A 15-seater at the Gateway Orchard basement offers tasty, freshly-made Kimbaps (Korean rice rolls) and Yubuchobap/Inari (rice and fillings stuffed in a tofu pouch).
Details
Address: Orchard Gateway, 277 Orchard Road #B1-11 S238858
Opening Hours: 10 am to 10 pm daily
Price:
Around $8.50 to $12 for a Kimbap,
Inaris go for around $3,
Combo sets are available for around $15.
Overview
On my hunt for a low-carb meal in town, I chanced upon Friends Kimbap. Kimbap, a traditional Korean dish, is often eaten as a light meal or a snack. The dish itself is a crisp seaweed wrapped around julienned carrots and cucumber filling with a protein stuffed in the middle. Sesame seeds adorn the top, accompanying the sweet sauce lightly permeating through the whole roll.
Checking out the menu, the low-carb kimbap offered here immediately caught my eye. Thinly sliced omelette shred is used to fill up the Kimbap instead of rice. That’s additional protein right there.
At $13.90, the Low-carb Beef Kimbap is not the cheapest option out there, as you can get a bowl of ramen for that price. However, there is always a premium for the healthier option and this is no different. The roll itself is filling, with the ingredients packed fully into the seaweed wrap. This makes for a great lunch option with the convenience of grabbing it on the go and having a balanced dish of vegetables and meat that is not doused with sauce.
The rice option is cheaper, with the most expensive fried pork cutlet or crab meat going for $11.90.
While ordering, I was told the Kimchi and Tuna used come directly from Korea and are of the utmost quality. With the most pricey of options going for $3 – the bite-sized tofu snack is certainly a light option in more than one manner.
Beyond Kimbaps and Inaris, the stall offers fish cake soup, stir-fried rice cake, french fries, ice cream, and a selection of drinks.