Chicken Up's Review - Korean Korean Fried Chicken in Marine Parade Parkway Parade Singapore | OpenRice Singapore

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The review is very much delayed due to some problems with my OpenRice account, apologies (and thanks) to the organiser. Although I have been to other food tasting events, this is the first event I managed to get an invite from OpenRice. Grateful to Chicken Up and OpenRice, as I loved Japanese and Korean cuisine. I admit I have some limitations to my diet (no Soju, no beef), so did not sample all the dishes, but in a way that could be good as I will not have "diminishing satisfaction", which hap

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The review is very much delayed due to some problems with my OpenRice account, apologies (and thanks) to the organiser. Although I have been to other food tasting events, this is the first event I managed to get an invite from OpenRice. Grateful to Chicken Up and OpenRice, as I loved Japanese and Korean cuisine.

I admit I have some limitations to my diet (no Soju, no beef), so did not sample all the dishes, but in a way that could be good as I will not have "diminishing satisfaction", which happens to the last dish, so hopefully can give a more accurate review (although we all know food reviews

are also subjective to personal tastes, ha ha!).

Chicken Up is a Korean casual dining concept first opened in Singapore in 2010 with the first outlet at Tanjong Pagar. Parkway Parade is its newly opened outlet in the East. This outlet has a cosy ca

sual feel, nice place for an after work gathering with friends, with a good mix of mains and finger foods on its menu.

The first and last dishes served are the Pineapple Soju and Watermelon Soju, which I do not take as I do not take alcoholic drinks (first dietary restrictions). Looks refreshing and aesthetically pleasing start and end to the event

Watermelon Soju

Next up, Makguksu, cold buckwheat noodle salad, topped with sesame seeds (I love sesame seeds!), seaweed and egg. Dressing was made of yellow mustard, chilli and vinegar, a mix of spiciness and sourness. Nice appetiser to whet up your appetite, though do not particularly take to the dressing, which is subjective as I am not particularly fond of the wasabi type of spiciness as well.

Another appetiser which I did not take is the Topokki with Korean rice cake, glass noodle, seafood and cheese. Looks spicy and I love seafood and Korean rice cake, but contains beef seasoning,

which I wasn't exactly sure if it is just normal seasoning or uses any beef stock in its seasoning, so I wasn't comfortable tasting this (as I can't consume beef). I could have clarified.

Topokki with Cheese and Seafood

Next up, the signature dishes of the eatery: Ganjang Chicken Wings and Yangnyum Chicken Wings, both deep fried chicken wings. The first is dipped in soya sauce and the second is dipped in Korean sweet chilli sauce. Both are nicely fried and crisp, but I do find the Ganjang Chicken Wings a bit drier and a tad bit too salty (for me). I preferred the Yangnyum Chicken Wings (my favourite of the event!), but I loved spicy food and yes, sesame, so this chicken wing suits my taste. Not bad.

Ganjang Chicken Wings

Yangnyum Chicken Wings

Yangnyum Chicken Wings

Next up, the Bulgogi Fries (which I can't take as absolutely contains beef) and Kimchi Fries. The Kimchi fries could have been stronger in the Kimchi (which I felt can't taste the Kimchi) and cut down on the mayonnaise which is too overpowering and caused them to be soggy. But partly also due to us spending too much time taking pictures and we should have eaten them hot.

Haemul Pajeon is a seafood pancake, which I didn't take as it contains beef seasoning (so again not sure, if I can eat it). Looks good and seems quite popular with the food tasting group.

Lastly, the long awaited Ugly Tang Stew, or in other words, Korean Army Stew. I loved the Army Stew and was looking forward to that. The presentation is very pretty and cute! Quite spicy and piping hot, but could be more generous with the meat serving. Nice ending dish for me.

Overall, there are some hits and misses and to be fair, I didn't sample some of the dishes, which could be good. The manager was very helpful and tried his best to answer our queries. And the serving was generous (except for the Ugly Tang Stew, not enough meat) for a food tasting event. Kudos to the Open Rice and Chicken Up for a well-organised and enjoyable event. Hope to have more opportunities to improve on my food review writings, food photography and yes, meet like-minded food enthusiasts like me.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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TRUST76

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Was very delighted to be selected for this exclusive food tasting session with OpenRice.The Chicken Up outlet is very easily located at Parkway Parade.1) Pineapple Soju - $30++Can be regarded as a starter drink before your meal. About 20% alcohol, sweet and refreshing, half bottle of Soju is used. Imagine if everyone will to YUM SENG with this pineapple juice at the table, how cool it will be. After finishing the drink, can still scrap out some more pineapple, but make sure you don't puncture th

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Was very delighted to be selected for this exclusive food tasting session with OpenRice.

The Chicken Up outlet is very easily located at Parkway Parade.

1) Pineapple Soju - $30++
Can be regarded as a starter drink before your meal. About 20% alcohol, sweet and refreshing, half bottle of Soju is used. Imagine if everyone will to YUM SENG with this pineapple juice at the table, how cool it will be. After finishing the drink, can still scrap out some more pineapple, but make sure you don't puncture the pineapple and waste the juice. The alcohol content is not too strong, so should be pretty easy to handle for a lady especially

2) Topokki with Cheese and Seafood - $20++
Very spicy and some sweetness. Not a good choice if you can't take the spicyness. I am glad to have this after the Pineapple Soju as it has paralysed my tongue to start warming up for the rest of the dishes.

Best eaten hot with glass noodles. Nice chewy rice cake, Kimchi taste not too strong. Lots of seafood ingredients such as mussels, squid, scallops and prawns in a pond of gochujang(red chilli paste) sauce and beef seasoning.

Topokki with Cheese and Seafood

3) Makguksu - $12++
Cold Buckwheat noodle salad with seaweed, chilli, vegetable, cabbage, cucumber. Nice vinegar taste to warm up the engine of your appetite too. Got to know from the restaurant manager that this is eaten during the Korean summer period.

4) Ugly Tang Stew - $30++
This was eating during the war times by Korean soldiers. Looks more like an organized layout steamboat. The portion is good for 4 pax but it's possible to finish the entire stew as an individual too. Also have lots of incredients like pork belly, sausage, vegetable, macaroni, baked beans and noodles.

5) Ganjang (Soya) Chick Wings - $12++
The soya sauce oozed out just after the first bite. Pretty crispy breading.
Fresh chicken is used and marination for at least 12 hours to drown the chicken with flavours for our taste buds. Holdable sized chicken not to poke your face with it and very juicy. Comes in a set of 4 pieces. Maybe after having this, you may not even want to eat the Chinese prawn paste chicken.

Ganjang (Soya) Chick Wings

Ganjang (Soya) Chick Wings

6) Yangnyum Chicken Wings - $12++
Felt that the chicken is more tender for this flavour and sweet tasting. Good choice for kids to calm them down at dining place perhaps. Although it's flavoured with korean style sweet chilli sauce, but do not really find it any spicy at all, perhaps the sweetness had actually covered it up instead.

Yangnyum Chicken Wing

7) Bulgogi Fries - $18++
Beef slices marinated in soy sauce accompanied by special home-made ingredients and fries. Such a combination makes it very interesting and yet very delicious until to the back of your throat.

