Review Rating: ⭐ (Not Recommended)
Address: Inner City, City Square, MF-23, 3rd Floor, No. 106, Jalan Wong Ah Fook, 80000 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia (Located within JB City Square Mall)
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3egu61bdEJmjvL4k7
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
치킨 간장 바비큐 정식 Chicken Ganjang Barbecue Jeong-sik = RM35.00
Lunch Set - 11.00am to 3.00pm (Excluding Public Holidays)
Consists of:
1 Bowl of Steamed Rice
1 Chicken Meat Hotplate
6 Side Dishes (Banchan)
Service Charge = RM3.50
SST Tax = RM2.10
Click here for the Full Menu and Receipt (Opens in a New Tab, Price is accurate as of Posting Date)
In my Deep-Dive Exploration of City Square Mall, this was a Surprising Find for me 😳 because even though I've been in this Mall for many times, I have never really noticed this Restaurant mostly due to the fact that its hidden in a Very Obscure Corner of this Mall away from the Main Shopping Traffic. 🤔 This is an Authentic Korean Restaurant and seems to be either opened by, or endorsed by Korean Celebrity Chef Paik Jong-Won 👨🍳 who has his Face plastered all over the Exterior Windows.
The Exterior of the Restaurant is made to probably look like a Traditional Korean Building with Faux Roof Tiling. 🏯 The Place itself takes up a Large Area and the Interior has the usual Furnishings that you'd expect from a K-BBQ Eatery. 🔥 The Place is Tidy and Cleanly Well Maintained although I feel the Lighting here feels a Tad Dark. 🤔 The Background Music they play here are some Modern K-Pop Songs. 🎵🎶
All of the Staffs look like Myanmar Folks and while they're Polite, there is a Very Noticeable Feeling of Fear that I felt from them. 🤔 I would soon find out the Reason for this Fear that I sensed.
🚩 1st Red Flag: Very Domineering and Fierce Korean Boss
The Owner of this Place is a Middle Aged Korean Man that look like he's in his 50s or Early 60s. Even before stepping into the Restaurant, I could overhear him barking out orders in a Very Typical Fierce Towkay sort of Voice to his Staffs ordering them all about. 🗣️ Even as a Customer, I could tell that the Staffs themselves are Very Fearful of Him. 🤔
When I entered the Restaurant, one of the 1st Thing that I would try my best to ask nicely if I could take Photos of the Place. During that time, this Korean Boss was away doing something, so I asked one of the Myanmmar Staff. He of course agreed and I took the Photos accordingly. 📷 As I was taking my Photos of the Place, this Korean Man appeared and in a Very Domineering and Harsh Tone questioned me:
"HELLO! WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING?"
I typed it in Caps because he almost was shouting at me when he asked this. 🤔
I'll be honest, I was irritated at his Tone of Voice towards me. 🫤 So I gave him a Smile, and replied in a Stern Voice: "HELLO. I AM YOUR CUSTOMER."
This Korean Man looked at me expressionlessly and walked off. He never approached me again for the rest of the time I was here. I get that it is his right to ask someone who is taking photos of his Eatery, 📷 but I feel he could have used a Friendlier and Nicer Tone to go about it. 🤔 I have been in similar situations where i've been asked the same thing and every Eatery Owner who asked always used a Nice Friendly Tone. 🤔
Its strange why he would use such a Harsh Tone though, wouldn't you as an Eatery Owner be more Polite to someone who is taking Photos incase this person may be doing a Review of your Place? 🤔 Hahaha did he think that I was a Business Rival trying to copy his Renovation Design meh? 😅 Personally I feel he is too used to having a Domineering Attitude to his own staffs, that he even does that unconciously to Customers？ 😳 Hahaha I'm not sure. 😅
Whatever it is, this Incident immediately gave me a Very Bad 1st Customer Impression already. 🫤 What a way to start a Restaurant Review huh? I'm thankful that at least it didn't escalate further. If he can dare show this kind of Harsh Domineering Attitude to Customers, I shudder to think how he would treat his Own Staffs. 🤔 No wonder I always felt that the Staffs here always have this Constant Sense of Fear. 🤔
This Sense of Fear is really very Noticeable in this Restaurant. 🤔 I don't see a Single Smile from them not because they're rude but because they seem to be Very Fearful, like as if they're gonna lose their Job or get a Severe Scolding if they were to make any Mistake. 🤔Even as a Customer and Outsider looking into this, I could feel that this is a Very Harsh and Toxic Work Environment. 🫤 Really Uncomfortable Vibe.
