YG Republique - Samgeori Butcher Korean BBQ @ TREC KL

K-Seoul Food!

With so many Korean restaurants on our shore, Malaysians are indeed blessed with these additions to our melting pot of available cuisines. Adding to the list, YG Republique is one Korean restaurant not to be missed. Under the umbrella of YG Foods, K-food and lifestyle celebrity Noh Hee Young heads the establishment of YG Republique that integrates Korean cuisine and entertainment at its best.

Located at TREC KL, Korean enthusiasts are treated to a modern Korean experience at YG Republique with an option of dining at Samgeori Butcher’s 삼거리 푸주간 or K-Pub. Featuring the finest premium cuts of pork & beef, Samgeori Butcher’s satiates foodies with classic Korean barbeque completed with other classic dishes while K-Pub aim to please those who wishes to unwind at a watering hole with Korean pub grub food.

With Korean entertainment of K-Pop celebrities thrown in for good measure, YG Republique certainly elevates the whole dining experience with Korean culture and lifestyle. Samgeori Butcher’s dining room, designed with modern urban industrial ambiance, features traces of famous K-Pop celebrities and their entourage who have visited this pork charcuterie. Spacious and colorful, the restaurant is modern and pleasantly comfortable with good ventilation.

At Samgeori Butcher’s, one can even catch a glimpse of their meat aging room where all their premium cuts of Spanish Black Iberico pork are cured in Cypress pine boxes. Their menu offers classic Korean BBQ as well as other ala carte dishes like, Jjigaes, stews, rice and noodles. The K-Pub has its own bar food menu which features Korean Fried Chicken, Tteokbokki, Korean Pancakes and other Korean snacks to go with drinks. Diners can also order from either menu at both outlets.

While waiting for our orders to arrive, the obligatory Banchan makes its appearance. These side dishes vary in all Korean restaurants and often makes a pulling factor for Korean foodies.

Samgeori’s banchan is rather generous as we enjoyed about ten types of side dishes such as Kimchi, White Kimchi, Pickled Radish, Mu Saengchae, Ueong Jorim, Korean Lettuce Salad and more. The White Kimchi is unusual and deliciously refreshing and addictive.

If you’re as fickle as me or rather as adventurous, go for the Butcher’s Sampler (420g – for 2 pax at RM170 | 600gm – for 3 to 4 pax at RM210). We had the smaller portion since we wanted to try other dishes as well.

The Butcher’s Sampler comes wrapped and served on a board. Featuring Spanish Iberico Pork of all 3 cuts of pork neck, pork belly & jaw.

As the acoustic of sizzling comes to sound, the air is also filled with luscious aroma of the pork being barbequed at sight. The meat is grlled without any seasoning so one taste the natural flavours of the Iberico pig. There’s plenty of dishes with bold and robust flavours to accompany these tender and juicy pieces of pork. Samgeori also has its own special sauces, garlic mustard and chili in soy sauce with onions, to accentuate the flavours of the swine.

Besides the delectable Korean bbq, we tucked into YG Special – Budae Jjigae (RM60). Also known as Army Stew, it’s a hodgepodge of ingredients that may sound odd but is delicious and piquant. This Korean famous army stew comes with with pork, ham, sausage, kimchi, ramen, rice cakes, vegetables and cheese in a savory and spicy broth. Utter comfort food with humble ingredients perfect, especially on cool nights, for those who enjoy soupy food with a spicy kick.

As we waited for our Budae Jjigae to cooked on the portable stove, we tucked into Spicy Squid and Pork Belly Bulgogi (RM35). Power packed with moreish and piquant flavours, the squid, pork and cabbage combo goes so well with steamed rice.

Besides Samgeori Butcher’s menu, we also sampled a few dishes from K-Pub’s menu. ‘Chimaek’ seemed to be the wave now and K-Pub’s Garlic Sauce Fried Chicken RM52 (M size) is pretty lip-smacking yum. Crispy, juicy and nicely seasoned, the fried chicken is also topped with bits of chili and aromatics. Now hand me a beer please…

The Assorted Dried Snacks (RM60) is pretty interesting and had my curiosity peaked. It consisted of various snacks imported from Korea that makes great drink pairing. There’s some shredded Dried Squid, Smoked Fish and Dried Fish and Rice Cracker balls served with a side of what seemed to be mayo in soy sauce. The snacks are salty enough without the sauce. I can see why this dish would be great to be chase down with some cold beer, soju or makgeolli.