The creamy mayo sauce made it threatening with more calories but should not be placed as a hazard as there are many ways to burn it away. A pretty addictive finger food, good choice for enjoyment while watching movies too(if allowed).

8) Kimchi Fries - $18++
Interesting mix of kimchi taste with chicken strips. Crispy fries spread with kimchi and yet brings out the sour taste as if you have just turned into a Korean. Would preferred to be taken while it is still hot, otherwise may just turned soggy.

9) Seafood Pancake - $18++
Taste a little like our chinese carrot cake but crispy without the carrot bits.

With ingredients like shrimps, chilli pepper, onion and chives and beef seasoning. Do not let it chill to long as the hotness maintains the cripycake of the pancake.

Seafood Pancake

10) Jabchae - $14++
Stir-fried glass noodle with carrots and chives in secret blend of beef seasoning that creates the sweet taste. Very light dish to be a starter as well.

11) Pineapple Soju Shell - $38++
This will be a great finale to compliment with your main dishes. This is definitely the king of fruit soju at the outlet. The wonder it has always been one of most ordered item for all patrons. Maybe good to chill this out with 4 pax and still feel sober after consumption to have a good sleep. Tasted very fresh and somehow the icey bits is pretty blended very well to keep it very chilled to be consumed.

Pineapple Soju Shell

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Date of Visit

2015-12-08

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Hjosi

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Located at the first floor of Parkway Parade, the restaurant is very cozy and warm feeling with rusty decoration and dim light. It will make you feel like in the bar, ready to hang out drink with your friends.1. Pineapple Soju ($30)Served with a whole pineapple, who needs a bowl when you can enjoy the drink with the fruit itself?The sweet taste of the pineapple gets along really well with soju. Super refreshing, but drink it slowly! This can make you forget how much Soju you’ve already drank.2.

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Located at the first floor of Parkway Parade, the restaurant is very cozy and warm feeling with rusty decoration and dim light. It will make you feel like in the bar, ready to hang out drink with your friends.

1. Pineapple Soju ($30)
Served with a whole pineapple, who needs a bowl when you can enjoy the drink with the fruit itself?
The sweet taste of the pineapple gets along really well with soju. Super refreshing, but drink it slowly! This can make you forget how much Soju you’ve already drank.

2. Topokki with Cheese and Seafood ($20)
Red sauce with tteok and seafood (prawn, scallop, tofu and fish cake) accompanied with glass noodle, top with melted cheese really satisfies your craving for spicy food.
OMG I like this, I like to chew the tteok!
Some people might find it too spicy, but for me you haven’t eaten a topokki till you have it spicy.

Topokkii with Cheese and Seafood

3. Makguksu ($12)
Who says you cannot enjoy summer in the middle of raining season. Just go down to Chicken Up to enjoy a bowl of it.
Cold buckwheat noodles presented in the colorful vegetable (red cabbage, carrot, cucumber) with vinegar, yellow mustard and Korean chili paste dressing.
Topped with seaweed and hardboiled egg.
It is really refreshing! As if you’re having summer inside your tummy.

4. Ugly Tang Stew ($30)
Next stop we have Ungly Tang stew that serves 3 to 4 people.
They actually cooked it on the spot after we ordered, though it took a while but it was really worth it, because it's a family pot with Pork belly, ham, sausages, mix vegetable, macaroni, bake bean, cheese, noodle, tteok. Woah that’s a lot right?
Served while hot and it’s all flavorful.
If you really into soups, I would recommend this dish because it really is exotic.

5. Ganjang (Soya) Chicken Wings ($12 / 5pc)
It’s a deep fried chicken and it's really crispy and fully cooked.
Every bite you’ll take will give you a soft texture of meat which was marinated with sauce till the insides.
So they really captured the flavor on that one.
If you're like me and you like chicken wings I can recommend this one for you.

Ganjang (Soya) Chicken Wings

6. Yangnyum Chicken Wings ($12 / 5pc)
Like the last one, compared with the Soya chicken, the Yangnyum chicken sauce is more sour and sweet. Because I’m a fried chicken lover, both of them are served really well. But for me I prefer the Yangnyum chicken as the strong sauce will make you to order for more!

Yangnyum Chicken Wings

7. Bulgogi Fries ($18)
Wonderful! It's da Bomb! My first impression is that I've never heard of this kind of dish before, so its new!
Thin sliced beef marinated in sweet bulgogi sauce topped with the crispy fries and finished with mayonnaise sauce and chopped shallots.
I keep scooping the fries; it will make you come back for more
Basically two of my favorite things got married and this is the product.

8. Kimchi Fries ($18)
As we have 2 kinds of chicken, we also have 2 kinds of fries.
In my opinion, kimchi and fries doesn’t blend well.
Because fries become very soggy from the kimchi juice. And the kimchi flavor is overpowering the other ingredients.
But if you’re a food explorer and you’re adventurous, please go for this one.
It has both unique and exotic taste *they got kimchi
Yep just go for it.

9. Seafood Pancake ($18)
In my opinion it’s not really my preference but if I were to analyze this is the Jeon family. They got spring onion, mix seafood with spicy dipping sauce on the side.
I found it too flimsy and too soft; I expected something more crispy on the edge.
But you might have a different take on this, but still I would recommend this to some people who like soft things to accompany other crispy dish.

Seafood Pancake

10. Jabchae ($14)
The glass noodle, which is also pronounced as Jabchae, has just the right portion to give you room for the other dishes in the restaurant.
I like the sauce because it really sweet. If you’re aiming for a low calorie intake I would recommend Jabchae for you, because they are healthy.

11. Watermelon Soju Shell ($38)
From the look of it I’m guessing, it's something to enjoy with your colleagues or friends and families.
It's similar with the pineapple soju, and very fun to share with other people.
The presentation also surprised me haha..
They have really outdone themselves, using an actual watermelon as the large bowl for the soju. Also it comes with dry ice on the bottom to make it remain cool.
An epic entry when they have smokes!
Not just the presentation but the flavor also, if you like Soju and watermelon it’s in your must try list.
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Watermelon Soju Shell

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Sollex

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Pineapple SojuRefreshing and sweet with a mild alcoholic after-taste,prefect mixture of pineapple and soju. You will need to drink alot of this to get drunk. Highly recommended.Expect to pay a premium for this party drink is but dont expect a free refill after you are done.MakguksuCold buckwheat noodle that is almost vegan, saved by half a soft boiled egg. This is a light salad dish with with a tangy flavour and korean seasoning(korean chili paste). Its like eating bibimbap with noodle.Ganjang

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Pineapple Soju

Refreshing and sweet with a mild alcoholic after-taste,prefect mixture of pineapple and soju. You will need to drink alot of this to get drunk. Highly recommended.Expect to pay a premium for this party drink is but dont expect a free refill after you are done.

Makguksu

Cold buckwheat noodle that is almost vegan, saved by half a soft boiled egg. This is a light salad dish with with a tangy flavour and korean seasoning(korean chili paste). Its like eating bibimbap with noodle.

