This Korean butchery, retail store, and cafe is where you need to head to for your Korean cuisine fix, and here’s why

Not many of us are intending to travel any time soon as the situation seems to be worsening in many countries, including our own. Thankfully, there is a new Korean shop in town that can give us the experience of travelling.

AVENUE ONE had the honour of heading down to this shop and you can read on to find out about our visit.

While there are tons of Korean minimarts peppered all over Singapore, this shop definitely takes the cake. It strategically combines retail, butchery, and dining to bring a whole new culinary culture to Singapore.

Credit: The Butcher’s Dining

Korean aesthetics

Step foot into The Butcher’s Dining and it will feel as if you’ve been transported to a whole other country – South Korea. The cafe is specially designed with Korean aesthetics with the aim of bringing a little piece of Korea to Singapore.

Due to the floor-length windows, the space is brightly lit with a lot of natural lighting, evoking a sense of warmth and cosiness.

It has a very minimalist design with a number of green plants scattered around and it can very easily become the next Instagrammable spot that everyone will head to.

Even the bathroom is aesthetic with its unique cloud-shaped mirror and blue and white wall tiles.

Retail section

You’ll see wooden shelves all around with visually attractive products displayed on them. These products are actually a carefully curated array of hidden food treasures by the exceptional Myeongin Myeongchon (MIMC).

They include condiments, sauces, and drinks that are handcrafted by artisans from different Korean provinces. That’s right, they’re not mass-produced in a factory. Instead, they are manually produced in small workshops using premium ingredients.

Credit: The Butcher’s Dining

You can definitely look forward to trying a taste of Korea with highlights such as Master Yoon Won-Sang’s Cheongokdang Sesame Oil from the Yanggu Gangwon Province, Master Kim Young-Seup’s Green Plum Red Chilli Paste from the Jangheung Jeolla Province, and Master Seong Myeong-Hee’s Soy Sauce from the Yangpyeong Gyeonggi Province.

Other than the MIMC products, The Butcher’s Dining also has a section of shelves dedicated to lifestyle products. Here, you can purchase drip coffee bags and coffee beans from famous Busan brewer WERK ROASTER, TheLivingFactory’s dishware set, HOHODANG’s gift bags, and various types of tea.

This section will be updated frequently as The Butcher’s Dining intends to spotlight different lifestyle brands from Korea to bring more attention to them in the local scene.

Authentic cuts of meat

Head in further and you’ll see a beautiful display of different cuts of fresh quality meat from Australia, New Zealand, Spain, and the United States suited for Asian cuisine.

You’ve got your usual ribeye and striploin, but it also has unique cuts like flap tail and heel muscle.

The butchery is helmed by Head Chef Heba Kim, a trained and certified Craftsman butcher. She has a vast culinary experience with a great passion in meat dishes and you can be assured that every cut of meat offered here is thoughtfully selected and carefully carved.

Credit: The Butcher’s Dining

Not quite sure what cut to purchase for a recipe you have in mind? Simply ask for recommendations from Chef Heba who will gladly assist you!

The butchery also has marinated meats that you can easily stir fry at home without adding more condiments, making it suitable for beginners.

And if you’re looking for a delicious home-cooked meal without the hassle of meal prep, you can purchase their Meal Kits which come with premium meats, complementary ingredients such as vegetables and mushrooms, as well as the recipe to the meal.

Credit: The Butcher’s Dining

They’ve got Braised Pork Kimchi Jjim, Gal-bi-jjim, and even Shabu Shabu, so you can enjoy a nutritious Korean meal even at home!

Credit: @thebutchersdining/Instagram

These meal kits are freshly prepared daily by Chef Heba, and every meal will be ready in 20 minutes or under, making healthy meals such a quick and easy fix.

Cafe

Besides the retail section and the butchery, The Butcher’s Dining also offers all-day dining at their cafe.

Credit: The Butcher’s Dining

They offer modern Korean cuisine, and while they have a couple of staple items on the menu, they will occasionally introduce daily specials and seasonal items that you can order.

Credit: @thebutchersdining/Instagram

We had the chance to try out the TBD Cheese Burger which features a thick juicy beef patty and slices of tangy and crunchy housemade pickles sandwiched between two perfectly toasted buns. The meat was perfectly seasoned, and this burger encompasses everything you would need in a cheeseburger and more.

Seasonal fresh greens or housemade sweet potato crisps will be served on the side.

Credit: The Butcher’s Dining

The other burger that they offer is the Spicy Pulled Pork Burger that has tender spicy pulled pork with pickles served between two soft and fluffy buns. Similary, this is served alongside either a side of seasonal fresh greens or housemade sweet potato crisps.

The burgers are delicious, and they’re perfect for those who prefer modern Korean cuisine with a Western touch.

For those who prefer more traditional Korean dishes, you must try their Spicy Pork Kimbap and the Old School Duroc Pork Cutlet which has a Korean style cutlet drizzled in house sauce with macaroni salad and rice.

We tried a refreshing citrusy glass of the MIMC Iced Korean Yuja and Mint Tea, and it instantly cooled us down from the crazy hot weather in Singapore.

We were also recommended the MIMC Iced Korean Pine Needle Tea that has a hint of floral. If you like the drinks here, you can head on out to the retail section to grab a bottle to bring home.

Overall, we had a great experience at The Butcher’s Dining because of its unique concept and mouthwatering food. Plus, the staff here are all very friendly and eager to share more about their culture with us. This would be a great place to hang out with your friends, or even bring your kids to so that they can learn more about the Korean culture.

The Butcher’s Dining is located at 593 Havelock Road, Singapore 169641. The shop is open daily from 10.30am to 8pm while the cafe is open from 11.30am to 8pm daily.