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Moving on, although this place specializes more on K-BBQ, I didn't feel like eating it that day. Hahaha 可能给那个凶老板有一点气饱了. 😅 As I glanced thru the Menu, the Prices for the K-BBQ also don't seem to be very Cheap. 🤔 All the Offerings seems to be the Higher End. Granted I don't eat much Higher End type of K-BBQ so I'm not sure if the prices here are considered Expensive or not if compared to Singapore. 🤔💵 What intrigued me however is their Set Lunch so I ordered that instead. It took 9 Mins for it to be Served Up.
🚩 2nd Red Flag Detected: The Staff touched my Food when serving them up.
Unfortunately, I have to report that when serving up the Dishes, I observed the Staff touching my Food with their Bare Fingers. 🫤 This is an Absolute No No in a Restaurant Environment. But since they are already on a "Very Fearful and Scared" Mode, I didn't raise this issue and let it slide lest that Korean Boss makes a Scene. 🤔 If you want to come here, do take note that this will happen.
Jialat. I haven't even eaten my Food and already there are 2 Major Red Flags I've observed. 🚩😅 No wonder this place wasn't Popular even during Lunch Hours when I was there. Ok if you are still reading, you'll be happy to know that the Worst has passed and the rest of the Review will now begin proper. 😅
💧 Free Flask of Plain Water
I appreciate that even if you don't order any drinks, there will still be a Free Flask of Plain Water served up to you. 👍
This is not bad. The other Korean Eatery in the Mall KyoChon that I reviewed previously never bothered to serve this.
치킨 간장 바비큐 정식 Chicken Ganjang Barbecue Jeong-sik = RM35.00
This is a Lunch Set that is available on Weekdays (and Weekends apparently excluding Public Holidays) from 11.00am to 3.00pm. When it was served up, I was immediately impressed with how much Different Variety of Dishes were available as you can see from the Photo. 👍
This Set consists of:
🍚 1 Bowl of Steamed White Rice
🐔 1 Chicken Meat Hotplate Main Dish
🥣 6 Side Dishes (Banchan)
🍚 Steamed White Rice
Served up in an Iconic Korean-Styled Metal Bowl that is Hot to the Touch. 🤔 This taste exactly as the Same Type of Rice I had at KyoChon. Again, I don't think this is Jasmine Rice, neither is it a Short-Grain 珍珠米. Sticky in Texture that you can pick up with a Chopstick, there is a Noticeable Earthy Sweetness Aftertaste that you don't usually get for Jasmine Rice. 😋 I reckon this must be some sort of Unique Korean Rice. 😅
Portion is Decent and Acceptable for the Price. 👍 It is a Full Bowl with no attempt to scrimp. Although of course I didn't finish the whole thing as I needed to limit my Carbs Intake. If you can eat Rice though, I feel this is Decent Quality.
🐔 The Main Chicken Hotplate Platter
This is the Main Meat Platter if you order this Particular Set. There are 12 Pieces of Large Bite-Sized 100% Thigh Meat Pieces. 🍗 The Dish has a Very Gong Bao Look to it, but its actually not. Taste Profile leans towards Sweetish, and doesn't have much Salty Element. 😋 I felt the Level of Sweetness is Slightly Elevated but also Not Overly Sweet.