Ganjang Chicken

Ganjang Chicken

Totally the best dish in the restaurant it actually has meat! Yey! Juicy succulent salty flesh of prepubicent chicken bath in burning oil~ Brings tears to my eyes with every bite.The chicken is perfectly cooked and stays crispy until we are done having our way with it. No additive needed

Yangnyum Chicken

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Yangnyum Chicken Wings Yangnyum

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Another meat dish,praise the Lord! Unlike its distance cousins, these chickens are drenched in a sticky layer of sweet and spicy sauce. Yum Yum~ each piece of chicken is perfectly soaked in a pot of boiling oil ,there is no chaotah chicken skin nor is there any bloody bones what a joy to be munching on these. However the sweety sauce might be too much for some people who will most likely tire of them after their first few pieces.Oh well,more chicken for me, cheers.

Bulgogi Fries

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Bulgogi Fries

$12

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Awesome beef dish with great accompanying sidekick, the potatoes fries.This has my vote for the second best dish in the whole resturant. Thinly sliced beef with soya sauce marinate with mayonise and onions , mouth after mouth i cant stop popping them.Oh yea the fries were well done my preferred carb intake of the meal.

Kimchi Fries

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Kimchi Fries

$12

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Another chicken dish. Contraryto its name I didnt not taste any kimchi in this dish, I can only taste the abundant cheese and the chicken that are mixed in the mist. The chicken doesnt go very well with the rest of the dish , the is no synergybetween the chicken and the rest of the dish especiallythe soft mushy potatoes that resembles fries.

Soggy Fries makers

The sorry state of the fries could be explained by the plethora of photographers hogging the fries till the soggyness sets in D:

Ugly Tang Stew

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Ugly Tang Stew

$30

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Army stew with a sadder sounding name. I would like to shake the hand of the person who came up with the idea of serving this dish with such a small pot. Its hard work trying to mix the stew without spilling the content. This is a typical army stew dish with less flavour. even with a great big ball of Gochujang the stew still taste weak. I hope this is the result of poor mixing and not the poor judgement of the excellent kitchen crew.

Jabchae

Meatless Vegan dishzzzzz. Sweet glass noodle with vegetable and seasoning lacks real beef.

Haemul Pajeon

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Haemul Pajeon

$18

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Korean pancake with seafood and special dipping sauce. Split opinion on the special sauce being spicy or not. Soft pancake that goes well with its mushy interior and rubbery squid hiding within.

Topokki with Cheese and Seafood

Topokki with Cheese and Seafood

Rice cake in Gochujang bath surrounded in lots of vermicelli. The sweet sauce goes well with the rice cake and vermicelli, excellent as an appetizer.Some says its too spicy...heh weak sauce.

Watermelon Soju

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watermelon soju

$38

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Alcohol with watermelon juice in a watermelon.This time round the soju overpowers the watermelon taste unlike the pineapple variant.

Bring enough money...came for the chicken stayed for the beef.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Date of Visit

2015-12-08

Waiting Time

10 Minutes (Dine In)

Spending Per Head

$50 (Dinner)

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KerinLoke

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Chicken up is a casual dining experience which allows people to experience Korean cuisine without travelling to Korea .My first visit to chicken up thanks to Openrice Food tasting event as i wasn't really a fan of fried foods, but i always have a weak point when it comes to Korean cuisine.I went to the outlet at Parkway Parade it is located at first floor beside Starbucks, they have a simple interior design which makes you feel cozy. I like the idea where they use glass bottle which contains pre

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Chicken up is a casual dining experience which allows people to experience Korean cuisine without travelling to Korea .

My first visit to chicken up thanks to Openrice Food tasting event as i wasn't really a fan of fried foods, but i always have a weak point when it comes to Korean cuisine.
I went to the outlet at Parkway Parade it is located at first floor beside Starbucks, they have a simple interior design which makes you feel cozy. I like the idea where they use glass bottle which contains preservative fruits and species as part of their decoration, it would be better if all containers are filled up with the same portions.

1) Pineapple Soju ($30++)

The pineapple soju was freshly made with real pineapple juice and serve in a whole pineapple. My first sip on the pineapple soju was sweet followed by the alcohol aftertaste.
At the bottom of the soju shot glass, i am able to taste the pineapple pulps.

2) Makguksu ($12++)

One of my top three favorite dishes at Chicken Up. Makguksu is a cold buckwheat noodle salad filled with cabbage, carrots, cucumber, sprinkled with seaweeds & sesame seed and one-half of a hard boiled egg. What i love most is the dressing, the dressing was made up of Korean chili paste, Vinegar and yellow mustard. Which makes this a wonderful appetizer to start your meal with.

3) Ganjang (Soya) Chicken Wings ($12++ / 4PCS)

Ganjang (Soya) Chicken Wing

Ganjang (Soya) chicken wings is one of my top three favorite dishes. Chicken wing was marinated with their special soya sauce (secret recipe) and freshly deep fried till golden brown.

4) Kimchi Fries ($18++)

Kimchi Fries are topped with fermented kimchi, mayonnaise, cheese, red onion and green chili. As the sauces melted quickly, hence my suggestion is to eat as soon as possible once served.

5) Bulgogi Fries ($18++)

Bulgogi Fries are topped with Bulgogi beef , mayonnaise , red onion , green onion & sprinkled sesame seed. This is my number one dish i would definitely go back for !! It a heaven for beef lover ~

6) Haemul Pajeon - Seafood and Green Onion Pancakes ($18++)

Haemul Pajeon - Seafood and Green Onion Pancake

Haemul Pajeon (Seafood Pancakes) is commonly found in Korean cuisine. The Seafood Pancakes consist lots of ingredients like shrimps, squids, chili pepper, onion & chives prepared with a Korean batter mix and beef seasoning.The pancake was more towards the soft chewy side rather than the crispy.

7) Ugly Tang Stew ($30++ - For 2pax)

Ugly Tang stew in Chicken up is actually Korea Army Stew, the usual Army Stew sold outside only consist of ham, sausage, luncheon meat, Kimchi & noodles whereby for Chicken up's Ugly Tang Stew it consists way much more than our usual army stew, which is pork belly, ham, sausage, vegetable, macaroni, baked bean, cheese & noodle boiled in a hotpot with chicken stock broth. A note to small eaters, it's actually quite a big portion which is more likely for 4 pax.

8) Jabchae ($14++)

Jabchae is a stir-fried glass noodle with carrots, onion, chives & sprinkled with sesame seeds in a secret blend of soya sauce with beef seasoning.

9) Yangnyum Chicken Wings ($12++)

Yangnyum Chicken Wings

The Yangnyum Chicken Wings is something similar to Ganjang Chicken Wings just that it wasn't fried with soya sauce but coated with Korean spicy chili sauce. The spiciness of the chicken wings wasn't very spicy, which is good for those who unable to take spicy stuff like me.

10) Topokki with Cheese and Seafood ($20++)

Topokki with Cheese and Seafood

Topokki with Cheese and Seafood was too spicy for me to sample it. I have a weak point when it comes to Topokki too ~~~ so i took up the courage just to sample the Topokki only. Topokki was chewy, but i prefer the tradition Topokki with fish cake.

11) Watermelon Soju ($38++)

Watermelon Soju

Watermelon Soju is served in a big bowl filled with dry ice underneath the extremely huge watermelon. Watermelon juice is freshly blend, a whole bottle of soju was poured together with the watermelon juice and stir for a minute or so. It is good for a group of 4~6 pax as soju alcohol percentage is relatively high (varies from 16.7% to 45%).

