There are many good, authentic Korean restaurants in Singapore, with everything from Korean BBQ to fried chicken. But one dish eludes us: Jokbal, or Korean braised pig’s trotter. We haven’t found a solid spot to satisfy that craving – until we came across Jang San Korean Restaurant in NeWest Mall.
The restaurant has made a few rounds on social media and we were excited to finally try.
What Is Jang San Korean Restaurant?
Jang San Korean restaurant (a.k.a Jangsan Jokbal) is a Korean restaurant in NeWest Mall in West Coast, specialising in Korean braised pig’s trotter: jokbal (족발).
NeWest Mall is quite ulu, even for us Westies. By this point, we were wondering if the food was worth the journey.
The humble space is small and practical, furnished with simple tables and familiar posters publicising their selection of soju and alcohol.
Jang San Korean Restaurant Menu
The signature item is their jokbal, available as part of the Signature Set ($88/M, $110/L).
It includes 2 flavours of jokbal, over 10 banchan, spicy buckwheat noodles and a soup.
This was a feast that could easily feed 2 to 3 people, making it worth it for the price!
There are three jokbal flavours: Original, Spicy and Garlic.
The visuals alone were enough to whet our appetites. Glistening and fatty slices of jokbal braised in a rich soy sauce gravy.
Every slice was melt-in-the-mouth tender, infused with a deep savoury soy sauce flavour. It tasted close to the ones we’ve tried in Korea with its distinct soy flavour!
Despite the intense amounts of fat, it wasn’t gamey or porky at all, which we appreciated.
You can pair the jokbal with the dazzling selection of sauces and banchan, ranging from kimchi to pickled radish, to keep the flavours interesting.
The Garlic version is topped with marinated garlic, which added a pleasant garlicky flavour without the bite. It’s a simple addition but somehow made the dish moreish.
Our surprising favourite was the spicy! The jokbal was coated in a sticky sweet-spicy sauce that tasted similar to yangnyeom with more kick.
It was addictive and cut through the fattiness of the jokbal. If it’s too spicy, you can dip it into the side of mayo to temper the spice.
The spicy mixed noodles and spicy stew completed the meal.
The stew we tried was a spicy fish stew – while it’s uncommon, we found the warm brininess to complement the fatty meat real well!
They also do other classic Korean dishes like Tofu Kimchi ($38) and Seafood Pancake ($25).
There’s even Pork and Beef BBQ ($87) and even Beef Tartare ($30). These were simple and well-executed, but we do feel the star is still their jokbal!
They also offer lunch sets from 11.30am to 2.30pm, with options like Stir-Fried Kimchi and Pork Rice Bowl ($13) and Beef Soup with Rice ($9.90).
Verdict: Is Jang San Korean Restaurant Worth It?
Yes, Jang San Korean Restaurant is worth it with its authentic Korean flavour and generous portions. While it may be a bit inaccessible, the food is well worth the travel – especially shared with friends or family.
Check out more Korean eats in Singapore:
- Na Oh Review: Contemporary Korean Restaurant In Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre
- Um Yong Baek Review: Probably The Most Authentic Busan Gukbap You Can Get In Singapore
- Gangnam Ok: Try The Viral Beef Brisket Stir Fry At This Korean Restaurant In Telok Ayer
Jang San Korean Restaurant 장산왕족발 (Jangsan Jokbal)
1 W Coast Dr, #01-107, Singapore 128020
Mon, Wed-Sun: 11.30am-2.30pm, 5.30pm-10.30pm
Closed on Tuesday.
*This article is based on a media-tasting event, but all opinions expressed about the food are entirely our own.
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