This reminds me very strongly of Jjimdak that I've made before. 🤔 No idea if its the same thing but it has a Very Similar Taste Profile. Sidetrack abit, Hahaha if you've watched this K-Drama "Again My Life", you'll probably be familiar with Jjmdak because this is what the Characters always eat in that Show. 😅
The Meat Pieces are Meaty, Tender and Juicy with No Chickeny Taste. 😋 All the Pieces are 入味 very well with a Nice Sweet Braised Taste. Portion given is Very Decent and Acceptable for the Price. 一口肉, 一口饭. 😋
I also like the Very Saucy Bed of Veggies that on the Hotplate that the Chicken Meat were sitting on. 🥬 They consists of Slices of Leek, Onion, Carrot and Half a Shitake Mushroom all Coated with that Same Sticky Sweetish Braised Sauce. 😋 This Sauce is the Soul of the Dish and forms the Core Taste Profile. Its Very Decent Tasting and I reckon will be acceptable to our Local Palettes. 😋
If you enjoy a Nice Braised Thick Sticky Saucy that leans towards Sweetish, you will most likely have no issues with this Dish. 👍 Eating the Tender Saucy Chicken Thigh Pieces followed with some Soft Veggie Crunch and chased down with some Rice was Satisfying. 😋
🥣 The 6 Banchan Side Dishes
The Most Impressive Items in this Lunch Set were definitely the Banchans. 👍 As I mentioned in my KyoChon Review, BanChans are Small Side Dishes served up during a Meal, that are Comparable to Chinese-Styled 小菜. Most of them are Vegetable Based. 🥬
As I'm not familiar with Korean Cuisine, I"m of course not sure what their Exact Names are. 😅 Credits to "My Korean Kitchen" for the Official Names of some of them. 👍 You can visit their Website that I linked to find out more.
🥬 Lettuce Salad Banchan
This was a Simple Lettuce Salad. Fresh, Crunchy and Wet, it was Drizzled with what is likely Kewpie Sesame Mayo. Simple and Refreshing, this was a Decent Palette Cleanser. 👍
🥬 Taugeh Banchan (Sukju Namul Muchim)
There are No Raw Taugeh Taste for this one. It has a Slight Savoury Saltish Sesame Oil Sauce on it. 😋 I liked that the Sesame Oil is not too overpowering and is an Agreeable Taste. Doesn't taste like Cai Fan Level of Taugeh. Not bad, this was Decent Tasting. 👍
🥬 Kimchi Banchan
Not a Kimchi Connoisseur myself, but this is Not Bad. 👍 The Typical Kimchi Sourness is there of course, but I thought it wasn't Too Sourish. The Kimchi itself has a Slight Softer Bite Texture and there is also a Slight Mild Spiciness that isn't Too Spicy. 🌶️ No idea if they made it Fresh, but I reckon its probably from a Supermarket Bottle. Decent Tasting.
🥬 Spinach Banchan (Sigeumchi Namul)
No Raw Veggie Taste, this tastes like its Pan-Fried with Ikan Bilis. 🐟 The Result is a Very Agreeable Savoury Taste that is Very Similar to the same type of Variation you'd normally find in a Cai Fan Stall. 👍 Not Bad Tasting.
🍥 Potato Fishcake Banchan
This is the Only Banchan that has Meat(Fish) in it. 🐟 Served at Room Temperature, the Potato is Firmish to the Bite with a Sweetish Saltish Sauce on it that leans more towards Sweetish. I don't really like the Quality of the Fishcake though, it didn't taste Fresh, Soft or Bouncy and had a Overnight Sort of Taste and Texture to it. 🫤 Despite being a Non-Meat Banchan, I didn't bother to finish up this one because the Low Quality Taste of the Fishcake didn't agree with me. 🫤 Its not Inedible, but its also not something I'd want to waste my Calories on tbh.
🥒 Pickled Cucumber Banchan (Oi Muchim)
This looks like it might taste like a Kimchi, but its not. The Raw Cucumber Taste is Noticeable and I'd describe this Dish as having a "Slight Earthy Alkaliney" Taste Profile. 🤔 This is the one that has the Most Foreign Taste that doesn't have a Familiar Cai Fan Taste compared to the Rest of the Veggie-Based Banchan. Unique Tasting.
