Review Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (Average)
Address: G-001 & G-002, Sutera Mall, 1, Jalan Sutera Tanjung 8/4, Taman Sutera Utama, 81300 Johor Bahru, Johor Darul Ta'zim, Malaysia (Located within Sutera Mall)
Google Map Link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/3C4uoEquypj16hc56
(Please refer to the Timings provided in the Google Map Link for the Operating Hours.)
Soondubu Jigae = RM26.00
Service Charge = RM2.60
Here is the Full Menu of the Eatery/Restaurant.Prices are Accurate as of the Date of the Post.
This is a Small Korean Eatery located near one of the Entrances to the Mall. Renovated in a Simple but Classy Muji sort of Style, the Music Background they played were some Hip Hop Instrumentals. One Thing though I felt the Place was Very Warm but Not Humid. This is especially so if you sit nearer to the Glass Windows at the Back and the Heat emanating from all the KBBQ Stoves.
I also like that as soon as I was seated down, I was immediately served a Complimentary Pot of Hot Tea. I think its a Green Tea? Very Light in Flavour but I am Not Complaining since this is Free. Not Bad.
The Main Focus of this Place is Korean BBQ as I browsed thru their Menu. The Sets they offer seems to be Minimum of 2 Pax and Not Particularly Solo-Friendly. I mean I probably have no issues devouring a 2 Pax Set myself but I wasn't in the Mood for that, so I went for their Ala-Carte Dishes partly to test on their Culinary Skills.
I was delighted to see they offer "Jjimdak" on the Menu. Because I've made this myself before, I wanted to try how they handled this. Unfortunately I was informed that it wasn't available after I made my Order. At least they didn't take too long (About 1 Min) to inform me. Anyway it took 8 Mins for my Soondubu Jigae to be served up.
Soondubu Jigae = RM26.00
The Presentation of this looked Nice and Very Stereotypically Korean with a Korean Style Ttukbaegi (Soup Pot) on a Wooden Board and a Metal Bangjja (Rice Bowl). Soondubu Jigae or more accurately, Sundubu-jjigae is a Classic Korean Soft Tofu Stew that if you are a Fan of Korean Dishes will see this quite often. The Version they have here is a Seafood-Variant.
At first look, the Ingredients don't look alot, but of course I dissected the Dish Closely which actually reveals alot more than I thought.
The Dish consists of:
1 Mid-Sized Shell-On Prawn
6 Pieces of Lala Shellfish
1 Egg
Few Pieces of Tofu
Mix of Onions and Veggies
Quality of the Rice
1 Bowl worth of it. I don't think this is Jasmine Rice as it looks Short Grain. Not familiar with it. Texture is Sticky like Japanese Style ็็ ็ฑณ, maybe it is ็็ ็ฑณ? Easy to Pick up using Chopsticks, Very Neutral White Rice Aroma and Taste.
Quality of the Sundubu-Jjigae Broth
My Initial Taste Impression of this reminds me of the Type of Spicy Broth that is Similar to that Shin-Ramyun Packet Noodles. Elevated Level of Spiciness that doesn't bite, but linger awhile in your Throat. Quite a Decent Comforting Soup actually, Saltish and Savoury and doesn't taste Too Foreign.
Now I have not been to South Korea yet to eat the Original Sundubu-Jjigae myself so I don't know if this tastes Authentic, but I reckon this is a Taste that Most People will be able to accept and enjoy. Especially if you are someone who enjoy the Soup Broth in Shin-Ramyun, you will probably enjoy this more as I feel this taste like a Better Quality Version of it.
Quality of the Shell-On Mid-Sized Prawn
The Main Presentation Centerpiece. I'm always quite Wary of Shell-On Prawns because Most Restorans will not bother to Devein and remove the Digestive Tract as this is a Time Consuming Process especially if you handle Hundreds of them for a Business.
Imagine my Surprise when I found this to be Properly Deveined! The Effort shown here impressed me. Some Restorans don't even bother to do this for a Shell-Off Prawn, so I applaud the Effort shown here for a Shell-On Prawn like this. This is a Simple Way to Find Out if a Restoran actually shows Care in their Culinary.
The Prawn Meat itself is Not Super Bouncy but it was still Firmish Tender to the Bite. Not Bad Tasting.
It is a Pity there is only 1 Prawn given for this Dish though.
Quality of the Lala Shellfish
No Issues with these. Thoroughly Soaked with that Broth, they were Not Slimy, Not Sandy. The Meat is quite Plump actually. Not Overly Shell-Fishy or Seafoody, it was still quite Shiok to Schluck them.
Quality of the Rest of the Ingredients
For a Dish called Soondubu, I must say the Amount of Tofu given isn't alot. Only about 1 Tablespoon. I liked their Soft Creaminess, but they do have a Noticeable Tofu-Ness. Prolly from some Supermarket Package, I highly doubt they handmade this. No issues with the Egg and Other Ingredients, they taste exactly how you expect to taste and pairs well with the Broth.
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Conclusion and Closing Thoughts
At the Price of RM26.00 (S$8.30) is certainly Not Cheap for this Sundubu-Jjigae. What you are essentially getting is a Korean-Styled Seafood Tofu-Stew. That said, I enjoyed the taste of this. Especially for people who enjoy the Soup Broth for Shin-Ramyun, I feel this is like a Better Quality of it. Warm, Comforting, Slightly Spicy Seafood Stew.
To be fair, I have not yet visit South Korea myself to eat a True Authentic Sundubu-Jjgae myself so I cannot confirm if this tastes Truly Authentic. But I reckon Most People will probably have no issues with this Taste and Flavour.
Taste aside, what I am actually impressed with is actually how they took the Effort to Properly and Cleanly Devein the Digestive Tract on a Shell-On Prawn. You'll be surprised that some of the Bigger Restorans out there don't bother to do this even for a Shell-Off Prawn. If you want to judge a Quality of a Seafood Place, this is a Simple Test you can do.
This Effort itself tells me that this Place takes Pride in their Culinary because Most Customers (or Food Reviewers for that Matter) won't actually bother to check this. The Fact that they did it anyway is why I feel this Place is worth the Money for me despite the Dish is not say Cheap. You are really paying for the Effort and Attention to Detail here.
Heck I'm so impressed by this, I went up to the Young Malaysian Chinese Lad Owner and specifically complimented him on this Effort. I just wanted to let him know that this Attention to Detail has not gone Un-Noticed. He appreciated the Gesture.
If there is a Feedback I would like to give, its that I wish they offer some Extra Side-Dishes Banchans with the Dish to at least soften the Blow of the Price of this Dish. In addition, while I didn't eat their Actual Main K-BBQ, a quick glance at the Menu also don't look Very Affordable too. I can't comment further though as I didn't actually eat it. And perhaps they could also install some Standing Fans because this Place really did felt Pretty Warm when I was there.
I truly appreciate their Culinary Effort in the Deveining of the Prawn, but unfortunately I am unable to give it a Higher Score due to the other factors that I mentioned. Mostly its the Price of this Dish that really hurt the Score.
RM26.00 (S$8.30) is really Not Cheap at all. This is like Singapore Price already.
Don't let my Average Score deter you from this Place.
Overall I still enjoyed my Dining Experience here. If you are Ok with this Eatery feeling Kindda Warm, is Ok with the Prices of Items in their Menu, I can still recommend this Place to give it a try.
At the Very Least, the Effort they've shown me in Properly Deveining their Shell-On Prawn tells me at least that this Place knows what they are doing and they take pride in their Cooking. Some other Bigger Seafood Restorans don't even bother to properly Devein even for Shell-Off Prawns.
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