Yeogi is a Korean restaurant in Balestier serving up homely Korean food. The restaurant was started back in 2018 by a Korean-Singaporean couple, Melissa and Joo Hyung, with a menu that has both classic and modern Korean dishes.
Joo Hyung also holds the role of the head chef over at Yeogi. Fun fact, he was the translator during the Trump-Kim summit!
Homely Vibes at Yeogi 여기
The restaurant gives off a very homely feel. It’s a great place to chill with your friends or have a nice family meal. There is also a nice little garden display in the restaurant that adds on to the relaxing mood.
The staff are also really friendly and helpful when answering queries regarding their menu.
Korean Food at Yeogi 여기
Cheese Rosti
Cheese rosti as a signature dish in a Korean restaurant? Well, Joo Hyung grew up in a Korean household, which meant lots of side dishes (banchan) during meals. He found out that rosti went really well with the side dishes and wanted to bring that culture to Yeogi.
Their Cheese Rosti ($17) was done to perfection. The texture of the rosti was crisp on the outside and the potatoes weren’t too mushy or overdone. There was a nice cheese pull, almost like a pizza. If you’re a cheese lover, make sure to try this.
We recommend sharing this among 3 to 4 people as it might get really jelak towards the end. However, you can pair it with some of their kimchi for a nice refreshing kick.
Kimchi Spam Fried Rice with Cheese
The Kimchi Spam Fried Rice with Cheese ($12) had a nice amount of spam in the fried rice. However, we did find it to be slightly salty which may have been due to the cheese. You can always opt for the non-cheese version at $10.
The sourness of the kimchi did balance out the saltiness.
We loved that the egg yolk was still runny when it arrived. Make sure to mix the egg yolk together with the kimchi fried rice.
Garlic Soy Fried Chicken
We wanted to go for the Korean spicy fried chicken but was unfortunately not available during our visit. We opted for the Garlic Soy Fried Chicken ($13 for 6 pieces, $18 for 10 pieces) instead.
The fried chicken had a slightly smoky taste with a strong sweet soy sauce finish. The generous green onion and garlic slice toppings made the dish even better.
Unlike other Korean chicken places, we did find that the texture of the fried chicken started to get soggy after a while. Make sure to eat this the moment you get it.
YEOGI also seems like a really great place to catch up with friends over drinks as they have great sides. They have soju cocktails, homemade soju plum shots as well as alcohol deals.
Great Place For Korean Food Near Toa Payoh
While Yeogi may look plain on the outside, it is evident that lots of heart and thinking have gone into the creation of the menu. The cheese rosti is more than just a dish, but a desire to share a personal experience. You can definitely taste the Korean factor in these dishes.
Some things to note: The restaurant does not take reservations on Fri, Sat and Sun. Only walk-ins are allowed and your party will only be seated once everyone arrives. Dining will be limited to 1hr and 15mins.
YEOGI 여기
12 Kim Keat Rd, #01-01, Singapore 328841
Mon-Fri, 12pm-3pm, 5:30pm-9.30pm, Sat-Sun, 12pm-3pm, 5-10pm
Closed on Tuesdays
Other Places to Experience Korea in Singapore
- Wang Family Kitchen: Korean Home-style Buffet in Hillview
- Kim’s Family Korean Food: Comforting Gukbap near Beauty World
- On Dol: Authentic Korean Ssambap in Tanjong Pagar
- Myung Ga II: Authentic Korean Tonkatsu near Beauty World
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[YEOGI 여기 has unfortunately ceased operations as of Mar 2021]