Wanted to check out Seoul & So, a modern Korean steakhouse located National Gallery so the friends and I went down for dinner to try their Hanwoo tasting course – a 8-course dinner priced $119 per pax

The place was fairly crowded for a weekday dinner and sidetrack – the plant in the middle looked really out of place

They had different cuts of meats available – Hanwoo, USDA, Wagyu

We were given a welcome drink to start which was pretty refreshing

The 8 course dinner consisted of Consommé, Starter, Mains (4 different beef cuts), Post-Main & Dessert. And honestly on first look, I thought it wouldn’t be enough for us. lol. We were pretty hungry

Consommé – Ox Bone Broth w Beef Slices

First thought – this was really light. I wouldn’t consider this flavourful but I felt they wanted you to savour the sweetness and depth of the ox bone and as a means to warm your stomach before the meal started. They gave a side portion of salt in case you find this really too bland to your liking

Starter – Beef Tartare

Small portion of beef tartare which I thought was really well put together. You can taste the sweetness and freshness of the cut

Banchan

I liked the pickled stem for it has a familiar taste like the pickled vegetables we used for our porridge. The friends really liked the kimchi

Brisket

The brisket looked like it will go very well with a bowl of rice, with egg yolk no less

Flank Steak

Selected Loin

Gwangyang Bulgogi

Complimentary Cut

They gave us a complimentary cut on the house. Maybe they knew we were very hungry. lol

Honestly, the beef was not bad. Like first bite, it was tender and flavourful but as the beef cooled down, the meat tend to be a little more chewy and lost its tenderness which wasn’t that pleasant anymore. Like if you ask me how’s hanwoo, my reply would be – okay for, taste like beef. Ha. There wasn’t really much wow factor in it

Deonjang Jiggae

The soybean paste stew was really good. It was rich, hearty and full of ingredients in it. Even the beef cuts in the broth were soft and cooked well. I would just go there and have this soybean stew

Ending with a yoghurt dessert topped with grated pear that had a nice balance of sweetness and a refreshing taste to it

Went back again for lunch and tried their ala carte menu

Yuk Hwe $25

Raw beef, Korean Pear, Pine Nuts

The beef tartare from the ala carte menu was presented abit differently. Topped with a raw egg yolk, the minced beef mixed with the runny yolk had a more silky texture to it that was more flavourful as well

Gyeran Jjim $15

I really wanted to try the steamed egg. It was filled with egg sweetness though I felt it was steamed a touch too long. It was still fluffy but could be a little airier and lighter

Hanwoo Striploin $69/100g

I wanted to give the Hanwoo another chance. But I ended at the same conclusion

The meal at Seoul & So wasn’t bad – probably just need to order the right things. And perhaps I would give the non-Korean cuts a try next time. I know Korean hanwoo taste heavenly in Korea but somehow, this was missing a little magic which was honestly quite a pity

Seoul & So

National Gallery

1 St Andrew’s Rd, #05-03

Singapore 178957