If you’re a K-drama fiend, you might recognise Korean braised chicken eatery Ilmiri Geumgye Jjimdak (or Ilmiri Gold Jjimdak) — it was featured in shows like Vincenzo, starring Song Joong-ki. Plus Shooting Stars and Curtain Call. The brand boasts over 200 outlets in Korea, and it opened its first international outpost in Singapore on 18 September.

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Ilmiri featured in K-drama Vincenzo

Photo: Korean Dramaland

There are actually three sub brands under the Ilmiri company in Korea, which is why the Singapore outlet takes on the name Ilmiri Korean Fusion Cuisine. According to the Managing Director of Ilmiri Singapore, Jessie Choi, they "wanted to give Singapore customers more options, and decided to combine the best-selling menus from each Ilmiri brand".

The Singapore branch is an 85-seater located in Boat Quay, and is Singapore’s first Korean restaurant specialising in Andong jjimdak (Korean braised chicken), which apparently originated from the city of Andong. It’s a spicy dish featuring chicken braised in a sweet and savoury soy-based sauce, spiked with both dried and fresh whole chilli peppers. It’s usually served with glass noodles. Not to be confused with dakdoritang (a Korean spicy chicken stew made with chicken broth, available in Singapore at Kelim Dakdoritang restaurant in Serangoon), where the heat comes from gochujang (Korean red chilli pepper paste) or gochugaru (Korean red chilli flakes). 

Jessie also tells 8days.sg that the Singapore branch offers mostly the same menu as in Korea, but with slightly modified serving methods that make the dishes look “more Instagrammable”.

Instagrammable dishes cooked by Korean chef

Patrons can expect to feast on authentic Korean dishes made by a “chef from Korea’s Ilmiri who has been working with Ilmiri for a few years”. 

There are four variations of jjimdak at Ilmiri: Cloud Cheese Jjimdak ($41.90), Soy Sauce Jjimdak ($37.90), Red Chilli Jjimdak ($37.90), Truffle Jjajang Jjimdak ($37.90) and BBQ Jjimdak ($37.90). Of these, their most popular is the K-drama-featured Cloud Cheese Jjimdak, a cheesy braised chicken dish topped with veggies, potatoes, rice cakes and glass noodles.

Mari, $47.90

Besides jjimdak, other signature mains include the Mari ($47.90),  a stew with charcoal-grilled beef and marinated beef or pork rolls, and the Eonyang Bulgogi ($28.90), a charcoal-grilled beef dish marinated in a soy-based sauce.

Other options include rice dishes such as the classic Beef or Pork Bulgogi Bibimbap ($14.90), or stews like Korean Tofu Stew and Soybean Paste Stew ($16.90). 

Crunchy Potato, $17.90

If you need a side dish to nibble on, try the Crunchy Potato ($17.90), a pan-fried potato pancake garnished with cheese and sour cream. 

Ilmiri Korean Fusion Cuisine is located at 25/26 Circular Rd, S049381. Open Mon - Fri 11am - 11pm; Sat - Sun 12pm - 11pm. Tel: 8468 8566. More info via Instagram.

Photos: Ilmiri Korean Fusion Cuisine, Korean Dramaland

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