This Korean Restaurant In Bugis Has Over 10 Makgeolli Flavours Including Honeycomb And Taro

Joo Bar in Bugis has honeycomb and taro makgeolli

Soju and beer are commonly found in most Korean restaurants in Singapore, but not so much for makgeolli AKA Korean rice wine. Cue Joo Bar, a Korean bar and restaurant that brews their own rice wine in a unique range of flavours. 

Image credit: Joo Bar

The bar is a quick two-minute walk from Bugis MRT Station. Better yet, they open till 12am from Wednesday to Saturday. 

Image credit: Daniel

Currently, there are 12 makgeolli flavours for you to try: Green Grape, Strawberry, Lychee, Yucha AKA yuzu, Apple, Mixed Berries, Taro, Mango, Blue Lagoon, Soursop, Honeycomb, and Original. New flavours are introduced every now and then, and their Blue Lagoon makgeolli is the latest addition to the menu. If you’d like to try a bit of everything, we recommend their Makgeolli Sampler Set ($35++). You get a total of five flavours in each set, namely Mango, Mixed Berries, Strawberry, Yucha, and Original.

Image credit: jacqueline

Honeycomb makgeolli is a hot favourite among patrons here as the sweetness from the honey mellows out the mild bitterness and tanginess of the rice wine. You’ll be served a block of honeycomb in a small cup, and all you have to do is pour over the makgeolli, give it a good stir, and drink it! A small jug of flavoured makgeolli is priced at $28++, while a large jug costs $52++. 

Image credit: @donutnotbeapig

Their Kimcheese Bacon Pancake ($24++) makes a good pairing with makgeolli as the pancake and rice wine combo is a national favourite in Korea. Here, the kimchi pancake is topped with mozzarella cheese, onions, chives, bacon, and house-made kimchi. 

Image credit: @nomnombytnt

For something more substantial, there’s the Wagyu Kimchi Fried Rice ($28++), which is an elevated version of a typical kimchi fried rice. Each plate comes with Wagyu slices, garlic chips, and a sous vide egg. 

Image credit: @zoeloh0512

Otherwise, you can opt for their popular Kimchi Mac & Cheese ($18++). You get chopped pork belly bits and macaroni mixed with kimchi cream sauce, and a hot blanket of mozzarella cheese as the finishing touch. 

If you’re a fan of bingsu, check out Routine Korean Fusion Cafe & Bar in Tanjong Pagar, a sakura-themed cafe that opens till 12am daily. Alternatively, read our Sangwoo Street review for Korean food under $10 in Yishun.

Address: 5 Tan Quee Lan Street, Singapore 188094
Opening hours: Sun-Tue 5pm to 11pm, Wed-Sat 5:30pm to 12am
Website
Joo Bar is not a halal-certified eatery.

Feature image adapted from jacqueline and @zoeloh0512