Reasons to visit YG Republique? Good classic Korean food with a hip ambiance and a watering hole to unwind… oh and who knows which famous K-Pop celebrity you might just see there…

YG REPUBLIQUE – SAMGEORI BUTCHER

HG-01 & HG-02 Hive, TREC,

438, Jalan Tun Razak,

Kuala Lumpur.

opening hours | Lunch 12pm – 3pm; dinner 6pm – 2am

Tel: 03-2110 4104

Website: www.ygrepublique.com.my

Facebook: www.facebook.com/YGREPUBLIQUEKL/

Business Hours:

SamGeori Butcher: 12 pm – 3 pm (Lunch)
 6 pm – 2 am (Dinner)

K-Pub: 6 pm – 3 am

Gangnam 88 Korean Restaurant @ Solaris Mont Kiara

Gangnam Value Set Menu!

There’s something addictive about Korean cuisine for me. I simply can’t get enough of the cuisine. Lots of pungent flavours of fermented kimchi, piping hot stews and soups, juicy barbeque meats, various banchans and more, there’s always satisfaction when it comes to Korean food, at least for me…

Gangnam 88 is not new to our culinary scene but the Korean restaurant is good enough to always warrant return visits. Having tried their outlet in Sunway Giza previously, this round I visited their popular original outlet in Solaris Mont Kiara.

Though not as big as the other outlet, this outlet has better ambiance with a comfortable vibe. Expect lots of the usual Korean stars plastered on the walls of the restaurant including the King of Gangnam, PSY!

We love how there are various small rooms sectioned off to offer more privacy as well as various mix and match furniture to echo an eclectic décor throughout the restaurant located on level one.

The menu is filled with lots of tempting photos of Korean dishes to make ordering easier. Gangnam 88 also offers set meals perfect for big or small parties that are value-for-money. Since there were 4 adults and 2 kids, we opted for the Gold Set (RM238). It’s sufficient for 5 to 6 person and they were certainly very generous with the portions and dishes, so much so we couldn’t even finish this set.

Cheese Rolled Omelet, a typical dish that appears daily in many Korean meals, is guaranteed to be a favorite with every one of all ages. Egg and cheese with bits of vegetables makes good accompaniment for rice and other dishes. Do let staff know if you don’t want chili in it as it comes with chili sauce which may not be favorable for kids.

Classic and one of my favorite Korean dish is Kimchi Soup. This version is made just right with a solid robust tang and heat with lots of pickled kimchi, tofu and other good stuff.

The Samgyetang or Ginseng Chicken Soup is known for nutritional values with Korean ginseng, jujube, chicken and rice. It’s a bowl of comforting flavours and great at any meal. Flavours are quite delicate with subtle hints of ginseng. The chicken is so tender that it literally falls apart from the slightest touch. We took this home and it was even better the next day with rice.

The 3 Types BBQ is superb. The best of Gangnam 88 trio of pork bbq, we had Pork Galbi BBQ, Pork Belly Samgyeop BBQ and Pork Shoulder Moksal BBQ. All three are different in flavours and texures but equally delicious. I kept going back for more of this BBQ and the best part is that it’s all cooked for us so we didn’t have to do the cooking. Must order!!

A monstrous stew appear in the form of Cheese Squid Rabbokgi. Crispy squid sat in a pool of fiery sauce filled with soft and chewy tteokbokki, fish cake, vegetable and plenty of cheese. Pungent in flavours with sweet, savory and some heat, I enjoyed the thick and cheesy sauce with the crispy squid. It’s beginning to be a popular dish here these days, especially among the younger generation of Korean fans.

Perhaps we were too full to fully enjoy the Honey Butter Fried Chicken. Nevertheless, the dish has no faults. Large boneless chicken thigh well-seasoned and fried before glazed in a sticky sweet and buttery sauce had all the markings of a good dish and we would have gladly polish this off if only we weren’t so full from everything else.

Banchan was nothing to shout about but with so much food, we really have not complaints. Kimchi was good though and so was the creamy salad. These are refillable too.

