Ajumma’s is a vibrant and authentic Korean restaurant established in 2014. Located in PLQ basement at Paya Lebar, there was a long queue when we were there. The queue moves quite fast with constant people entering and leaving the restaurant. With a light casual dining setting, there were many families there having a meal together.
Signature Beef Kalbi ($16.90)
Ajumma’s beef kalbi was grilled to perfection, giving it a nice char on the outside. It looked a little dark, probably due to the marinate. The marinade had a great balance of sweet and salty, and the meat was cooked to a medium-rare. It was sprinkled with sesame seeds and spring onions adding to the depth of the flavour.
The marinated beef kalbi had a great balance of taste though parts of the beef with higher fat content were too chewy. The kalbi was satisfying, going really well with the other dishes, especially with the radish banchan and rice.
Banchan is always important at Korean restaurants as they are refillable and show the amount of effort they put into their dishes. The creamy corn was sweet and buttery, being a little strong on the taste and had to be paired with rice or noodles. The seaweed was crisp but salty, leaving a heavy aftertaste that had to be paired with rice and noodles as well.
The pickled radish was great, providing a tangy and refreshing bite that helped to cleanse the palate between dishes. The kimchi, a staple in Korean cuisine, was quite spicy and had quite a kick to the overall meal.
Sundubu Jjigae ($15.90)
As a fan of tofu, sundubu jjigae is one of our personal favourites, it’s simple and can’t go wrong. The broth was made from a blend of seafood and spices and was rich and flavourful, with a subtle spiciness that was balanced by the natural sweetness of the seafood. The seafood added a touch of freshness and a gentle sweetness to the stew.
The soft tofu was silky smooth and light on the tongue, giving a soft and gentle texture. Each mouthful of the stew was a great balance of flavours, with the spiciness, sweetness and savouriness blending well together. It was served hot and bubbling in a traditional Korean pot going really well with rice.
Kimchi Fried Rice ($13.90)
The kimchi fried rice at Ajumma’s was cooked with prawns and an egg. It was topped with a large amount of seaweed that was great when mixed together with the rice. The kimchi fried rice was a light blend of spicy, sour and savoury flavours with the kimchi adding a complex taste different from the chinese fried rice.
The prawns were small but succulent, providing a different texture as we went through the dish. There were quite a lot of prawns added in the mix, leaving us surprised. We added more kimchi from the banchan to the mix and stirred it in ourselves to boost the spice and sourness of the dish a little.
Fluffy Steamed Eggs ($6.90)
The fluffy steamed eggs was really fluffy and had a light bounciness to it. They were steamed to perfection, with a custard-like consistency that was both rich and satisfying. Served in a small hot stone bowl, the eggs were hot and steaming when they arrived. The dish is simple yet satisfying, making it a light dish that was welcomed and paired well with the other dishes we had here.
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Overall, whilst the food was definitely filling and satisfying, the standard of the Korean dishes were decent. The banchan was a little strong on the flavours and had to be paired with rice or noodles to tone it down a bit. The kimchi fried rice and fluffy steamed eggs were great to have but were of decent standard at best.
The sundubu jjigae, a hearty stew made with prawns, mussels, lala and soft tofu, was great and felt comforting and satisfying. The fluffy steamed eggs was a great side to go along with the other dishes. The beef kalbi was quite good, coming with quite a large portion of meat and being cooked to the right doneness, being tender and flavourful. However, the parts with fatty lumps were chewy and unwelcome.
We would recommend coming by Ajummas for a family meal or as a place of decent Korean food if you’re in the area. Fret not if you’re not looking for Korean food as Paya Lebar has many other options available in the area as well.
Price:
Signature Beef Kalbi – $16.90
Sundubu Jjigae – $15.90
Kimchi Fried Rice – $13.90
Fluffy Steamed Eggs – $6.90
Other Outlets can be found at:
Punggol Outlet
Waterway Point, #02-26
83 Punggol Central, Singapore 828761
Bukit Panjang Outlet
Bukit Panjang Plaza, #03-10A
1 Jelebu Road, Singapore 677743
City Hall Outlet
Funan Mall, #B1-31
107 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179105