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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dcs12m

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Chicken Up is a korean style chicken speciality shop, so Openrice organised a food tasting event on 08 December 2015 7.00 p.m.It is my first visit and I love the ambience here.Great food being served! We were a large group in Parkway Parade outlet.Conclusion: Great food and wonderful service, but a bit pricey.

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Chicken Up is a korean style chicken speciality shop, so Openrice organised a food tasting event on 08 December 2015 7.00 p.m.

It is my first visit and I love the ambience here.

Great food being served! We were a large group in Parkway Parade outlet.

Cold Buckwheat Noodle Salad (막국수 Makguksu)

Ganjang (Soya) Chicken Wings

Topokki with Cheese and Seafood

Yangnyum Chicken Wings

Seafood And Green Onion Pancake

Watermelon Soju

Conclusion: Great food and wonderful service, but a bit pricey.

Other Info. : Great dine-out place for friends with awesome chicken.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Date of Visit

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Spending Per Head

$44.40 (Dinner)

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Jellylovesfood

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Chicken up started their chicken journey in year 2010, introducing casual Korean dining to the world with modern fusion Korean cuisines. From their first outlet at Tanjong Pagar, now they have expanded to 07 branches islandwide, at Tampines, Jurong East, Buangkok, Bugis, Dover & Parkway Parade respectively.It was my visit to Chicken Up and was at Parkway Parade branch. The restaurant itself was cosy, lit by dim yellow lights. Colour-painted wooden furniture were used throughout the whole space a

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[Chicken Up]
Chicken up started their chicken journey in year 2010, introducing casual Korean dining to the world with modern fusion Korean cuisines. From their first outlet at Tanjong Pagar, now they have expanded to 07 branches islandwide, at Tampines, Jurong East, Buangkok, Bugis, Dover & Parkway Parade respectively.

It was my visit to Chicken Up and was at Parkway Parade branch. The restaurant itself was cosy, lit by dim yellow lights. Colour-painted wooden furniture were used throughout the whole space and i love the many bottles of preserved fruits on their cupboard display.
We went in a group of 13 and tried out the following 11 items.
(1) Pineapple Soju $30

- Comes in a whole pineapple, the presentation was pretty indeed! Fresh pineapple fruit was blended into juice, thereafter mixed in with half a bottle of Jinro soju and ice cubes. First sip was sweet, followed by slight bitterness and pineapple pulp at the end of my drink. My first unique experience with soju.
(2) Makguksu $12

- A big bowl of salad filled with cold buckwheat noodles, cabbage slaw, shredded carrots, cucumber, seaweed, sprinkled with lotsa sesame seeds and topped with a half hard boiled egg. You have to mix and toss everything together to get the best taste. Buckwheat noodles was quite al dente, firmness still there when bite and the shredded veggies gave us that additional crunch. Dressing was sourish, mild spicy, with elements of yellow mustard, Korea chilli and vinegar.
(3) Topokki with Cheese and Seafood $20

Topokki with Cheese and Seafood

- A hearty bowl of soup filled with fresh seafood such as mussels, scallops, squids, prawns, together with Korean rice cake Topokki, glass noodles and shredded cheese. Although the gochu jang (chilli paste) used for this soup was spicy but due to the generosity of seafood portion given, you could still taste the seafood sweetness in the broth despite the spiciness.
Topokki was very soft and chewy, I ate it with the melted cheese and it was yummy! Glass noodles was savoury too as they soaked up most of the soup.
(4) Ganjang Chicken Wings $12

- Per portion comes in 4pcs, served in a basket, this Ganjang chicken wings was Chicken Up's bestseller. These wings were big and juicy, deep fried till crispy then dipped in Chicken Up's special soya sauce blend. The soya sauce aroma was fragrant. Although the seasonings was slight salty for me but it's definitely a great choice to flush down with beer!
(5) Yangnyum Chicken Wings $12 {4pcs}

- Other than coated with Korean sweet chilli sauce, texture for these wings were no difference from the Ganjang's. Portion was the same too. The overall taste were more sweet than spicy, no wow factor, I've tasted better ones elsewhere.
(6) Bulgogi Fries $18

- A basket of crispy unsalted fries, covered with generous portion of thinly sliced beef, topped with mayonnaise dressing then sprinkled with spring onions and raw onion bits. This combination was delicious. Bulgogi were well marinated with soya sauce and cooked till perfection, they brighten up the lives of the plain fries.
(7) Kimchi Fries $18

- Femented Kimchi with fries didn't really work for me. I rather have them seperately. The taste was like having chinese fermented beancurd with potato. We have different opinions across the table so it's a either you "Love it" or "Hate it" snacks.
(8) Haemul Pajeon $18

- This plate of seafood pancake was one of my favourite dish for the night. It comes in 4 cut squares served with their secret recipe chilli sauce dip. With squid, shrimps, bell peppers, chives mixed with Korean batter mix plus beef seasonings, they were pan fried till crisp on the outside but remained soft moist texture inside. Each mouthful was filled with fragrance from the chives, crunch from the shrimps and mild spiciness from the chilli dip. The pancakes tasted good alone without sauce, I couldn't stop my fork from getting another piece.
(9) Ugly Tang Stew $30

- "Army stew" I would call it, a small pot filled chicken broth, accompanied by pork belly, luncheon meat, sausages, topokki, baked beans, enoki, spring onions, noodle, macaroni, cheese slices and a ball of Korean chilli paste. A common yet tummy-warming dish, great to have it on a cold day. I quite like Chicken Up's version because it was more spicy, their chilli paste was good! This army stew portion wasn't very big, although it says for 2 pax but may not be enough if you guys were big eaters.
(10) Jabchae $14

- Another of my love, this plate of glass noodles won over my heart. Stir-fried with carrots, chives in special blend of soya sauce plus beef seasonings, these glass noodles were so flavourful and springy. Looks ugly but tastes great. Never judge a dish by its colour! Hahahaha!
(11) Watermelon Soju Shell $38

Watermelon Soju Shell

- After all the heavy dishes, we ended our meal with this watermelon soju. So chilled and refreshing, with bits of watermelon flesh in it, I want MORE!

Verdict: A great place to chill at for after-work gatherings or birthdays, not really suitable for teenagers/ youngsters because it was too pricey for them to afford. Food quality was pretty good and majority portion great for sharing. Their strengths were in their special blend soya sauce and spicy chilli paste, I will come back for other dishes and bingsu when I have more budget on hand

Chicken Up
-Parkway Parade Branch-
#01-10 Parkway Parade Shopping Mall
80 Marine Parade Road
Singapore 449269
Tel: 63480460
More info at http://www.chicken-up.com

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Chiaki27

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For more food reviews, please visit http://shokushisouseikatsu.blogspot.com/As an amateur or should I say part-time food reviewer (I don't think that I fit the title of food blogger) who posts reviews as and when I like and given that I am no expert on food, I would never have expected myself to be invited to food tasting events especially since I'm not one of the big names in the food blogging arena. When I saw the call for applicants to take part in this food tasting event hosted by Open Rice

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For more food reviews, please visit http://shokushisouseikatsu.blogspot.com/

