Wangdaebak Pocha – Korean 70's Street Food Dining Experience [MEDIA INVITE]

Wangdaebak Pocha

Wangdaebak Pocha ('WP') is the concept by Wangdaebak Korean BBQ inspired by street food wagon popular in Korea during 1970s and 1980s.

Front Part of the Dining Area 

Stepping into WP, it just reminds me the Korean TV Series Reply 1988, starring the popular Park Bo Gum (Little Devil's current idol). The dimly lighted restaurant filled traditional wooden stools and tables; aged posters; aged family portraits, records and old signboard really set the atmosphere like the one in that TV series. Imagine you are transported back in time to the 70s and 80s. Totally love the settings and it will even be better when the furniture starts to have the wear and tear in the future.

Back Part of the Dining Area 

In typical Korean fashion side dishes will still be served with your street food. This include kimchi, corn kernels with cream, fish cake and instant noodle glaze with sweet sauce.

Side Dishes

First main we tried was the Fried Chicken. Honey Soya Boneless Chicken ($18). The golden brown boneless fried chicken is fried to perfection. Crispy, crunchy and succulent at the same time. The actual meat is actually bland, the flavour come from the sauce.The honey soya sauce gave the fried chicken the sweet and salty flavour, and the honey helps to enhance the appearance of the fried chicken. Good choice if you don't like something spicy.

Honey Soya Boneless Chicken

Sweet & Spicy Boneless Chicken ($18). This fried chicken is more Korean because of the redness from the red pepper. The spiciness is about about 3 out of 5 on my spiciness rating so I can still manage it with a few sips of water. The sweetness also help to tone down the spiciness level.

Sweet & Spicy Boneless Chicken

Both of the fried chicken is served with a cubed pickled radish. This really helps to balance the sweetness and cleanse your palate at the same time.

Fried Chicken with Pickled Radish

Pork Knuckles with & without Sauce ($43, enough for 2 pax). A homemade Pork Knuckle mix in spicy and non spicy sauce. The non-spicy version is lean, tender, delicious and you can taste the sticky collagen goodness of the knuckle, especially on the skin. You might feel that the meat is under seasoned, but it is good enough to eat with the chives.

Pork Knuckles with & without Sauce

The spicy sauce version is basically absolute nightmare for me. First bite, there is a spicy smoky flavour to the lean, tender pork knuckle. Following that, the spiciness just hit me and I was chugging ice water plus coke light to put off the fire. I rate the spiciness about 6 out 5 rating (absolute madness). Definitely suitable for those who can stand the heat, but a no no for me.

Spicy Chicken Feet ($28). Boneless spicy chicken feet grilled in charcoal. This dish basically uses the same sauce as the spicy pork knuckle. It has a nice smoky aroma, crunchy texture of the chicken feet and it can be addictive to those who can handle the heat.

Spicy Chicken Feet 

Finale was Kimchi Stew with pork Belly ($34 enough for 2pax) and Yammi Rice Ball ($10). The sliced pork belly and tofu is cooked in the kimchi stew and radish. On the side of the pan, it was cheese and corn kernel. The idea is to boil the pork belly and kimchi on in front of the customer. However, as the pork belly was already cooked before it was sliced and put in the kimchi stew, the taste of the kimchi did not absorb into the pork belly. You can only taste the kimchi on the surface.

Kimchi Stew with pork Belly (with 1960s filter)

Individual Serving

The melted cheese on the side can be use to coat the pork belly, however as the dish is not too spicy, we just nibble on the cheese. The Yammi Rice Ball is there to absorb the kimchi stew, which I think is more suitable compare to the cheese.

Kimchi Stew with pork Belly

Yammi Rice Ball

Customary to Korean street food alcohol such as Soju, Makgeolli and Beer are available to savour with your food. My fellow foodies had watermelon soju and makgeolli which they enjoy to the last drop.

Watermelon Soju

The Verdict, Wangdaebak Pocha is definitely a must try place if you want to experience the Korean Street food in Singapore. The ambiance is just perfect for the 1970s to 1980s period and the food are just unique and delicious. For those non spicy eater like me, there are dishes for you as well. Geonbae (건배)!! Cheers!!

Thank you very much to HungryGoWhere and Wangdaebak Pocha team for the tasting invitation.

Food & Drink: 7.75/10

Value: 7.5/10

Service: N/A (Tasting Invitation)

Ambiance: 9/10

Budget per Person: $26 - $50

Wangdaebak Pocha

93 Amoy Street

Telok Ayer Conservation Area

Singapore 069913

For Reservation: +65 6884 6884 Or CLICK HERE

T: +65 6220 0322

F: https://www.facebook.com/wangdaebakpocha/

IG: @Wangdaebak_POCHA

OH:

Lunch, Daily 11.30 – 14.30

Dinner, Mon – Wed: 18.00 – Midnight

Dinner, Thu – Sat: 18.00 – 01.00

Dinner, Eve PH: 17.30 – 01.00

Dinner, PH: 17.30 – Midnight

Closed on Sunday