COCONUTS HOT SPOT — Carb devotees gather, for there’s a new Korean joint at JEM that caters to your favorite section of the food pyramid. At Nipong Naepong, the first eatery here to specialize in jjamppong (seafood noodles), your post-meal food coma is pretty much guaranteed, thanks to a menu dominated by noodles and pizzas.
Frequent fliers to South Korea will recognize the chain restaurant, which is brought in by the same people behind fellow Korean franchises Chir Chir Fusion Chicken Factory and Masizzim. Otherwise, just know that the noods come in nine variations (from $15.80), with jjolmyeon (wheat noodles) tossed in spicy, creamy, and soupy bases shipped in from Seoul.
Just keep in mind that Nipong Naepong is basically all about seafood noodles, so if you’re not a fan of clams and mussels, or you’re on a carb-free diet, well, the Jurong mall eatery has plenty of other options for you.
Among the “ppongs”, the classic Cha Ppong comes in two spice levels (we wimped out and opted for level one), with fried cabbage, mussels, squid, prawn, and quail eggs swimming in a broth that packs a rather fiery punch.
If you’d prefer to stay on familiar territory, Vongole Ppong is reminiscent of the pasta dish, served with generous helpings of clams. Alternatively, Tae Ppong is a mildly spicy option with a heaping of al dente noodles stir-fried in a sauce that can be compared to pad Thai.
One of our favorites, Ro Ppong-Roje dishes out a rich blend of cream sauce and tomato purée that comes with a sprinkling of mozzarella, just in case you can’t get enough of dairy in your life.
Other items in the selection include Salad Ppong, with leafy greens, seafood, and noodles drizzled with a sweet chili dressing, and Al Ppong, a chilled bowl of noodles served with squid and prawns in a chicken broth.
Oh, and take note that the noodle portions here are massive. Unless you’ve got a big appetite, you probably won’t be able to finish an entire bowl by yourself, so plan accordingly.
For those who still have space in their stomach after all that carbo-loading, hit your daily calorie limit with Nipong Naepong’s range of sweet and savory pizzas (from $16.80). Unlike your usual thin/thick crust pies, these baked tortilla wraps are lighter renditions with topping options like sweet potato purée, garlic butter, or spinach leaves, cherry tomatoes, cream cheese, and honey.
If you’re still not convinced it’s worth a trip all the way out to Jurong, keep tabs on the restaurant when it opens its second outlet in the central area later this year.
Nipong Naepong is at #01-16 JEM, 50 Jurong Gateway Rd, 6262-4078. Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat-Sun 11am-11pm.
Reader Interactions