When you mention the word Itaewon, two things come to mind: the area in downtown Seoul, as well as the hit drama, Itaewon Class. With Itaewon Jjajang, the latest Korean restaurant to open in Tanjong Pagar – you might just start associating Itaewon with the word Jjajangmyeon.
While Tanjong Pagar has its fair share of Korean restaurants, you’ll probably find it difficult to get a seat anywhere (especially on weekends) if you don’t make any reservations. With the opening of Itaewon Jjajang, you’ll now have more options to choose from.
Korean Chinese Cuisine in Tanjong Pagar
Located near Exit A of Tanjong Pagar and away from the main stretch of Korean restaurants is newly opened Itaewon Jjajang. Just like its name suggests, the restaurant serves Jjajangmyeon and other Korean-Chinese food items.
With Koreans making up the majority of the crew here at Itaewon Jjajang, one can expect an authentic experience. One of the owners is also the chef for the restaurant!
Atmosphere at Itaewon Jjajang
We visited the restaurant a day after its official opening during lunchtime and already, it was a full house. We were immediately greeted by their friendly staff and a view of the busy kitchen.
The restaurant can seat about 25 pax, not including the 4 private dining rooms at the back for those who prefer a more intimate setting.
Itaewon Jjajang Menu
Like most Jjajangmyeon places in Singapore, Itaewon Jjajang also has a set menu that lets you try some of the most classic Korean-Chinese dishes at an affordable price.
We went for Set A ($49), which consisted of a bowl of Jjajangmyeon, Jjamppong and Tangsuyuk.
Other menu items included Korean Army Stew ($38), Haemul Pajeon ($25), and Itaewon Udong ($15), a soy sauced-based noodle with fried shrimp and meat.
Jjajangmyeon
A decent bowl of Jjajangmyeon. While the taste of the black bean sauce is not as heavy and intense as those you can find in O.BBa or MukJja, the flavours that one might look for in a hearty bowl of JJM are all present. The noodles were also cooked nicely and had a nice chewy texture.
The good thing is you won’t find the dish to be that jelak, so you can easily finish off the entire bowl yourself.
Jjamppong
While the restaurant is called Itaewon Jjajang, you have to give their Jjamppong a try. We didn’t expect much, but their bowl of Jjamppong left us wanting more.
Served in a huge metal bowl, the Jjamppong is probably one of the most value for money items. Beneath the surface is a generous amount of seafood such as squid, mussels, clams, and prawns.
The soup had a fresh and clean taste, with pleasant seafood and green pepper sweetness to it. The dish also had a refreshing spicy aftertaste that’s bearable even for non-spicy eaters.
One word: Comforting.
Tangsuyuk
Another classic dish at Korean-Chinese restaurants is Tangsuyuk. We loved that Itaewon Jjajang served their deep-fried meat and sauce separately, so you can have the option of pouring the sauce over or dipping the meat in the sauce.
The batter for the meat wasn’t too thick and still retained a slightly crispy texture. The sweet and sour sauce is slightly more on the sour side.
A shoutout to their side dishes as well! The kimchi here was delicious. Not too spicy and not too sour, with just the right amount of sweetness.
New Jjajangmyeon and Jjamppong Restaurant in Singapore
If you’re ever in the mood for some authentic Jjamppong or Jjajangmyeon in Singapore, Itaewon Jjajang is a good place to check out.
A quick tip: the restaurant does have a rather strong air-conditioning system, so make sure to consume your food quickly once it arrives.
Update (11/4/2022): We revisited the restaurant recently and their set meal prices seemed to have increased from $45 to $49. However, it still seemed like a good deal considering you get a bowl of Jjajangmyeon, Jjamppong, and Tangsuyuk. You can also opt for stews instead of Jjamppong. The air-conditioning is still strong as ever, with the food maintaining its good quality. Jjamppong may not be as spicy as before, so you can ask for extra spice for spicy food lovers!
Itaewon Jjajang
64 Peck Seah Street, Singapore 079325
Tues-Sun, 11:30am-3pm (last order 2:30pm), 5pm-10pm (last order 9pm)
*This is an independent review by MiddleClass.sg
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