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At a Total Combined Price of RM40.60 (S$12.40) including Service Charges and Taxes, I thought this was a Very Decent and Affordable Lunch Set. 👍 The Whole Set was Very Well Presented, 🍚 Rice Amount was Acceptable, and the Amount of Meat given in the Hotplate Platter were not Stingy. 👍 The 6 Different Banchans were the Icing on the Cake that took it the Value of the Whole Set over the Top for me. 👍 And you don't even have to order any Drinks since a Whole Flask of Plain Water is provided Free of Charge on top of that. 🥤
Although not Super High Quality, the Whole Set felt very Satisfying to eat and because of the Huge Variety of Items, I never got bored and it just felt like a eating a Mini Buffet. 😋 I personally feel that the Variety and Amount of Items for the Price is Very Generous. 👍 Never eaten a Comparable Korean-Styled Set Meal in Singapore though, so I have no idea if this is considered Affordable or not. 🤔
That said, as Good and Value Added the Meal felt though, I felt the 2 Major Red Flags hurt the Dining Experience for me. 🚩🤔 With such a Domineering Boss that can even dare raise his Voice towards a Customer, 🗣️ I feel he needs to learn Better Customer Service Manners ESPECIALLY so for a Boss who should be the one leading an Example. 🤔
Because of his Domineering Attitude, he singlehandedly created this Atmosphere of Fear and Tension that I could feel intently among the Staffs. 🤔 It was Not a Comfortable Feeling to see them so Fearful with not even a Single Smile on their Faces. 🫤 And this in turns perhaps also lead to this Service Lapse of them touching Customer's Food when serving. 🫤
Times have changed. Its no longer the Ancient 1950s and 1960s where you can have a Typical Stereotypical Towkay Boss whose sole purpose is to just Act Bossy and Shout at his Staffs. 😅 In Today's World, the Boss must work hard and even Harder than the Staffs. 🤔 Creating this Atmosphere of Toxicity and Fear is just not the Right Approach especially so for a F&B Industry where your Customers can Absolutely Feel It. 🤔
Despite the Mistake the Staff made by touching my Food, I still gave my Thumbs Up to the Cashier when I paid for the Food to try to boost their Morale but also because I really did find the Meal Very Value-Added. 👍 But even this got a Cautious 苦笑 type of Smile from them. 🫤 I managed to probe further that the Boss is unhappy about some WIFI issues they had or something. 🤔 To be able to reveal such information to a Customer shows how much stress they really have that they have no outlet for help which further proved my theory that the Korean Boss was very Domineering. 🫤
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I'm sorry for the Long Rant. 😅 Ultimately, I really want to recommend this place, and I really do because this Set Lunch I had really was Decent Tasting, Affordable and Value for Money. 👍 I really feel that you should give this a Try if you are interested in trying out some Korean Cuisine. (Although I'm not sure if this is considered Really Authentic or not since I have not visited Korea myself yet.) 😅
Unfortunately my Personal Experience with this Hostile Korean Boss spoilt my Dining Mood so I don't think I will be back again. 🫤 I hope you have a Better Dining Experience than I did. 🤔 Such a Pity, this place could have easily gotten a Higher Score. 🫤 Have you eaten from this Eatery? I'd love to know how you think of them! 😄
Served up in an Iconic Korean-Styled Metal Bowl that is Hot to the Touch. 🤔 This taste exactly as the Same Type of Rice I had at KyoChon. Again, I don't think this is Jasmine Rice, neither is it a Short-Grain 珍珠米. Sticky in Texture that you can pick up with a Chopstick, there is a Noticeable Earthy Sweetness Aftertaste that you don't usually get for Jasmine Rice. 😋 I reckon this must be some sort of Unique Korean Rice. 😅
Portion is Decent and Acceptable for the Price. 👍 It is a Full Bowl with no attempt to scrimp. Although of course I didn't finish the whole thing as I needed to limit my Carbs Intake. If you can eat Rice though, I feel this is Decent Quality.
