Singapore: Summit City

Singapore, summit city: For a taste of home

Banish homesickness with American and Korean fare

If you are part of the American and Korean entourages in Singapore for Tuesday's summit, do not worry about feeling homesick over food.

The Sunday Times has rounded up eateries serving American and Korean food, with Korean chef Sun Kim - group executive chef of Meta restaurant in Keong Saik Road and Kimme in Amoy Street - giving suggestions on Korean food.

As for where to get hearty American fare, managing director Eve Felder and fellow American, associate professor Michael Sanson - both from The Culinary Institute of America in Singapore - give their suggestions.


American

  • EUNICE QUEK'S TOP PICK

  • Luke's Oyster Bar And Chophouse on Gemmill Lane for its selection of fresh oysters and hearty portions of meat, sides - my favourite is the lobster mac and cheese - as well as the desserts.

1 Luke's Oyster Bar And Chophouse

What: Run by chef-owner Travis Masiero, the menu here features oysters, kale salad, creamed spinach and Grandma's Apple Pie. The place is also well-known for its jumbo lump crab cakes, prime rib eye and Kurobuta pork chop.

Where: Outlets at 22 Gemmill Lane and 03-02 The Heeren, 260 Orchard Road; open: Gemmill Lane - noon to midnight (Mondays to Saturdays, closed on Sundays); The Heeren - noon to 10.30pm daily

Info: Call 6221-4468 (Gemmill Lane) or 6733-4813 (The Heeren) or go to www.lukes.com.sg

2 Cut By Wolfgang Puck

What: Ms Eve Felder's favourite items at the popular steakhouse include the bone marrow flan, beef tartare, Maryland blue crab cake, USDA ribeye and creamed spinach with fried egg.

The one-Michelin-starred restaurant is also known for its buzzing bar with a variety of gin-, whisky-, tequila-and rum-based cocktails.

Where: B1-71 Galleria Level, The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, 2 Bayfront Avenue; open: 5.30pm to midnight daily

Info: Call 6688-8517 or go to bit.ly/2JptHWN

3 OverEasy

What: The hip American restaurant's branch at One Fullerton has lovely views of Marina Bay to accompany its wide selection of American comfort fare, such as Philly cheesesteak sliders, Momma's chicken and waffles and the To-Die-For Burger, which includes wagyu chuck blend patty, cheddar and lettuce. What hits the spot for Prof Michael Sanson is the M&M's milkshake for "a taste of home".

Where: 01-06 One Fullerton, 1 Fullerton Road; open: 11.30am to 2.30pm (weekdays), 5pm to 1am (Mondays to Thursdays), 5pm to 2am (Fridays), 11.30 to 1am (Saturdays), 11.30am to 11pm (Sundays)

Info: Call 6684-1453 or go to www.overeasy.com.sg

4 Humpback

What: Fresh West Coast oysters - from the Hama Hama fifth-generation oyster farm in Washington - are the must-eat at this seafood-centric restaurant.

Other options include Hokkaido scallop, tuna ceviche and lobster roll.

Where: 20 Bukit Pasoh Road; open: 5pm to midnight (weekdays), 5 to 11pm (Saturdays), 11am to 3pm (Sundays)

Info: Call 9772-9896 or go to www.humpback.sg

5 28 HongKong Street

What: Besides going to the bar for cocktails, comforting food items include American burger, and fried macaroni and cheese balls.

Other bites include the Reuben sandwich, with pastrami and cheese.

Where: 28 Hongkong Street; open: 5.30pm to 1am (Mondays to Thursdays), 5.30pm to 3am (Fridays and Saturdays), closed on Sundays

Info: Call 6533-2001


Korean

  • EUNICE QUEK'S TOP PICK

  • E!ght Korean BBQ for its Mangalitsa pork belly served in eight flavours -it is tender, juicy and flavourful.

1 O.BBa Jjajang

What: One of the Korean restaurants which chef Sun Kim frequents after work is O.BBa Jjajang for its signature dish of jjajangmyeon (Korean black bean noodles).

The menu also features Korean-style soups such as spicy tofu jjigae and ginseng chicken soup, army stew and kimchi pancake, which are good for supper as well.

Where: 77 Tanjong Pagar Road; open: 11.30 to 3am daily

Info: Call 6221-8254 or go to www.facebook.com/obbajjajang

2 Shinmanbok

What: Another late-night favourite for chef Kim is Shinmanbok, with its comforting pork-rib hangover stew. The casual eatery offers a variety of options from tteokbokki to the quintessential Korean barbecue.

Where: 116 Neil Road; open: 6pm to 7am daily

Info: Call 6536-3424

3 Auntie Kim's Korean Restaurant

What: A hidden gem for chef Kim, where the dishes are all housemade and good for those who want a taste of home. There are set menus for barbecued meats, stews and rice, as well as kimchi dumplings, mul-naengmyeon (cold noodle soup) and ginseng abalone porridge.

Where: Outlets at Alexandra Retail Centre, 460 Alexandra Road and 265 Upper Thomson Road; open: 10am to 10pm daily (Alexandra), 11.30am to 3pm, 5.30 to 10pm daily (Upper Thomson)

Info: Call 6274-3383 (Alexandra) or 6452-2112 (Upper Thomson); or go to www.auntiekim.sg

4 E!ght Korean BBQ

The signature Eight Colours Set from E!ght Korean BBQ. PHOTO: E!GHT KOREAN BBQ

What: This Korean barbecue restaurant's highlight is its Mangalitsa pork. Order the Four or Eight Colours set, in which the pork belly comes in a variety of flavours from curry to red pepper paste and miso.

The Flower Pork Set features pork belly, streaky pork neck and pork jowl. Beef cuts as well as Korean stews, such as beef kimchi stew and army stew, are also available.

Where: E!ght Korean BBQ outlets at 02-79/90 The Central, 6 Eu Tong Sen Street; and 04-20/21 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Road; open: The Central - 11.30am to 2.30pm, 5.30 to 11pm (daily); Shaw Centre - 11.30am to 2.30pm, 5.30 to 10.30pm (weekdays), 11.30am to 10.30pm (weekends and public holidays)

Info: Call 8692-1188 (The Central) or 9018-9212 (Shaw Centre); or go to 8koreanbbq. com or https://bit.ly/2Jmhfey

5 SBCD Korean Tofu House

Assorted Soontofu Soup from SBCD Korean Tofu House. PHOTO: SBCD KOREAN TOFU HOUSE

What: If Korean barbecue is not your thing, head to SBCD Korean Tofu House for a hearty tofu stew. Add on meats from bulgogi to spicy grilled chicken, and pork belly tofu kimchi to your stew to complete your meal.

Its outlets also recently launched three Italian-inspired flavours, including Baked Bolognese Soontofu.

Where: Outlets at B1-01/02 Tanjong Pagar Centre, 7 Wallich Street, and 01-114 Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard; open: 11.30am to 10pm daily

Info: Call 6386-6441 (Tanjong Pagar) or 6873-6441 (Millenia Walk); or go to sbcd.com.sg

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on June 10, 2018, with the headline Singapore, summit city: For a taste of home. Subscribe