As an amateur or should I say part-time food reviewer (I don't think that I fit the title of food blogger) who posts reviews as and when I like and given that I am no expert on food, I would never have expected myself to be invited to food tasting events especially since I'm not one of the big names in the food blogging arena. When I saw the call for applicants to take part in this food tasting event hosted by Open Rice at Chicken Up's latest branch at Parkway Parade, I gave it a shot while thinking that it would be extremely unlikely that I would be selected. As such, when I received the email confirming my selection, it was a mix of surprise and disbelief that I was going to attend my very first food tasting event! It was a tad intimidating at first because some of my fellow participants were armed with very professional-looking cameras, using additional lights or flashes or going to great lengths to arrange the dishes on the table so as to make the photos look better. Comparatively, I just brought my Sony camera which isn't even a DSLR and was meant as a countermeasure against dark lighting within the restaurant. Otherwise, I always use my mobile phone to take my food pictures. I guess this just shows how "casual" I am when it comes to taking food pictures for my reviews so I don't think I can match up to these more experienced food bloggers anytime soon in terms of skills, experience and enthusiasm. ^__^

Perhaps I should talk about my experience with Chicken Up so far for a start. I am not new to Chicken Up actually as I've been to their outlets before i.e. once in Tanjong Pagar and twice in Tampines. As such, I knew roughly what I was going to eat there before I showed up for the food tasting event. However, it seems like Chicken Up has added some new items which I don't remember seeing before which I think is a positive step towards attracting new customers and maintaining the novelty for existing ones.

The Parkway Parade outlet at the first floor of the shopping mall feels much bigger than the Tanjong Pagar and Tampines outlets partly because there are two sitting areas separated by the walkway. The Tanjong Pagar outlet felt more cramped as the tables were rather close to one another while the Tampines outlet also had similar issues as it isn't a proper shop space within the Century Square building. Lighting-wise, the Tanjong Pagar outlet was on the dark side since it was within a shophouse and there were not many windows to let in the natural light from outside while the Tampines outlet could be a bit dark if there was a lack of sunlight coming through the full-length glass windows as one side of the restaurant was facing the building. Comparatively, the Parkway Parade outlet felt less restrictive in terms of space and the warm orange lighting made it feel cosier. The shop space area houses the bar counter on the left, the sitting area in the centre, the kitchen at the back and a series of wall display shelves on the right containing bottles of food items such as spices and fruits. It might be good to fill up the entire display area as some bottles were empty so it didn't look as nice as it could have been. The first row of the shelves were also not lighted up so by fixing that, the whole display would stand out more prominently.

The other seating area outside the shop space can be likened to be semi-al fresco because there are no walls on the boundaries so you would be able to look across to other restaurants near Chicken Up. The borderless design makes the area look more spacious than it actually is. In addition, you don't need to bear with the heat like in the Tampines outlet because the outdoor seats there are exposed to the elements. In the Parkway Parade outlet, you get to enjoy an al fresco feel in air-conditioned comfort. Based on this reason alone, I think customers would be happier to sit in the "outdoor" area than if they had to contend with the heat, dust from vehicle traffic or even the haze which is becoming an annual issue when the winds are not in our favour.

Being a Korean restaurant, there is no lack of Kpop music as the BGM which should attract young people who like Korean pop culture and food. I heard a number of my favourites during the entire tasting session which I think is good in improving the dining experience. Ever since the Korean drama "He who came from the stars" (별에서 온 그대) became a hit, chi-maek (치맥) i.e. fried chicken and beer has suddenly become a very attractive combination to many people. For chi-maek fans, you would be happy to know about the chi-maek buffet offered by Chicken Up at its Tanjong Pagar, Tampines, Buangkok and of course Parkway Parade outlets where you can eat an unlimited amount of chicken wings with beer or soju at a fixed price. On most days, ladies can get this deal at $35++ each while gentlemen who are expected to be able to consume more, have to pay a $10 premium on top of this amount. Note that if you are coming on a Friday, there would be a surcharge of $20.

For customers who may be clueless about what to order especially if this is their first time here, Chicken Up provides a list of their best-selling food, drinks and desserts on the first few pages of its menu. Although not everyone may like what's popular among the masses, it is helpful for those who may have difficulty deciding even after going through the entire menu. With the presence of photos as visual aids, this allows customers to see at a glance what to expect. In the event that they are interested in a particular item, they can then refer to the detailed menu for a list of what goes into which dish and the spiciness level. For those who may have special dietary concerns due to various reasons as religion, I would recommend that you check the ingredients list before ordering. In my case, I keep a lookout for dishes which contain beef or beef-related items when I dine out so that I would not eat such dishes unwittingly. As such, Chicken Up's efforts in trying to provide the list of ingredients is indeed commendable and helpful to people like me. I wish more restaurants would be more considerate in this regard.

First to be served was the pineapple soju (파인애플소주, $30). Even before the top of the pineapple was removed, the sweet scent from the fruit was hard to ignore and it looked good visually. The small soju shot glasses were used to serve this type of soju. Much as I'm not really into alcoholic drinks, the pineapple soju tasted better than I expected. A note of warning though, because the sweetness of the pineapple soju is picked up by the tongue first before the taste of the soju kicks in, you may be tempted to drink this at a faster pace than your body can take it. It would be recommended to go easy on the drink because soju's alcohol content varies from 16.7% to 45% so there is a risk of getting drunk before you finish your meal. Perhaps not drinking on an empty stomach and pacing yourself would be the best way to ensure that you can enjoy this drink without causing any undesirable effects after your meal.

The watermelon soju (수박소주, $38) was served in an entirely different manner though. First of all, one bottle of soju was poured into half a watermelon with the fruit removed which set off the first wave of white smoke flowing out and collective responses of amazement among the participants. Another bottle of the soju was then emptied into the watermelon as seen from the picture. The soju was then served in droplet-shaped bowls which were much bigger than the soju shot glasses. Comparatively, this may not go down well with the casual drinker because the strong soju taste hit the tongue in such a manner that it felt like scalding due to hot water. The watermelon taste was not as noticeable when compared to its pineapple counterpart which I assume to be that the soju overpowered the taste of the watermelon.

Frankly speaking, for people who can hardly drink or only drink once in a while, the watermelon may not be suitable for you. For those who can hold their liquor well, this would be good if you are eating in a group and the aesthetic appeal of this item would definitely lift the atmosphere of your meal outing as soon as this gets served on your table. On the other hand, if you are new to soju and can't really boast about being a good drinker, go for the pineapple soju which is less intimidating and easier on your palette. Portion-wise, it would be less likely for you to get drunk since the volume of the pineapple should be lesser than that of the watermelon.For those who may be wondering, the type of soju being used here is Sodal 쏘달 from Jinro which contains 16.9% of alcohol.

Makguksu (막구수, $12) which is essentially cold buckwheat noodle salad, was one of my Top 3 favourite dishes during the food tasting. Besides buckwheat noodles, there were vegetables such as cabbage and carrots, seaweed shreds, one-half of a hard-boiled egg and a vinegar-like dressing. Even before the ingredients were mixed, this dish already gave off a refreshing aroma even though it was not a hot dish. Despite being slightly cold, the makgusu offered an unique combination of sour vs. spicy (the dressing) and soft vs. crunchy (the noodles and the vegetables) thus making it a very appealing appetiser to begin the meal with. Portion-wise, it's good enough to be shared among a few people so for people who must have their greens and carbohydrates, this would be a pretty good choice to get started.