🐔 The Main Chicken Hotplate Platter
This is the Main Meat Platter if you order this Particular Set. There are 12 Pieces of Large Bite-Sized 100% Thigh Meat Pieces. 🍗 The Dish has a Very Gong Bao Look to it, but its actually not. Taste Profile leans towards Sweetish, and doesn't have much Salty Element. 😋 I felt the Level of Sweetness is Slightly Elevated but also Not Overly Sweet.
This reminds me very strongly of Jjimdak that I've made before. 🤔 No idea if its the same thing but it has a Very Similar Taste Profile. Sidetrack abit, Hahaha if you've watched this K-Drama "Again My Life", you'll probably be familiar with Jjmdak because this is what the Characters always eat in that Show. 😅
The Meat Pieces are Meaty, Tender and Juicy with No Chickeny Taste. 😋 All the Pieces are 入味 very well with a Nice Sweet Braised Taste. Portion given is Very Decent and Acceptable for the Price. 一口肉, 一口饭. 😋
I also like the Very Saucy Bed of Veggies that on the Hotplate that the Chicken Meat were sitting on. 🥬 They consists of Slices of Leek, Onion, Carrot and Half a Shitake Mushroom all Coated with that Same Sticky Sweetish Braised Sauce. 😋 This Sauce is the Soul of the Dish and forms the Core Taste Profile. Its Very Decent Tasting and I reckon will be acceptable to our Local Palettes. 😋
If you enjoy a Nice Braised Thick Sticky Saucy that leans towards Sweetish, you will most likely have no issues with this Dish. 👍 Eating the Tender Saucy Chicken Thigh Pieces followed with some Soft Veggie Crunch and chased down with some Rice was Satisfying. 😋
🥣 The 6 Banchan Side Dishes
The Most Impressive Items in this Lunch Set were definitely the Banchans. 👍 As I mentioned in my KyoChon Review, BanChans are Small Side Dishes served up during a Meal, that are Comparable to Chinese-Styled 小菜. Most of them are Vegetable Based. 🥬
As I'm not familiar with Korean Cuisine, I"m of course not sure what their Exact Names are. 😅 Credits to "My Korean Kitchen" for the Official Names of some of them. 👍 You can visit their Website that I linked to find out more.
🥬 Lettuce Salad Banchan
This was a Simple Lettuce Salad. Fresh, Crunchy and Wet, it was Drizzled with what is likely Kewpie Sesame Mayo. Simple and Refreshing, this was a Decent Palette Cleanser. 👍
🥬 Taugeh Banchan (Sukju Namul Muchim)
There are No Raw Taugeh Taste for this one. It has a Slight Savoury Saltish Sesame Oil Sauce on it. 😋 I liked that the Sesame Oil is not too overpowering and is an Agreeable Taste. Doesn't taste like Cai Fan Level of Taugeh. Not bad, this was Decent Tasting. 👍
🥬 Kimchi Banchan
Not a Kimchi Connoisseur myself, but this is Not Bad. 👍 The Typical Kimchi Sourness is there of course, but I thought it wasn't Too Sourish. The Kimchi itself has a Slight Softer Bite Texture and there is also a Slight Mild Spiciness that isn't Too Spicy. 🌶️ No idea if they made it Fresh, but I reckon its probably from a Supermarket Bottle. Decent Tasting.
🥬 Spinach Banchan (Sigeumchi Namul)
No Raw Veggie Taste, this tastes like its Pan-Fried with Ikan Bilis. 🐟 The Result is a Very Agreeable Savoury Taste that is Very Similar to the same type of Variation you'd normally find in a Cai Fan Stall. 👍 Not Bad Tasting.
