Busan Restaurant Opens In CBD With Hotstone Dishes, Ube Makgeolli And More

Dolpan Hwajoo is a new Korean restaurant in Tanjong Pagar

Image credit: DOLPAN HWAJOO via Google Maps

If you’re on the hunt for a new Korean restaurant to hang out at with your friends, check out Dolpan Hwajoo, a new dining pub straight from Busan specialising in shareable hotstone dishes. Better yet, it’s open till 1am from Wednesday to Friday, which is perfect for your late-night supper crawls.

Image credit: @itsandresnaps

The Tanjong Pagar restaurant is known for their hot stone mains: think family-style dishes meant to be shared around the table. Try their signature classics such as the Dolpan Rose Daechang Dakbal ($46++), which features soft chicken feet and chewy beef large intestines simmering in a sweet, spicy rose cream sauce. Interestingly, it is topped with a huge dollop of whipped cream, meant to mellow out the spice. 

The Dolpan Rose Gopchang Tteokbokki ($48++) also comes highly recommended. It comprises beef intestines and QQ tteokbokki, AKA Korean rice cakes, in the same spicy, creamy rose sauce. It is topped with perilla twigim—deep-fried perilla leaves, which you can use to soak up the sauce.

Image credit: @itsandresnaps

If innards aren’t your thing, their Cheese Deunggalbi ($48++) is a solid pick. You get fall-off-the-bone tender pork ribs cooked in a spicy gochujang-based sauce, topped with cheese that’s flame-torched right at your table!

For a comforting option, order their Gopdoritang ($52++), loaded with chicken, beef intestines, and other vegetables in a spicy, flavourful broth that pairs best with rice. Seafood lovers can consider the Nakgopsae ($52++), a unique Busan dish packed with juicy shrimp, octopus, beef intestine and more in the same spicy broth.

Image credit: @itsandresnaps

Their other mains are also worth mentioning: the Perilla Oil Mak Guksu ($18++) features al dente buckwheat noodles coated in nutty, aromatic perilla oil and topped with seaweed, sesame seeds, and bamboo shoots. A more indulgent option is the Dolpan Jja.Gye.Chi ($17++), comprising the well-loved jjapagetti topped with a runny sunny-side-up and melted cheese.

Image credit: @itsandresnaps

The Yukhoe ($38++) is the perfect sharing plate to zhng up your meal. Expect fresh, tender beef slices tossed in raw egg yolk and sesame oil, with crunchy chives and Asian pears for textural contrast.

Image credit: @itsandresnaps

Wash everything down with the restaurant’s unique range of makgeolli AKA Korean rice wine. The Shine Muscat Makgeolli ($23++) is said to be light and refreshing, with an easy finish. For a Southeast Asian twist, try the Ube Makgeolli ($22++), a smooth and creamy variant ideal for orh nee fans.

Dolpan Hwajoo is a three-minute walk away from Tanjong Pagar MRT Station.

If you’d like to round off your meal with something sweet, head to HALO Ube & Matcha, a new dessert cafe that’s just a five-minute walk away. If you’re looking for more restaurants around the area, read our guide to the best food in Tanjong Pagar.

Address: 99 Tanjong Pagar Road, Level 1, Singapore 088520
Opening hours: Sun-Tue 11am to 3pm, 5pm to 12am, Wed-Sat 11am to 3pm, 5pm to 1am
Website
Dolpan Hwajoo is not halal-certified.

Feature image adapted from @itsandresnaps and DOLPAN HWAJOO via Google Maps.