Topokki with cheese and seafood (해물치즈떡볶이, $20) would be a dish popular with those who like spicy food. Most topokki dishes in Korean restaurants tend to have just the deok (rice cakes), the odaeng (fish cakes) and hard-boiled eggs or with ramyeon at times. However, Chicken Up's version chooses to do away with this convention and adds seafood such as squid and scallops along with glass noodles and onions to the standard ingredient of deok. A generous amount of shredded cheese is placed on top thus giving the dish a thick and gooey texture once it is mixed into the topokki's spicy sauce. Be warned that this can be quite stimulating on your tongue so for those who are not too good with spicy food, you may wish to reconsider your choice. For those who relish spicy food, this should be a very attractive option. As for those who can't take beef-related items just like me, note that there is beef seasoning used in this dish.

The seafood pancake (해물파전, $18) here was also somewhat different from the traditional version elsewhere. In many Korean restaurants, the seafood pancakes are usually thin with crisp edges and presented as a big full circle. Sometimes, they are cut up in pieces of different sizes in the kitchen while at times, they are only cut and served at the table. The version here lined up the four square pieces of the pancake neatly on the plate and each slice was comparatively thicker than the norm. However, I found that the proportion of the batter was more than what I would have preferred so I could hardly taste the spring onions and seafood bits within the pancake. The dipping sauce was also modified to become somewhat similar to chili sauce with a savoury twist as it contained chili sauce, sesame seeds, soy sauce, sugar and undisclosed spices. This is quite different from the usual soy sauce with spring onions and chili used elsewhere. Perhaps it's a matter of old habits die hard but I do prefer the traditional sauce when eating this dish. Given the price of this dish, I also feel that the portion may be too little and the small number of pieces will probably mean that it's going to be harder to share this dish in a large group setting unless multiple portions are ordered. For a small group though, this will be just nice as compared to the larger traditional version. I guess the suitability of a dish really depends on how big your dining party is.

There are two types of fries being offered here i.e. the bulgogi fries (불고기프라이스, $18) and the kimchi fries (김치프라이스, $18). As the bulgogi fries contain beef, I would not be able to give an accurate assessment of that since I did not sample this dish. However, the kimchi fries which are covered in a mayonnaise-based sauce with melted cheese, spring onions, shallots and shredded chicken which had been cooked in chicken stock contains a mixture of different flavours coming together to deliver an unique taste. The sourish kimchi coupled with the sweet mayonnaise and cheese, the crunchiness brought about by the vegetables and the texture added by the flavoured chicken shreds combine to create a new type of fries that isn't so common out there. The only flaw I notice is that the fries at the bottom of the tray tend not to be covered by the sauce thus it might be good to have an option of ordering more dipping sauce for those who find themselves running out of sauce or would prefer to have more of it. Surprisingly, despite the use of kimchi in this dish, there seems to be a lack of the signature spiciness from the kimchi so for those who are concerned about spiciness, it looks like it won't be an issue for this dish.

Jabchae (잡채, $14) is a stir-fried dish made up primarily by glass noodles, spring onions, carrots, onions, capsicum and sesame seeds. The version here which I also chose as one of my top 3 favourites, was nicely flavoured without an oily aftertaste. Even when left to cool (because we were busy taking pictures), the glass noodles remained springy instead of becoming a messy lump. Although there are some versions of this dish which contain pork or beef, Chicken Up's version doesn't. As such, for those who are looking for a noodle dish to satisfy their carbohydrates need and yet doesn't want to consume more meat or wants to eat some vegetables, this would be another viable option just like the makgusu introduced earlier on. However, the key difference between both dishes is that the makgusu would be more suitable to be an appetiser while while the jabchae is more like a side dish to be eaten together with the main course.

During my last visit to Chicken Up, I did not notice that there was budae jjigae (부대찌개, $30), also known as army stew on the menu. I'm not sure if this was newly added recently though. The strange thing is that, it is known as Ugly Tang Stew even though the Korean name printed on the menu remains as budae jjigae. Apparently, this name was given to represent the mixture of the ingredients in the stew which look rather messy because there are many types of items inside the top. Budae jjigae apparently started as a food item for soldiers where they added anything they had into the kimchi-based stew because food was scarce then. There are no fixed rules on what must go into this dish but as far as I could see, the standard items of ramyeon, deok, ham, luncheon meat (not sure if this is the SPAM canned meat from Korea), chili, spring onions, onions, macaroni and cheese were all there. As for the soy beans (not baked beans) and enoki mushrooms, they probably aren't considered to be part of the menu for budae jjigae. The soup is also a bit different in the sense that the gochujang (chili paste) is mixed into a kimchi-based soup but here in Chicken Up, a clear stock made of chicken is poured into the pot while the gochujang is shaped into a sphere, placed on top of the ingredients and blended in when the soup boils. As such, the taste here is somewhat lighter and not as spicy than the usual budae jjigae.

Looking at the photo, it is evident that the pot was almost full by the time the soup was poured in. It can be a bit difficult to stir the contents without some of the soup flowing out of the pot. As such, it might be better to use a bigger pot if possible e.g. the flat-type big pans usually used for budae jjigae. Otherwise, it would be best to pour in the soup over several times to avoid the contents from overflowing.

Finally, here are the leads at Chicken Up i.e. the fried chicken! There are three flavours available i.e. ganjang (soya sauce), yangnyum and spicy. During the tasting, we were given the first two flavours to try.

Korean fried chicken is done differently from the usual style of fried chicken we get elsewhere as it is deep-fried twice and coated with a sauce using a brush after deep-frying. As such, this is said to be the reason why Korean fried chicken is less greasy and crunchier than its competition. It is also said that Korean fried chicken restaurants tend to use small or medium-sized chickens which have more tender meat thus contributing to the popularity of this dish.

The ganjang chicken wings (진짜 유명 간장 지킨윙, $12) which interestingly is listed as "very famous ganjang chicken wings" in Korean on the menu, had a light sheen on their skin due to the glazing of the soy sauce which also played a pivotal role in making the skin moist to the taste. Unlike other deep-fried chicken wings which may tend to be either too oily or dry on the surface, the presence of the ganjang helps to accentuate the flavour to a certain extent and retains the moisture in the skin. In addition, the deep-frying method used to make the chicken wings also played a key role in sealing the natural juices of the chicken meat without drying it out. Although it would be good if the flavour of the ganjang could also be tasted in the chicken meat rather than just at the skin level, this might make the entire dish a bit too salty to my liking so I think the current method of just coating the ganjang still works best. On the whole, this version of the chicken wings ranks in my top 3 but I think that there is a limit to how many I can eat these at one sitting because the soy sauce becomes a bit too heavy on the palate after a while.

On the other hand, the yangnyum version (양념치킨윙, $12) looked very different from the ganjang version as the chicken wings were coated in a red and sticky sauce which typically consists of gochujang (Korean red chili pepper paste), ketchup, garlic and corn syrup. White sesame seeds were then sprinkled on the chicken wings as shown in the photo. For those who prefer a slightly spicier version of the chicken wings, this should be suitable for you. Even for people who may not be a fan of spicy food, the level of spiciness in this dish is still manageable to a certain extent. Similarly, the meat of the chicken wings was still tender and juicy just like the ganjang version. Personally, I think that this would taste best when eaten with alcoholic drinks such as beer and it doesn't feel as overwhelming on the palate even after eating multiple pieces.

