Janchi is the latest restaurant to open in Tanjong Pagar – this comes after a slew of Korean restaurants opening in the neighbourhood. Places like Seoul Noodle Shop and Hansik Collective Dining are some of the new Korean restaurants to have opened in Tanjong Pagar recently.
Korean Marinated Seafood in Tanjong Pagar
Janchi, which translates to feast in Korean, serves up dishes perfect for sharing. Think raw marinated seafood platters or pots of hearty Korean food that require a friend or two.
For those who wish to visit but like me, are more introverted, you’ll be glad to know that Janchi does offer set meals that are perfect for 1 pax. However, these set meals are only available during lunch.
Dig into items like a Spicy Stir-Fried Pork Set Meal ($17.90), which also comes with a set of side dishes and white rice. They also offer raw marinated seafood set meals, such as the Marinated Shrimp Set Meal ($27.90) and Marinated Salmon Set Meal ($26.90).
They also have a Soy Sauce Marinated Crab Set Meal ($33.90) for those who love Ganjang Gejang – perfect for those who don’t want to commit to the whole platter.
The all-day menu consists of items such as Stir-Fried Pork Belly and Squid ($54.90), Braised Pig Trotters ($54.90), Army Stew ($54.90), Kimchi Pancake ($18.90), Seafood Pancake ($20.90) and more.
They also have Sotbap options, like Spicy Chicken Cheese ($21.90), Beef Brisket ($22.90), Red Shrimp ($20.90), and Tuna Kimchi ($19.90).
Janchi Restaurant Review
The Marinated Raw Seafood Platter (2 pax $99.90, 3-4 pax $179.90) is probably the star of the show here at Janchi. Price-wise, it’s definitely a shock to most at first, but it did come with quite a variety of seafood.
Inside the platter, you’ll find Abalone, Salmon, Octopus, Prawns and Crabs.
We think that the seafood has been well marinated, with the items not having a fishy taste to it. The highlight of the platter was the soy-marinated crabs, which came with lots of meat and roe. The crab itself still retained a seafood sweetness to them, and we really enjoyed this.
The texture of the salmon was also satisfying, with each slice being of the perfect thickness.
If you’d like to taste the raw marinated crab but don’t want to commit to the entire platter, we highly recommend going for the Marinated Crab Noodles ($39.90) which uses the same crab and soy sauce base as the platter.
We also tried the Seoul Mountain Bulgogi Set (M: $59.90, L: $79.90) and true to its name, looked like a mountain. We didn’t expect much from this dish, but the meat surprised us with its tenderness and fattiness. The crunchy beansprouts paired well with the meat, and we thought the dipping sauce really helped to elevate the dish. It was a mix of soy sauce and wasabi, which provided a nice kick when the flavours felt too repetitive.
The Cheese Potato Pancake ($19.90) here was thicker than the ones you’d usually find at Korean restaurants. It had a nice crispy exterior with a dense and slightly chewy inside. The savoury flavours from the cheese was really satisfying, and we think it’s worth ordering for the price point!
There was also the Bossam/Boiled Pork ($49.90) which we felt tasted more like roasted pork. Not really sure if it deserves to be called bossam, but the meat itself was tender and wasn’t gamey.
Janchi also offers a range of alcohol, and we managed to try the Strawberry Makgeolli ($27.90). It has slices of fresh strawberries inside, and it was a nice balance of tangy and sweet – almost like a milkshake.
Korean Restaurant With Chill Vibes
While Janchi might not seem to be the most wallet-friendly spot at first glance, choosing the right menu items will still allow one to have the best experience without breaking the bank.
Its intimate and chill ambiance does make one feel like you’re in a restaurant in Seoul, which we liked.
JANCHI
4 Craig Road, Singapore 089664
Mon-Sun, 11am-11pm
*This article is based on a media-tasting event, but all opinions expressed about the food are entirely our own.
*Follow MiddleClass.sg on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Telegram for more food, travel, and trending stories