Gyunion Review: Halal Beef Donburi And Soba From $4.90 At Bencoolen

Update: Gyunion has changed its address and opening hours.

Gyunion at Sunshine Plaza

Students of SMU, LASALLE and SOTA will know Sunshine Plaza for its affordable printing shops and even more affordable-yet-delicious nosh. The latest restaurant to make the case for it being a wallet-friendly food haven is Gyunion – a hole-in-the-wall halal Japanese eatery that dishes out don, ramen and soba at nett prices.

Food at Gyunion

With gyu (beef) being the anchor for most of their dishes and their storename, we knew we had to try the Gyu-don ($7.90) – a rice bowl that’s topped with simmered savoury and sweet slices of beef and onion.

Biting into the beef unleashed a gush of sweet juices with just a slight peppery aftertaste. The slices also had a good lean-to-fat ratio which made for a pleasant mouthfeel. Our order included an additional onsen tamago ($1), which elevated the already tasty dish even more with its rich and runny yolk.

One of the issues I have with locally-made don is that their rice is usually clumpy. Thankfully, there’s none of that with the Chicken Curry Don ($7.50). Each grain was soft and moist, allowing the flavour of the curry to resonate through.

Although the curry is very mild, you can still taste the subtle layers of sweetness and spiciness in every bite. For its price, I found the portions of chicken chunks to be generous.

Capping off our meal was the Soba ($4.90). Despite its austere appearance, this dish packs a serious punch, thanks to the tsuyu dipping broth which had a concentrated flavour without being too salty.

You could tell the noodles were fresh, as they were plump and springy. When eaten with the seaweed flakes, you’ll get a pleasant mix of soft and crunchy textures that’s still light. Admittedly, this dish wasn’t as filling as the previous two, but if you’re someone who gets full easily, you can’t go wrong with these noodles.

Ambience at Gyunion

Tucked away at a corner of Sunshine Plaza’s first floor, you might have some trouble locating Gyunion as it eschews an ostentatious storefront with a simple board. This minimalist approach extends to its interior as well, as the restaurant adopts a muted palette of off-whites.

While this sets a cosy atmosphere for a simple meal for two, it doesn’t bode well for large groups due to the limited seating options.

The verdict

Given its affordable price and scrumptious options, I would highly recommend Gyunion to anyone near the area. They even have a lunch promo, where you can get any main, drink and egg for just $9.90.

That being said, it’ll be wise to head there early to grab your seats, as the space is quite small.

Address: 138 Robinson Road, #02-03, Oxley Tower, Singapore 068906
Opening hours: Mon-Wed 12pm to 6:30pm, Thur-Fri 12pm to 8pm
Website
Gyunion is Muslim-owned.

Photos taken by Tan Ee Jing
This was a media tasting at Gyunion