I was at Compass One on a weekday afternoon running some errands and figured I’d grab lunch there. Scrolled through the store directory and POCHA Korean Street Dining caught my eye. I’ve walked past this Korean spot countless times in other malls but never actually stepped in. Today felt like the perfect time to finally give it a shot.
First Impressions: The Banchan Arrives
Once you’re seated at POCHA Korean Street Dining, the staff automatically brings out banchan – kimchi and pickled radish. Best part? It’s free flow. Just wave them down if you need refills.
Here’s something I didn’t know until today. POCHA is under the same F&B group as SEORAE JIB. The POCHA outlet here at Compass One is basically an open dining area just outside SEORAE JIB. They actually share the same kitchen.
The Ordering Process and The Long Wait
You scan a QR code to order. Pretty standard stuff these days. The restaurant was about half filled and SEORAE looked pretty busy too. Our food took quite a while to arrive. Long enough for me to observe the entire operation, haha.
There’s only one staff member on the ground managing the POCHA Korean Street Dining side. She’s juggling everything – serving drinks, refilling banchan, handling payments. Another staff member from SEORAE keeps shuttling between both restaurants to grab food from the kitchen and bring it to tables. You can see they’re stretched thin.
The Weekday Set Meals Deal
For non-public holiday weekdays till 4pm, POCHA Korean Street Dining offers set meals. Each set comes with a main dish, hot seaweed soup, soft drink, and free-flow banchan. You can also add smaller portions of sides at reduced prices. Pretty decent value.
What We Ordered: The Good, The Bad, and The Meh
Seafood Pancake ($12.90)
We added this as a regular side. It looks exactly like the picture on the menu – rectangular pieces. Or should I say, five miserable slices.
Not worth the price at all. Sure, it’s nicely fried and crispy. But where’s the seafood? Can’t see it. Can’t taste it. Definitely wouldn’t recommend getting this.
Iced Honey Lemon (Included in Set)
Both of us went for this drink. Tastes like it’s freshly made, which is nice. Not too sweet. Quite refreshing actually. There’s a mild bitterness to it, probably from the lemon pith when they made it.
Kimchi Mandu ($2.90 for 2 pieces)
We added this side for just $2.90 and got two pieces. These tasted exactly like the kimchi mandu from Bulgogi Syo. The filling is really well-seasoned and they’re fried till hot and crispy. One of the better items we ordered at POCHA Korean Street Dining, honestly.
Korean Fried Chicken Wing ($3.90 for 2 pieces)
Also added this for $3.90 and got two pieces. Just plain fried chicken. Reminds me of those frozen packet ones you’d buy from the supermarket. Flavour’s not bad but nothing amazing either.
Kimchi Ramyeon ($8.90)
The soup flavour is fine. But here’s the thing – I’m so used to Nongshim brand noodles and their texture. These noodles at POCHA Korean Street Dining are rather soft. Doesn’t really appeal to me. Hubby loved it though and finished the whole bowl, haha.
I’d say it’s for those days when you’re craving instant noodles but too lazy to cook yourself. This would probably satisfy that craving.
Spicy Jeyuk Pork Bulgogi with Rice ($9.90)
I actually laughed when Hubby said this tasted like the same standard as any Korean stall in a food court. But after trying it myself? I kind of agreed.
Actually, even the “Spicy Chicken” from Just Acia at Sembawang Shopping Centre tastes better than this. And POCHA Korean Street Dining is supposed to be a proper Korean restaurant, right?
Hot Seaweed Soup (Included in Set)
Halfway through our meal, we suddenly remembered we were supposed to get hot seaweed soup too. We told the staff who apologised for forgetting. No big deal, mistakes happen. When the soup finally came, it didn’t really look like seaweed soup to me. More like miso soup with napa cabbage. Not too bad. At least it wasn’t overly salty.
The Final Bill and Realisation
Only when we were making payment did we realise that Bulgogi Syo – which we’d tried previously – is also under the same F&B group as POCHA Korean Street Dining. That explains why the Kimchi Mandu tasted identical.
Would I Return to POCHA Korean Street Dining?
All in all, we felt a bit disappointed. Don’t get me wrong – I didn’t have sky-high expectations when coming to POCHA Korean Street Dining. But the standard and quality of food still fell short. The prices are generally affordable compared to other Korean food spots around Singapore. But that doesn’t make up for mediocre food.
We probably won’t be returning again, even with the reasonable pricing.
Sorry POCHA!