For drinks, we opted for their homemade Misugaru and Sikhye. Misugaru is a very healthy and nutritious beverage made from combinations of at least 7 grains. It’s milky with a nutty soy taste and is quite filling. I love the Sikhye a lot. The sweet Korean rice drink is refreshing and easy to enjoy with the rest of the Korean dishes.

The Gold Set is really value-for-money and easily feeds at least 6 adults. There are plenty of other smaller or bigger sets and even sets with drinking options if you enjoy beer, soju or makgeolli. We know why Gangnam 88 is still a popular hotspot for Korean food in Solaris. The ambiance and vibe is certainly pleasant and the food is scrumptious as well as affordable. That evening, the restaurant was packed but service was efficient despite the crowd. Definitely a good spot for Korean food!

GANGNAM 88

No 1-1, Jalan Solaris 3,

Solaris Mont Kiara Off Jalan Kira,

50480 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +60 3-6206 5888

Website: www.gangnam88.net

Facebook: www.facebook.com/gangnam88.net/

Business Hours:

Daily 11.30am to 1.00am

Chicken Up @ SS15, Subang Jaya

Load up on Modern Korean Cuisine!

Korean joints have been mushrooming up everywhere on our culinary shores lately. We love our K-dramas as much as we love their cuisine now since their K-invasion years ago. When one mentions Korean food, it was mostly barbeques and stews. These days, mentioned Korean food and fried chicken comes to mind. Yes, Chimaek is the latest craze in town…

Chimaek has been a hit in Singapore before it landed on our shores. Hence it was only a matter of time before Singapore’s No. 1 Korean Fried Chicken, Chicken Up, pops up in our city. Started in 2010, Chicken Up took off with a big bang, serving up its signature Korean Soya Fried Chicken set in casual dining space. It’s trendy and modern vibes led its further success with another 6 more outlets in Singapore before opening its first Malaysian outlet in Johor.

Recently, Chicken Up has found a new home in the bustling area of SS15 in Subang Jaya, adjacent to SS15 Courtyard Mall. Despite the heavily congested area that is constantly a parking nightmare, Chicken Up fans have been flocking there for treats of Chimaek and other Korean goodies. Housed in a 3-storey shop lot, Chicken Up currently seats 120 pax and even then, there’s a queue waiting constantly for this outlet.

A compound word formed from chicken and maekju (Korean word for beer), Chimaek is hitting our F&B scenes and we are totally embracing it. Fried chicken and beer, whats not to like? Sounds like the perfect partner in crime to me!

What makes Chicken Up so favorable currently is not only just its fried chicken but other Korean dishes that has been given a modern touch to cater to the young and adventurous. We love the modern and minimalist décor with plenty of casual seating and its eclectic mix of furniture and décor.

The menu is also filled with lots of Korean dishes ranging from fried chicken to stews, noodles, small bites and a whole lot of giggle juices, beer and Korean liquor to keep every one of all ages happy.

Our drinks were served in light bulbs. Colorful, refreshing, take your pick of sodas, juices and smoothies. We had Blue Lemon Soda (RM13), Strawberry Soda (RM13), Mango Smoothie (RM13), Apple Juice (RM13)

If there is one giggle juice to make your meal a happier one, it would have to be Chicken Up’s Sojurita and Beerita. There are few fruity flavours and your choice of soju or beer. We had the Sea Breeze Sojurita (RM48) and Grapefruit Beerita (RM48). The Sea Breeze Sojurita is pretty strong with a whole bottle of soju in the cocktail while the Grapefruit Beerita is refreshing and so delicious!

From the Whet Your Appetite section, we had an order of Yangpa Bomb (RM18). Similar to the American Bloomin’ Onion, you get a large onion cut to resemble a flower bloom, deep fried to golden crispiness and served with 2 sauces and some fresh carrot and cucumber sticks. Crispy bites of sweet onions goes well with our cocktails and beer. Makes great snacking bites…

Haemul Pajeon Seafood and Green Onion Pancake (RM26) is also worthy of an order. Thick seafood pancake with lots of spring onions is tasty and filled with lots of textures from its ingredients. Comes with a side of chili sauce that gives a good kick of heat to the pancake.