In conclusion, the entire tasting event was very enjoyable and I found it to be a great eye opener. This review turned out to be much longer than I initially expected so if you have read this till the end, thank you for your time and attention and hope that you were not bored by this. Special thanks goes to the staff at Chicken Up who tried to make us comfortable and answered the numerous questions we had and Open Rice for giving me the opportunity to try this new outlet. Till the next tasting event then!

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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cptslowyeo

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Located on the ground floor of Parkway Parade is a new outlet of Chicken Up, it may be new to the easties but it is the fifth outlet of this Korean Fried chicken chain!Chicken Up has been in Singapore for 5 years now and has finally opened an outlet in the east! Chicken Up is well known and best loved for serving Authentic Korean fried chicken. By adapting the Korean methods of removing the fat from the skin and double-frying, Chicken Up created its own distinct variation of fried chicken, featu

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Located on the ground floor of Parkway Parade is a new outlet of Chicken Up, it may be new to the easties but it is the fifth outlet of this Korean Fried chicken chain!

Chicken Up has been in Singapore for 5 years now and has finally opened an outlet in the east! Chicken Up is well known and best loved for serving Authentic Korean fried chicken. By adapting the Korean methods of removing the fat from the skin and double-frying, Chicken Up created its own distinct variation of fried chicken, featuring juicy, sumptuous and tender chicken meat under its thin and crunchy skin without being too greasy. Best known for its signature Spicy Up and YangNyum style fried chicken, Chicken Up also serves several variations of the dish with the accompaniment of different sauces such as soya and curry sauces.

The outlet is pretty much split into two, with both inside and "outside" dining area, but I noted that the staff were quick to respond to customers seated at the "outside" dining area.

Looking through their menu, you will see their top 12 best selling food, which includes their Ganjang and Yanghyum chicken wings, along with kimchi, bulgogi fries and more. Once you flip past the first page of the clear folder, you realize that Chicken Up is pretty much a full fledge Korean Restaurant that serves a menu that consists of 30% fried chicken!

Nonetheless, at this food tasting session organized by OpenRice, I was able to taste over 11 and only 2 of which were chicken!

1. Pineapple Soju $30++

The Pineapple soju was up first, and presented in an impressive whole pineapple shell! The pineapple juice itself was very sweet and you could see the real fruit pulp! The alcohol itself wasn't too strong and didn't drown out the pineapple taste.

I totally adore how this pineapple soju looks and tastes! It is very refreshing with a zesty after taste!

And this is the reasony why the Pineapple Soju is so amazing! Almost this entire bottle pretty goes directly into the pineapple concoction!

2. Topokki with Cheese and Seafood $20++

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Topokki with Cheese and Seafood

$20

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Rice cake, vegetables and fish cakes, seafood, mushroom, squid, scallop and prawns in gochujang (red chilli paste) sauce and seasoning. This dish was way too spicy for me, and take note I'm not a spicy-food lover. I couldn't even deal with chewing a bite off the topokki. So this dish was a no-no for me.

3. Maguksu $12++

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Makguksu

$12

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Next up we had a cold buckwheat noodle dish served with cabbage, seaweed, korean chilli sauce, vinegar and yellow mustard. The manager explained that this cold dish is typical eaten during the hot korean summer period.

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Makguksu

$12

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I liked how it looks like a huge mess thrown into one bowl, but actually the kitchen staff did a good job mixing up all the ingredients so that you get to taste all the ingredients in every bite! The yellow mustard in the mix, gives it a "wasabi" after taste. For a non-spicy eater like me, this dish was tolerable.

4. Ugly Tang Stew (Army Stew) $30++

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Ugly Tang Stew

$30

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This is my first time trying the Korean Army Stew. The manager explained that during the war times, Korean soldiers couldn't be picky eaters and they pretty much whipped up a stew with whatever ingredients they could find and woah-lah! Which makes you wonder how does this dish cost $30++ when most of the ingredients seem to be of lower value. Nonetheless, this portion is meant to feed 4 people, but the owner also mentioned of individuals capable of devouring this entire stew. Additional noodles can be added at $2++.

5. Ganjang (Soya) Chicken Wings $12++ for 4 pieces

Ganjang (Soya) Chicken Wings

Delightful taste of chicken coated with soya sauce! The chicken being fresh and not frozen makes the chicken meat extremely tender and juicy! Despite their sizes, which are definitely smaller than your typical fast food chicken chains. I was satisfied with the quality that their sizes did not matter.

Ganjang (Soya) Chicken Wings

This is their crispiest chicken I believe and you can hear a distinctive crunch when you eat this. Their sauce is also sweet and perfect for people who can't take their spicy sauces or who aren't too adventurous. This was the best soy fried chicken I’ve had in my life!

6. Yangnyum Chicken Wings $12++ for 4 pieces

Yangnyum Chicken Wings

Have that Korean “sweet sensation” in your mouth. This version has the chicken wings covered with sweet sauce and sprinkled with sesame. Perfect for kids or non-spicy eaters. Personally it's a bit sweet for me, but still the outside was crispy and the chicken warm. Though this was touted as their "sweet and spicy" sauce, I felt like it was more sweet and sour. I preferred the distinctive sweet sauce from the soy chicken more as it left the chicken crispy. This Yangnyum up chicken soaked up more of the sauce and wasn't as crispy. The chicken really wasn't spicy at all.

Yangnyum Chicken Wings

As each order is freshly fried, you may have to wait quite a while before you get your chicken. They also sprinkle some sesame seeds over the chicken for extra garnishing. All parts of the chicken had a layer of sauce covering it. We thoroughly enjoyed the chicken and felt it was one of the better korean fried chicken we have tried.

7. Kimchi Fries $18++

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Kimchi Fries

$18

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Whoever came up with this fusion food is a pure genius. It never once crossed my mind that Kimchi would complement so well with fries. I don't normally take kimchi but this kimchi fries were delicious! If you like soggy fries, this is a must order at Chicken Up!

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Kimchi Fries

$18

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Featuring sliced onions, mayonnaise, cheese sauce, pulled chicken that tasted amazingly like pulled pork, and crispy fries coated with kimchi that was pan-fried to take off the sour edge. A taste bomb - sour, salty, spicy, creamy all in one - and perfect for sharing.
The portion here is just nice for 2 pax, I would recommend getting more of this as it's quite addictive, especially the shredded chicken with the cheese sauce. This is probably one of their items that you probably shouldn't takeaway as the fries would get extremely soggy!

8. Bulgogi Fries $18++

If you can take beef and you liked the kimchi fries, here's taking fries heaven to another level! The bulgogi fries are to die for! I pretty devoured this entire basket, no embarassing notes here. The beef here had alot more flavour than the shredded chicken!! Okay! But for the health conscious, do note that the fries are drowned in a heavy and thick but creamy mayo sauce with chunks of bulgogi beef. Yeah, that's a lof of calories, but it is so good!

