Restaurant Hoshigaoka - Safra Toa Payoh

*Food Tasting Session*

Home is where the Heart is, And so is Food. My Heart always has a spot for all things Japanese. Even though I'm craving for Korean Food nowadays, It doesn't mean that I do not miss my Sashimi and Tonkatsu. Hehe *Glutton Alert*

With 40 years of rich history in serving authentic Japanese cusine, Restaurant Hoshigaoka has recently revamped their menu, for both ala carte and also the kids menu, available at all 4 outlets!

I simply adore potato salads at Japanese Food Joints. Some have really creamy smooth potatoes, some are chunky, some even have crunchy apples and carrots in them! What I liked about Restaurant Hoshigaoka's version is that they have my favouritest thing from japan on it, MENTAI! Chunky Potato Salad with Mentai and Salad on the side, I could have it for dinner and it would leave me satisfied!

Mentai Potato Salad

The Kids Menu got a Revamp too! They can choose from Aeroplane, train or Bento Sets! Oooooh So Cute! The kids meal also comes with all time kids favourite - Yakult and snacks like Hello Panda and Jelly! I so Envy!

Aeroplane Kids Meal

Highlight of the night would be this Goma Beef Houba Yaki. Slices of 30 days Aged New Zealand Rib Eye beef is a melt in your mouth sensation with the aroma of the goma sauce is sheer delight to the palate!

Goma Beef Houba Yaki

Tender Codfish(My Favourite!) with Black pepper sauce, Simple and satisfying. It comes with sides like Salmon Sashimi, Fried chicken kaarage, goma tofu, miso soup and fruits! Just by looking at it makes me feel like digging in already, so many things to eat on 1 plate!! 

Black Pepper Gindara Teishoku

With a history of more than 30 years, The Hoshigaoka Zen comes with an appetiser, salmon sashimi salad, tempura, gindara teriyaki, beef misoyaki, rice, miso soup, chawanmushi and matcha ice cream. The presentation itself is so Instagram worthy!! And everything you see is fresh and I enjoy the various textures of the different items, only regret is that the beef was tough to bite.

Hoshigaoka Zen

Complimentary Green Tea Ice Cream with Azuki Beans for Hoshigaoka Zen Set

Salmon Sushi Roll ~ A Classic which I could just pop in to my mouth effortlessly (Oh my god my mouth is huge!!!) Fresh Salmon with Crunchy and colourful vegetables makes it really pleasing!

Salmon Sushi Roll

And a dessert to end it all off, Tempura Ice Cream is really common in Japanese food places and Restaurant Hoshigaoka's version is really awesome!!! Vanilla ice cream in cream puff, covered in tempura batter and fried to perfect crisp, then drizzled with strawberry sauce, Give me moreeeeeee!

Tempura Ice Cream

Thank you Restaurant Hoshigaoka for the invite, It's been a wonderful experience dining there.



With Love, M♥

Kkongdon Korean BBQ - CRAZY CHEAP PRICES!

ANNYEONG HASAEYO~

Recently I have really crazy cravings for Korean BBQ, maybe its the cause of watching too much ROOMMATE(I'm only at Ep 16 now) and all of them are so cute and real with all the real emotions! They have an ep where they had a BBQ outdoor, oh that looks SUPER good, and the episode where they went to Japan to eat the Kobe beef, oh my god.. Haha! All the meat!!

My prayers were heard when I got an invite to Kkongdon Barbeque by JP pepperdine group at Toa Payoh Safra! BULGOGI I'm Coming!!!

Kkongdon Barbecue spices up its barbecue buffet menu with All-You-Can-Eat and Add On options. Offering a new selection of barbecue favorites that are perfect for a treat with friends and families include chicken, pork, beef and the newly introduced premium 30 Days Aged New Zealand Sirloin cut in three marinades, diners are surely spoilt for choice.

Kkongdon’s well-marinated meats follow the authentic Korean formula with a local flair for a minimum of 8 hours before serving, promise a gastronomic pleasure as diners enjoy the experience of barbecuing to their preferred level of meat doneness. Prices start at $19.80++ for adults and $12++ for child, diners who root for lighter and healthier fare should look no further to order the lightly marinated selection and try on the wholesome Ginseng Chicken Soup or the flavorsome beef ribs soup from the add on menu. Looking for something to zest up the gathering, the spicy marinated meats and iconic Bulgogi marinated chicken are must try!

Diners can also opt to order Kimchi Pancake or Kkondgkon’s signature dish, Steamed Egg to share. The best thing to know and to relish will be the free flow of side dishes which include Kimchi, Gyoza, Deokbokki (Korean Rice Cakes), Sliced fruits, just to name a few.

Korean BBQ are best with Friends or Family! The more the merrier!

Notice the slanted pan layout? This is kkongdon BBQ's effort to keep the grease out of your pan so that it would not be that sinful to indulge in afew more pieces, So thoughtful la!! And also, they lay grease paper atop the grill so that there will be less charring and it prevents the meat from sticking to the pan. WOW man, just WOW at all the thoughts for the maximum enjoyment of the customers!

Kkongdon Barbeque has the competitive price of $19.80++ for ADULTS on WEEKDAYS MON-THURS ALL DAY! SUPER WORTH IT LA! Looking at what you get, It is super worth your money!! Did you see the 30 Days Aged Chilled NZ Sirloin Cut???? Woooohooo!

Ala-Carte Order: Pork Belly

Other than meat items, do try out their special items too, like this Kimchi Mandu (kimchi Dumpling). You put it on the pan and grill/pan fry it till slightly charred and devour it. A very unique experience! Kkongdon also provides seaweed for customers to try their hands at making their own Kimbap(Gimbap)! It's really a fun filled dinner experience for me!

A special price is extended to an array of appetizers, soups, stews and desserts for buffet diners.

Appetizers – Choose from Kkongdon’s Kimchi Pancake (Kimchi Buchimgae) or the Steamed Egg (Gaeranjjim). The firm-textured pancake presents itself with kimchi chunks, and a mild spicy sour flavour to whet an appetite for a feast whereas the Steamed Egg has a light texture exudes a fragrant aroma.

Soups & Stew – Choose between the Ginseng Chicken Soup (Samgetang), or Beef Rib Soup (Galbitang). Made from ingredients imported from Korea, these soups promise authentic flavours and provides a nourishing fix. The Pork Belly Kimchi Stew (Kimchijjim Jeongol) is presented in Korean earthenware with pork belly slices, kimchi, tofu, enoki mushrooms and a generous amount of soup, so good you just want to go for another one! I love all their soup & stew!!

The Oh So Famous Galbitang (Beef Short Rib Soup) that I've heard about So many times on Roomate and Korean Drama. I finally got to try it and OH MY GOD! The Beef seem to have held in place, but the moment it touched my tongue, it started to fall apart O-O SOOOOOOOOO Tender omg. I was afraid of the beefy smell/taste in the soup but don't have! Kkongdon BBQ chef are very clever, they used a variety of mushrooms to cover up the smell and the soup was so delightful that we all wanted a 2nd serving! SUPER Recommended!!

Thank you Kkongdon Korean BBQ for this invite.

On another note, how did you spend your christmas? How are you going to spend your NYE?

I've been so lazy this festive season and I've not been blogging. #guilty

But I'm ready to welcome 2015 and I hope it will be a much better year than 2014!!

With Love, M♥