Craving for Korean cuisine (which I always am having. Haha) and wanting a change from Tanjong Pagar Road’s, we were off to Star Vista for Bornga.

I have been to Bornga with my girlfriend a year back. The dining experience did not wow me back then, but I thought maybe things might have improved by now.

Borgna is led by Korean celebrity chef Jong Won Paik (or better known as Baek Jong-won), although truth be told that I have not heard of him. And let’s say Borgna is not the best choice for diners who don’t eat beef.

From the menu, one would be under the impressive that many types of vegetables are given. I mean, I really thought so. But no.

While each table was given an impressive long dish of (raw) vegetables, there was disappointedly no special vegetables. I was really hoping to try some sesame leaves as shown on their menu.

And from the menu, we ordered:-

1) Jap chae, $23 (above) – Stir-fried pork and vegetables with glass noodles.

2) Kimchi jjigae, $15 (above) – Spicy stew with kimchi, pork, tofu and various vegetables.

3) Mansinchang samgyupsal, $24 (200g) (above) – Grilled pork belly. As mentioned in the menu, fine cuts were made through the meat.

4) Yangnyum dwaeji galbi, $33 (250g) (above) – Chewy pork ribs marinated with special house sauce.

Generally, Bornga is just one of many Korean restaurants. No wow food. No wow service. In fact, no wow anything although it’s said to be opened by a famous chef.

Instead we felt we were in a war zone at Bornga. During my first visit, my girlfriend and I came a little late at 8.45pm. Them closing at 10pm, we were informed at 9.30pm that they were closing in 30 minutes. But by 9.45pm, a particular (senior) female staff kept storming past us and checking on our progress. Feeling intimidated, we were literally stuffing ourselves, trying to finish the remaining meat on our grill.

When a restaurant says they close at 10pm, I presume it means we need to leave by 10pm. Not the staff needs to leave by 10pm.

On my second visit, we came on a weekday evening at 7.30pm. Having to queue for 45 minutes was nothing compared to the manner of how the staff unloaded the dirty plates from their push trays in the kitchen. They were throwing! So much cling cling clang. Not just once, but a few periods (of time). Note, periods and not times.

Having a craving for Korean while shopping in/near The Star Vista. I rather one suppress the craving. It’s that bad!

Related posts:

Dinner @ Nanta BBQ Dinner @ Superstar K Dinner @ MaciMani Korean // CLOSED Dinner @ Kimchi Korean Dinner @ Dal-In 2 Korean