9. Seafood Pancake $18++

Seafood Pancake

The seafood pancake consists of shrimps, squids, chilli, pepper, onion, chives, prepared with a korean batter mix and beef seasoning. Sounds like a mouthful? That's because it is! Bursting with multiple flavours at once! The exterior is slightly crispy, depending on which part of the pancake you pick. But on the inside, you'll find the shrimps and squids whole together with the chewy pancake batter.

Seafood Pancake

Check out the cross section of the pancake, you can totally see the ingredients, yea? Interestingly, this seafood pancake is served with Chicken Up's top secret Korean chilli sauce that even the manager couldn't tells us what it is totally made of! So go try it out!

10. Jabchae $14++

I love my carbs and I love my stir fried glass noodles (tang hoon) with carrots and chives in a secret blend of soy sauce and beef seasoning. The amount of secretive ingredients that Chicken Up describes is beyond me! All I know is, these noodles were sweet and you could distinctively smell and taste the "wok-hei" and I loved it and I want more of it!

I would say this is probably, a portion for 1 person. These noodles are pretty addictive as well!

11. Watermelon Soju $38++

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Watermelon Soju

$38

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My friends have told me so much about this and I've seen tons of instagram pictures about this, but having tried the pineapple soju, I'm going to say, the pineapple soju wins the watermelon soju! The watermelon soju is one of the most iconic and signature items of Chicken Up!

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Watermelon Soju

$38

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If you come in a group of 4, just order this for the sake of it, and enjoy the time together! This bestseller serves a generous amount of juice with fresh watermelon flesh and pulp mixed with, YES, 1 whole bottle of Soju. No better way to end the night right?

Overall : 1) The soy chicken is the best fried chicken ever!! 2) Chicken Up serves alot more than just chicken 3) Their bulgogi fries is super addictive and I have to come back for more!!

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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Alamakgirl

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Chicken Up, which opens from 2010, is a casual restaurant offering Korean Cuisine. Currently it has expanded to a chain of 7 restaurants all over Singapore. It is well known for its Korean style fried chicken which marinated for 12 hours before double fried to seal in the flavors. The fried chicken is available in a variety of flavours such as Yangnyum - a sweet and tangy flavour and Ganjang- a garlic-soya based blend. The restaurant also boasts a unique range of home-brewed, fruit- infused Soju

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Chicken Up, which opens from 2010, is a casual restaurant offering Korean Cuisine. Currently it has expanded to a chain of 7 restaurants all over Singapore. It is well known for its Korean style fried chicken which marinated for 12 hours before double fried to seal in the flavors. The fried chicken is available in a variety of flavours such as Yangnyum - a sweet and tangy flavour and Ganjang- a garlic-soya based blend. The restaurant also boasts a unique range of home-brewed, fruit- infused Soju with thirst-quenching flavours like watermelon, peach, apple and pear.

The restaurant at the Parkway Parade has an interesting concept where the walkway cuts through the restaurant which gives the restaurant a kind of indoor or outdoor dining although both are within the aircon area of the shopping mall. The restaurant is decorated in an unique fusion way with light bulbs and bottles of dried fruits and vegetables decorating the walls.

Ganjang (Soya) Chicken Wings

Ganjang (Soya) Chicken Wings ($12)
The restaurant's bestseller! declared as the best Korean fried chicken in Singapore! Freshly deep fried chicken wings dipped in Chicken Up's Special Soya Sauce blend (kids friendly)
The chicken wing is quite crispy on the outside and juicy inside. Although it is tossed in soya sauce, it is not overly salty. Instead the soya sauce lends a kind of sweetness to it.

Yangnyum Chicken Wings

Yangnyum Chicken Wings ($12)
Chicken wings with Korean Style Spicy chilli sauce
Although it sounds quite spicy, but it tastes more like deep fried chicken wing covered with a layer of sweet and sour sauce. Maybe the spicy level has toned down for the local.

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Jabchae

$14

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Jabchae ($14)
Stir-fried glass noodle with carrots and chives in secret blend of soy sauce and beef seasoning
The dish tastes not bad even although it is a simple traditional dish.

Makguksu ($12)
Cold Buckwheat Noodle Salad and hot summer go together like hot chocolate and cold winter.
The shredded vegetables gives a crunchy and crisp texture on top of its cold and wasabi like taste. I am quite surprise to find wasabi like taste like in this dish as it is rare for a korean dish to have this kind of taste.

Ugly Tang Stew ($30)
Good for 2 persons. Chicken Up's Unique Army Stew with (Pork) belly, ham, sausage, vegetable, macaroni, baked bean, cheese and noodles.
I am disappointed with the size of the serving, especially after reading that it is good for 2 persons on the menu. It looks quite small, served in a small metal pot over the burning stove. However it is quite filling as there is instant noodle and macaroni in it. It looks a bit overpriced to me with all the cheap ingredients in it.

Haemul-Pajeon ($18)
Also known as Seafood and Green Onion Pancake. Shrimps, squids, chilli pepper, onion and chives prepared with korean batter mix and beef seasoning
It tastes not with the soya sauce based sauce, although I feel the pancake is a bit bland on its own.

Topokki with Cheese and Seafood

Topokki with Cheese and Seafood

Topokki with Cheese and Seafood

Topokki with Cheese and Seafood ($20)
Rice cake, vegetables and fish cakes, seafood, museels, squid, scallops and prawns in gochujang (red chilli paste) sauce and beef seasoning
This turns out to the most spicy dish of the meal. It is served in a small metal pot, similar to the Ugly Tang Stew. The soup is quite thick and rich, even richer than the cheese is melted. We are all downing cups of water after having this.

Kimchi Fries ($18)
Generous serving of fries with fermented kimchi, marinated shredded chicken all bunched in one delighted bite
Quite an interesting combination. It tastes quite even when the fries has turned soggy. However I feel that the shredded chicken is a bit too dry and does not look like chicken with its dark color or taste like chicken. I have thought that it could be beef at first but the staff has confirmed with me that it is chicken cooked in stock.

Bulgogi Fries ($18)
Fully loaded with thin slices of beef marinated in soy sauce and others home-made ingredients
This kind of reminds of potato wedges served with sour cream, except that the wedges are replaced by fries here. Quite addictive to have, except that the beef is a bit hard to chew.

Watermelon Soju

Watermelon Soju ($38)
The water melon shell is served in a bowl of dry ice, which makes such a grand entrance with the smoke flowing out. Soju is stirred into watermelon juice in front of us. It is quite a refreshing drink with finely crushed ice, although I wish that it could be colder. Good for before or after meal.

Pineapple Soju ($30)
Similar to the watermelon soju, it is also served in the fruit. The drink has a richer taste of the fruit but also have a more fibre like texture especially towards the bottom of the fruit.

Overall the food is not bad. Remember to handle the chicken wings with the disposable gloves provided if you do not wish to dirty your fingers or use fork and knife to cut it. There is also wet tissues provided on the table for one to clean up. Iced water is served in a bottle and refilled regularly. I will be back to try the restaurant's other signature dishes such as Yangpa Bomb (golden crisp onion petals), and Melon Bingu which I have not tried tonight.

(The above review is the personal opinion of a user which does not represent OpenRice's point of view.)

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DETAILED RATING

Taste

Decor

Service

Hygiene

Value

Date of Visit

2015-12-07

Dining Method

Dine In

Type of Meal

Dinner

Dining Offer

Tasting Event

1