SIN: Oh Neul Han Jeom

Delectably chewy jap chae, but insipid ginseng chicken soup...

Decked in a rustic wooden setting, Oh Neul Han Jeom serves a range of authentic Korean food. Situated along the row of shophouses of Telok Ayer Street, it's within less than 10 minutes walk from the MRT station that shares the same name with the street.

Probably by now you'd have realised that it was one of the rare occasions where Melon appeared in a local restaurant and not overseas. :P

Banchan

Taste: 7/10

I'm not sure if the side dishes are refillable, but my BFFs and I didn't see them being refilled at all. Anyway, I enjoyed the creamy and velvety mashed potato salad with its sweet and slightly sour taste. The anchovies, on the other hand, were overly salty. The vegetables were alright.

Bibimbap (Pork) S$15.00

Taste: 7.5/10

The Korean mixed rice was decent. The savoury marinated pork was complemented well by the crunchy assorted vegetables, bound together by the egg yolk placed in the middle. I wish they'd be more generous with the sesame seeds. Pika's advice: Instead of pork, you can choose either chicken or beef.

Ginseng Chicken Soup $15.00

Taste: 5.5/10

My favourite Korean dish was, sadly, lacklustre. While the chicken was meaty and tender, the soup didn't have any depth. In essence, I could describe it as water flavoured with a bit of ginseng. I'd also prefer stickier glutinous rice. Well, the salt and pepper (not shown) provided did save the dish a little bit.

Jap Chae S$25.00

Taste: 8.5/10

The stir-fried glass noodle, made of sweet potatoes, was well-executed. Its chewiness was to-die-for, not to mention that it was seasoned well too. Topped with sesame seeds, it was the dish that I was hoping I could get a second serving.

Leek Pancake with Seafood S$20.00

Taste: 7.5/10

While it was a tad too oily for my liking, the leek pancake with squid was quite an enjoyable dish to have on the table. The batter was slightly crispy on the edge and chewy enough inside, while the squid wasn't rubbery at all. 

Thin-Sliced Beef with Soy Sauce S$4.50

Taste: 8.5/10

Another dish that shone that evening was the hotplate full of yummy fatty beef slices. Their natural sweetness was accentuated by the red pepper paste and sesame oil. Since that was the only BBQ item that we ordered, we agreed to have it cooked in the kitchen instead of DIY.

Melon's Rating

Taste: 7.5/10

Ambience: 7/10

Service: 7/10

Overall: 7/10

I'm harbouring mixed feelings with regard to the food served at the restaurant. Perhaps I may give it another try someday down the road.

Oh Neul Han Jeom

177 Telok Ayer Street

Singapore

(Mon-Sat: 11.00am - 2.30pm, 6.00pm - 11.00pm)

*Prices quoted are subject to 10% service charge and 7% GST.

Have a nice meal,

Cliff(y