Hyang Yeon (Telok Ayer)

Hyang Yeon (Telok Ayer) is a Korean restaurant on the ground floor of a shophouse at 128 Telok Ayer Street, in Singapore's CBD. It serves home-style Korean cooking, from simple weekday lunch sets to big hot pots and braised dishes for sharing.

The name means to hold a banquet, or to invite people to a place of good food. The team aims to make guests feel as if they are eating in a Korean home. This is one of three Hyang Yeon branches in Singapore, with the others on East Coast Road and Peck Seah Street.

What to order

The all-day menu covers most Korean classics. Two dishes lead the signature list. Bossam is pork belly braised in the house sauce with Korean herbs, served with kimchi. Jokbal is pork trotter braised the same way. You can order the two together as a set, and there is also a spicy jokbal with a choice of heat level.

Other dishes worth a look:

• Agujjim: monkfish stir-fried with vegetables in a sweet and spicy sauce, a chef's recommendation
• Gamjatang: pork-bone soup with potatoes and dried cabbage
• Andong jjimdak: chicken braised in a spicy soy sauce
• Budae-jjigae: army stew with sausage, noodles and rice cakes
• Seafood and kimchi pancakes, japchae and tteokbokki to share

Several of the big dishes can be finished with fried rice cooked in the leftover sauce. The Telok Ayer branch also does Korean table barbecue, with Duroc pork, US Angus beef and chicken sold by the portion or in sets for two or more. If you are eating alone, the stews and rice bowls are a better fit. Choices include kimchi jjigae, soybean paste stew, beef bone soup, ginseng chicken soup and bibimbap.

Lunch on weekdays

A separate lunch menu runs on weekdays. Each lunch set is for one person and cannot be shared. It comes with a main dish, rice, kimchi and a few small side dishes. This makes it a quick and simple choice if you are exploring the area at midday.

Good to know before you go

• You can book a table online through the official Hyang Yeon website or by phone.
• The restaurant hosts private dining, group dinners and corporate events, so call ahead for a large party.
• Many spicy dishes let you pick a heat level from one to three.
• Hot pots and braised dishes are made for sharing, while stews and rice bowls suit one diner.

Nearby

Telok Ayer and the streets around it are full of places to eat. Nearby choices include Picanhas' on Club Street, Ammākase at One Raffles Place and OUMI at CapitaSpring. If you want to stay close by, The Clan Hotel Singapore is on Cross Street. Boat Quay on the river is within walking distance for an evening stroll.

See more Thai, Korean and Asian restaurants, or browse all restaurants in Marina Bay and the CBD. Our Tanjong Pagar and Keong Saik guide covers the neighbouring district.