🍥 Potato Fishcake Banchan
This is the Only Banchan that has Meat(Fish) in it. 🐟 Served at Room Temperature, the Potato is Firmish to the Bite with a Sweetish Saltish Sauce on it that leans more towards Sweetish. I don't really like the Quality of the Fishcake though, it didn't taste Fresh, Soft or Bouncy and had a Overnight Sort of Taste and Texture to it. 🫤 Despite being a Non-Meat Banchan, I didn't bother to finish up this one because the Low Quality Taste of the Fishcake didn't agree with me. 🫤 Its not Inedible, but its also not something I'd want to waste my Calories on tbh.
🥒 Pickled Cucumber Banchan (Oi Muchim)
This looks like it might taste like a Kimchi, but its not. The Raw Cucumber Taste is Noticeable and I'd describe this Dish as having a "Slight Earthy Alkaliney" Taste Profile. 🤔 This is the one that has the Most Foreign Taste that doesn't have a Familiar Cai Fan Taste compared to the Rest of the Veggie-Based Banchan. Unique Tasting.
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At a Total Combined Price of RM40.60 (S$12.40) including Service Charges and Taxes, I thought this was a Very Decent and Affordable Lunch Set. 👍 The Whole Set was Very Well Presented, 🍚 Rice Amount was Acceptable, and the Amount of Meat given in the Hotplate Platter were not Stingy. 👍 The 6 Different Banchans were the Icing on the Cake that took it the Value of the Whole Set over the Top for me. 👍 And you don't even have to order any Drinks since a Whole Flask of Plain Water is provided Free of Charge on top of that. 🥤
Although not Super High Quality, the Whole Set felt very Satisfying to eat and because of the Huge Variety of Items, I never got bored and it just felt like a eating a Mini Buffet. 😋 I personally feel that the Variety and Amount of Items for the Price is Very Generous. 👍 Never eaten a Comparable Korean-Styled Set Meal in Singapore though, so I have no idea if this is considered Affordable or not. 🤔
That said, as Good and Value Added the Meal felt though, I felt the 2 Major Red Flags hurt the Dining Experience for me. 🚩🤔 With such a Domineering Boss that can even dare raise his Voice towards a Customer, 🗣️ I feel he needs to learn Better Customer Service Manners ESPECIALLY so for a Boss who should be the one leading an Example. 🤔
Because of his Domineering Attitude, he singlehandedly created this Atmosphere of Fear and Tension that I could feel intently among the Staffs. 🤔 It was Not a Comfortable Feeling to see them so Fearful with not even a Single Smile on their Faces. 🫤 And this in turns perhaps also lead to this Service Lapse of them touching Customer's Food when serving. 🫤
Times have changed. Its no longer the Ancient 1950s and 1960s where you can have a Typical Stereotypical Towkay Boss whose sole purpose is to just Act Bossy and Shout at his Staffs. 😅 In Today's World, the Boss must work hard and even Harder than the Staffs. 🤔 Creating this Atmosphere of Toxicity and Fear is just not the Right Approach especially so for a F&B Industry where your Customers can Absolutely Feel It. 🤔
Despite the Mistake the Staff made by touching my Food, I still gave my Thumbs Up to the Cashier when I paid for the Food to try to boost their Morale but also because I really did find the Meal Very Value-Added. 👍 But even this got a Cautious 苦笑 type of Smile from them. 🫤 I managed to probe further that the Boss is unhappy about some WIFI issues they had or something. 🤔 To be able to reveal such information to a Customer shows how much stress they really have that they have no outlet for help which further proved my theory that the Korean Boss was very Domineering. 🫤
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I'm sorry for the Long Rant. 😅 Ultimately, I really want to recommend this place, and I really do because this Set Lunch I had really was Decent Tasting, Affordable and Value for Money. 👍 I really feel that you should give this a Try if you are interested in trying out some Korean Cuisine. (Although I'm not sure if this is considered Really Authentic or not since I have not visited Korea myself yet.) 😅
Unfortunately my Personal Experience with this Hostile Korean Boss spoilt my Dining Mood so I don't think I will be back again. 🫤 I hope you have a Better Dining Experience than I did. 🤔 Such a Pity, this place could have easily gotten a Higher Score. 🫤 Have you eaten from this Eatery? I'd love to know how you think of them! 😄
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