While it is more commonly known as army stew in the cuisine, Chicken Up named theirs Ugly Tang (RM38). What you get is a whole of ingredients put together from the influences of America into Korean stew made with based of gochujang chili paste. Slightly out of the norm, Ugly Tang is served with a side of gochujang to let diners adjust their own heat level. This is great because when you have kids, you can choose to omit it and the kids will certainly enjoy the lot of smoked duck, chicken slice, ham, sausage, macaroni, baked bean, cheese and noodles. My son certainly enjoyed this a lot…

Snow Squid Topokki (RM68) showed up and stole the limelight on the food on our table. At sight, there’s a whole of food going on the sectioned hot plate set on a portable stove. Perch gloriously in the center of a red pool is golden crispy whole squid. The fiery looking pool is tteokbokki or rice cake cooked with sliced fish cake and vegetables in thick sweet and savory chili sauce.

You get a side of kimchi fried rice, chopped kimchi, creamed corn, sweet milky snow cheese sauce and egg mixture all to be cooked gently over the burner.

Chicken Up’s staff will cut your squid up for you for easy eating. Savor this slowly as some of the items cooked. The tteokbokki and fish cake in sauce is a tad too sweet for my palate. Though it looks fiery, it’s not as spicy as the other dishes we had. We enjoyed the whole dish together as it is full of various flavours and textures.

Fried chicken is what we came for and we were not disappointed at the house signature Ganjang Soya Chicken Wings (RM18). Marinated in Chicken’s Up’s special soya sauce, these crispy large chicken wings are juicy and flavourful. It’s definitely a crowd pleaser as this is what Chicken Up is famous for. There are spicy versions of this too if you want some heat.

How good would I rate this? So delicious we had a second order….

If you’re not into just wings, go for the Mega Half Chicken. Similar except you get other parts of the chicken prepared in several sauces and seasoning. We wanted some heat for this one and we had the Spicy Yangyum UP Mega Half Chicken (RM28).

Don’t say we didn’t warn you, this one is a heat bomb! Four large pieces of chicken, crispy, juicy and coated in a fiery-looking sweet and spicy chili sauce will certainly jumpstart a bonfire in your mouth. Though it’s super spicy, it still has an addictiveness that made me go back for more. Not for the faint-hearted!

As if it didn’t get any hotter, the Spicy Noodle UP Dry (RM18) slam my palate again with another round of fireworks of heat. I swear that this one is even hotter than the chicken we had. My tolerance of heat is quite high but even then, I couldn’t hold this one down. The noodles have a good al dente bite but its just to fiery for my palate because I couldn’t taste anything else except burning heat sensation. The popcorn chicken and side creamy salad did help to tone down the heat a bit. This dish should come with a lethal warning tag.

We also tried the cold buckwheat noodle salad Makguksu (RM20). It is refreshing as it is served cold and it has lots of fresh vegetables and boiled egg, making it easy to enjoy with the thin buckwheat noodles. This one was also a tad too sweet for my palate but my other friends had no issues polishing this one off happily.

The Seafood Topokki (RM38) had lots of soft and smooth rice cake with fish cake, prawns and mussels in the classic tteokbokki sweet chili sauce but it is laden with lots of oozing cheesy goodness. The heat here is bearable and the flavours are well balance with just the right sweetness and savory notes.

After all that heat, we were extremely pleased with the Melon Bingsu (RM38). It was such a heat reliever from all the heavy and spicy flavours. It is also a beautiful sight to see small round globs of orange melon that were crisp and sweet on the half melon shell. Digging in, the milky snow bingsu was so cold and refreshingly yummy together with the generous ice cream served. Must order!

Chicken Up has certainly got potential here and judging by the weekend queue, we were pretty sure to expect more outlets opening up soon. Lots of other dishes to try and service was impeccable as we had an excellent and attentive wait staff named Sean who took really good care of us as well as all the other tables around despite the full house mode that Sunday.

CHICKEN UP

No. 7, 7-1, 7-2, Jalan SS15/4E,

Subang Jaya,

57500 Selangor

Tel: 60 17-577 9377

Facebook: www.facebook.com/Chicken-Up-Subang-Jaya-174735749703283/

Business Hour:

Mon to Thurs         11.30am – 10.30pm

Fri to Sun              11.30am – 11.00pm