessert
A classic Korean dessert, the Hotteok ($5/pc) was crispy and gooey. It tasted good but didn’t stand out as anything special.
They also have infused honey that they make in-house, with unique flavours like barley and garlic. We tried the Barley honey, but it didn’t taste drastically different.
The Churro ($4/pc) is available in plain, cinnamon and plum & cinnamon. It was crisp and fluffy but had a notable corn taste. We didn’t mind it but it was unexpected!
Korean Tapas In Singapore
While Bancheria provided a comfortable atmosphere, we feel their food can better balance the Korean and Spanish flavours.
Check out more speciality bars in Singapore:
- KeonBae: Highball Bar In Telok Ayer With Korean-Japanese Fusion Dishes Like Abalone-juk Risotto
- Ilmiri Korean Fusion Cuisine Review: Cloud Cheese Jjimdak, Beef Rolls & Crispy Gamjajeon
- Cafe GUI: Aesthetic Korean-Japanese Fusion Cafe In Novena Offering Korean Dosirak And Hojicha Pudding
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Bancheria
302 Beach Road, #01-06, Concourse Skyline, Singapore 199600
Closed Tuesday. Mon, Wed-Sun: 11am-9pm
*This article is based on a media-tasting event, but all opinions expressed about the food are entirely our own.
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