Went to try a new concept oak wood smoke-grill Korean themed restaurant known as Namu Bulgogi in Tampines 1 (at Tampines MRT station).
Koreans traditionally use oak wood to smoke-grill their food outdoors and Namu Bulgogi is a pioneer in bringing the tradition indoors, inside a restaurant.
Finding Numa Bulgogi is easy (don't worry about the shop number #) - it is at basement B1 of Tampines 1. B1 is not a big space, chocked full of F & B outlets. Just take a walk and you will spot Numa Bulgogi in minutes.
Less than two months old, Namu Bulgogi is already quite busy during lunch.
The idea is to fire up real imported Korean oak wood logs.
Par cook the meat (chicken, beef, octopus, etc) over oak wood smoke and flames.
Then, finish by sautéing / frying on a sizzling hot plate with garnishes and sauces.
The menu is thick - since this was our first time here, we just opted for the set - known as Namu Signature Set $59++.
2-in-1 oak wood smoke-grilled chicken with corn cheese.
Two different flavours of smoke-grilled chicken, original and gochujang sauce, served with creamy molten cheese.
I enjoyed the tender, moist chicken with its subtle smoke and stronger savoury sweet sauce flavours overlayed with a milder savoury sweet layer from the creamy cheese.
Choice of bulgogi beef or beef oxtail (requires $7++ top up) - I naturally chose oxtail 🤭
Savoury sweet flavours from the fall-off-the-bone tender juicy meat, gelatin and fat. Finishing by smoke grilling over oak wood imparted a subtle smokiness to the stewed oxtail.
If you love oxtail, I believe you will love this smoke-grilled version too.
The oxtail was served with a savoury sweet carrot and sweet potato sauce.
Rounding up the signature set - seafood soy sauce fried rice with oak wood smoke-grilled tiger prawn and squid.
I enjoyed the sweet pearly nutty rice with savoury, eggy, subtle wok hei taste. There was a bit of truffle flavour and aroma - yeah it's not real truffle (needless to say lah), but the smell was good.
We had a couple of additional dishes.
I love the Korean way of doing octopus so, we had smoke-grilled spicy baby octopus.
What can I say - soft spongy squeaky meaty fat baby octopus in a savoury sweet sauce even though it has spicy in its name.
I never liked tteobokki but buddy said order this because of the kimari.
And, indeed buddy was right. The kimari - dried seaweed wrap stuffed with glass noodle, lightly battered and deep fried was delicious. The roll was contrasting crisp and soft, and deliciously savoury. Next time, I shall see if we can just order the kimari sans the tteobokki.
I love this crisp outside and soft chewy inside haemul pancake with distinctive flavours of embedded chives and squid. Comes with a sharply spicy hot, sour, savoury salty sauce which I didn't see the need to use 🤭
Sundubu Jjigae with seafood. I was a bit slow to take a photo of the dish before buddy portioned it. (So, no picture of the whole dish 😬 ) This was one of my favourite dishes of the day. The soup was rich with mussel and clam umami layered with more umami savouriness from prawn and anchovies. Hot spice and sweetness from tofu balanced up the delicious soup. I helped myself to three portions 🤭
I enjoyed my lunch at Numa Bulgogi. The oak wood smoke-grill concept is novel, flavours are familiar and easy to like, portions are generous, and prices are within affordable range. Shall be back with a group - worth a try.
Oh.. don't worry about the smell of oak wood in your hair or clothes. The dining area is shielded from the kitchen by glass and they have a powerful suction machine inside (buddy said).
🎗️Disclaimer: Please note that this was an invited tasting but the opinions expressed are all mine at the risk of not being invited again.
Restaurant name: Namu Bulgogi
Address: 10 Tampines Central 1, B1-K18, Singapore 529536 (inside Tampines 1)
Nearest MRT: At Tampines station. 2 minutes walk
Tel: 9021 1504
Hours: 11:30am - 9pm
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