The MALA fever is showing no signs of stopping. While the likes “Mala Tang” and “Mala Xiang Guo” continue to be trending, the first Mala Korean Jjamppong in Singapore deserves a spot of one the top must-try mala dishes.
Nipong Naepong is the first and only jjamppong specialty restaurant in Singapore, offering unique versions of this Korean seafood noodle soup dish.
Jjamppong, commonly served with a medley of seafood, is prepared in different ways here.
A brand originally from South Korea, Nipong Naepong has added fresh, exciting dishes to its menu.
Diners craving for real Korean flavours will be treated to seven new dishes: Mala Ppong – in both dry and soup version, Jjajangmyeon (Black Bean Noodles), and the Iron-Plate series. This iron-Plate series is exclusively created for Singapore (you don’t get it elsewhere even in Korea), with 4 ways of enjoying Korean-style rice.
All these dishes are made versatile for meat lovers as they are available in beef, pork and chicken versions.
Discover and taste the brand’s signature wheat noodles (jjolmyeon) when you order any of their Ppong dishes. With its pasta-like texture, the bouncy jjolmyeon gives you that very chewy yet tender bite. Nipong Naepong’s special jjolmyeon is made in South Korea exclusively for the brand.
Mala Ppong – Soup (Pork / Beef) ($17.90)
The Sichuan-original “mala-tang” (literally meaning “numbing spicy soup”) has also reached South Korea and is a rising trend there.
This inspired Nipong Naepong to launch its own version, Mala Ppong in two formats.
Featuring the signature jjolmyeon noodles, the spicy Mala Ppong Soup version comes with a mix of sliced beef or pork belly, shimeji mushrooms, tofu, and quail eggs.
Now, you would have thought that this looked rather tame. For some context, if you always order “mala tang” elsewhere, this bowl would have been a level of medium-spicy (中辣) or even a notch higher.
After taking a spoonful of the hot soup, I thought, ”Well, still manageable…”, then the fieriness hits you after a couple of seconds later.
So, beware of its tongue-numbing powers. And this is strangely very addictive even though you really feel the heat after more spoonfuls. One word, ”shiok”!.
Mala Ppong – Dry (Pork / Beef) ($15.90)
Not in the soup mood? Go for the dry version of Mala Ppong which still features the signature jjolmyeon noodles. If you love the mala stir-fry pot aka “Mala Xiang Guo” (麻辣香锅), you will love this fragrant and smoky dish.
The bouncy jjolmyeon are tossed in an in-house Chinese mala paste wok-fried with pork or belly slices, shimeji mushrooms and cabbage.
Eat this where it is hot to experience some of that wok-hei and kick.
Your heat-loving taste buds will love its fiery, biting spiciness.
Personal preference, between the soup and dry version, I would want to go for this again. (Also perhaps because it is more manageable in terms of spiciness.)
Jjajangmyeon ($13.90)
A must-try dish for those who want something basic yet classic, this Korean-Chinese staple is prepared by combining noodles with a black bean sauce.
This jjajangmyeon version uses jjolmyeon noodles topped with minced pork, boiled quail eggs, fresh cucumber strips, a sprinkling of sesame seeds, and the key ingredient black bean sauce.
Give it a good toss, and you would love the earthy aroma and slightly salty thick sauce.
Iron-Plate Rice Series
You won’t find the Iron-Plate Rice Series in South Korea as it is exclusively created for Nipong Naepong Singapore. Inspired by the Korean concept hansang or한상 (“a table with a full meal”), the Iron-Plate Rice Series are available in 4 sets named after a South Korean region or landmark. Each set is served with condiments and side dishes on a customised wooden platter and hot-plate
Chuncheon Dakgalbi Iron-Plate Rice ($14.90)
This set is a cheese lover’s delight as it comes with molten mozzarella, perfect for dunking some spicy stir-fried chicken chunks.
The jumbo-sized rice ball, flavoured with ebiko (shrimp roe), is accompanied with seaweed, pickled radish, tortilla, sour cream and kimchi.
Savour this dish however you want. Whether you dip your chicken in cheese, break your rice roll apart to mix it with chicken and cheese, or make a mini chicken, cheese and rice tortilla, you are bound to enjoy this Chuncheon-inspired dish.
Seoul Bulgogi Iron-Plate Rice ($14.90)
Nipong Naepong takes an island of steamed rice and surrounds it with a moat of soft-set egg omelette and ebiko in this dish.
Named after the famous South Korean capital, this rice plate is topped with slices of the classic Korean-style beef bulgogi and leeks.
Joining the bunch are the usual sides: kimchi, pickled radish, ssamjang (spicy fermented soybean sauce), and fresh lettuce.
Go Korean-BBQ style and wrap those sweet and savoury bulgogi beef slices in nice, little lettuce parcels.
Jeju Spicy Pork Iron-Plate Rice ($14.90)
Experience the Korean hansang or a table full of food when you add to your orders the Jeju Spicy Pork Iron-Plate Rice.
Composed of spicy, stir-fried pork belly slices, leeks, crushed seaweed and rice with furikake (a dry Japanese seasoning), this dish requires mixing for best results.
Mix them all up on the hot plate then wrap in a fresh lettuce leaf. Don’t forget to add some ssamjang, pickled radish, and of course, kimchi.
Between the four Iron-Plate Rice Series, I would say this would be the safest choice to be a mass-favourite.
Hallasan Volcano Iron-Plate Rice ($14.90)
Save the best for last? This is the most striking looking of the series.
Named after Hallasan, a shield volcano on Jeju Island and highest mountain in South Korea.
This volcano-shaped rice dish is complete with “lava” gushing down its slope. That luscious lava is a spicy, minced pork sauce slathering the large seaweed and radish rice ball on a hot plate.
Order this iron-plate for an eruption of flavours, when you mix the accompanying kimchi, radish and spring onion into the rice and sauce.
Melon Yoghurt Ade ($13.90, 1 litre)
With all the numbing tongues from the Mala Ppong, this makes a must-needed delicious and refreshing drink to have.
Get an entire jug for every order of this fruity concoction, enough for 2-3 people.
Combined with the sweet honeydew melon is a deliciously tart yogurt, making this icy beverage a balance of flavours. To complete the setup, the 1-liter jug is served topped with a honeydew-flavoured popsicle.
Once it melts, your drink will be much richer!
Nipong Naepong – 313@somerset
313@somerset #B3-03, 313 Orchard Road Singapore 238895 (Somerset MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last order 9.30pm (Mon – Fri);
11am – 11pm, Last order 10.30pm (Sat – Sun)
https://www.facebook.com/NipongNaepongSingapore
Nipong Naepong – JEM
JEM #01-16, 50 Jurong Gateway Road, Singapore 608549 (Jurong East MRT)
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm Last order 9.30pm (Mon – Fri);
11am – 11pm, Last order 10.30pm (Sat – Sun)
* This entry is brought to you in partnership with Nipong Naepong.