Big Mama Korean Food

I remember Big Mama fondly as the one authentic Korean restaurant I went to after returning from my very first Korean trip in 2011. Opened in the 2nd half of 2012, Big Mama is considered one of the few authentic Korean restaurants selling Korean dishes which were not common in Singapore like the Suyuk and Dakgalbi. In those days, we only had Korean barbeque and kimchi soups so when I saw Big Mama opening, I had to visit them to relive the great food I had in Korea

Fast forward to now, after that first visit in 2012, I got distracted by so many other Korean restaurants which started populating Singapore like cute mushrooms. As Singaporeans get introduced to more Korean dishes, dishes like Suyuk and Jokbal are no longer uncommon. There is however only 1 dish which is still not commonly found on menus and that is the Dakgalbi and Big Mama is where you can get an authentic version

The restaurant did not change much from my last visit except for some upgrades to the booth seats and the layout of the table and chairs. It is basically a no-fuss interior with huge blow-up posters of their signature dishes like Dakgalbi, Suyuk and more

The menu at Big Mama is very extensive and you can find almost all sorts of Korean dishes here. Started by a former tutor, the owner cooks for her Korean students when they are studying in Singapore so they can get a taste of home. Although some of the dishes are adjusted to cater to the Singaporean palate, the dishes are still very authentic in taste

For drinks, we ordered barley tea and Omija tea. Omija, also known as Schizandra, are rich, medicinal berries found deep in Korean forests. Known as a berry with 5 flavours, they taste sweet, followed by some sourness, a little bitter, then salty and finally a sharp pungent tang. Personally, I like Omija tea but it is an acquired taste so do try it if you are more adventurous

For side dishes, we were served 6 different items; cabbage kimchi, fried anchovies, japchae, stir-fried spinach, lotus root in mayonnaise and mung bean jelly with spicy sauce. While the rest of the items are quite common, the jelly is something you see in Korean dramas or cooking shows. While Acorn jelly is more popular in Korea, I find the white colour mung bean version equally refreshing and delicious

The star of the meal was the Dakgalbi at SGD 40 for a sharing plate. The Dakgalbi is served on a sizzling pan where the ingredients like rice cake, onions, cabbage and chicken chunks are cooked in front of you at the table. The one at Big Mama is served semi-cooked as the initial cooking process is done at the side table so that customers do not have to wait too long to start eating. The chicken chunks were succulent and quite spicy and as we added cheese the dish was creamy and spicy at the same time. The cabbage was sweet and crunchy while the rice cake was soft and chewy. The dish was very similar to the ones we had in Korea

We also ordered an additional serving of rice so that it can be added to the pan-fried chicken and remaining sauce. Rice and a generous serving of seaweed are added onto the pan and mixed and fried till the rice is nicely coated with the sauce and has a nice charred taste from the pan

We also ordered the kimchi soup served in a hot clay pot. The soup was full of chopped kimchi and tofu and was very thick and flavourful. The kimchi used was slightly sour so there is a nice sourish and savoury flavour which made the soup very appetising and comforting to drink

Last but not least, I ordered the Tteok-galbi which is typically made from minced beef short ribs but the one at Big Mama was made from minced pork. I had always wanted to try Tteok-galbi but was not able to as I did not eat beef. The Tteok-galbi had 8 patties which were all nicely grilled with a slight char at the corners to give the smokey flavour to the meat. The meat was still very juicy and succulent when you bite into the patty. The sauce itself has a sweet and vinaigrette flavour so it helps to cut out the grease of the meat

Overall, I highly recommend visiting Big Mama for an authentic Korean experience complete with the loud but friendly Imo 이모

Address: 2 Kim Tian Rd, Singapore 169244

Operating hours: 11.30 am to 3 pm and 5.30 pm to 10.30 pm