Best Injeolmi Bingsu in Singapore!
Friday, June 19, 2015
Unlike TV dramas/movies where people in other parts of the world rejoice and head out to beaches in bikinis and swimming trunks when Summer is here..:
"This does not happen in Singapore"
Singaporeans would rather hide indoors. Our beaches are EMPTY during summer, except for the occasional filming of music videos.
Instead, we seek solace in air-cons, iced-drinks and bingsoos, and these activities will be our #1 on the to-do list until this hot, summer period is over.
It was only until recently that bingsoos re-emerged again, after having fallen out of favour when ice-cream and yogurt-which-is-another-version-of-ice-cream-just-that-it-is-"healthier" was all the rage. Of course, variations of shaved ice like Ice-Kacang and Taiwan Shaved Ice existed way before, but it was only in 2015 when we saw a wave of Korean Bingsoos being brought into Singapore.
Why you should eat Injeolmi Bingsu?
1. Injeolmi Bingsu is one of the "traditional" flavours in Korea. It usually contains a mix of: soybean powder, almonds and rice cakes, with some variations.
2. It is one of the less-sweet aka healthier choice. Soybean - healthy. Almonds - healthy. Therefore, you eat Injeolmi = healthy and guilt free (unless you go do those pouring shots for the sake of Instagram and end up having all the condensed/sweetened milk in your bowl of bingsu).
3. It is a flavour which couples and anyone in love should share with each other because of the ingredients used. Rice cakes, in particular, has heavy symbolism in Korea as Koreans make and share rice cakes with each other in occasions of happiness and sorrow. It also means that you would stick with each other no matter what. SO SWEET.
Just look at how cute Jackson and Young Ji are in Roommate when they shared a bowl of Injeolmi Bingsu together, after Young Ji made Jackson angry.
Watch from 17:36 to 18:31.
In other words, Injeolmi Bingsoos are LOVE.
After a few weeks of Bingsu-hunting, the Evilbean has compiled the ultimate guide to the Best Injeolmi Bingsoos in Singapore, sorted by their total #evilbeans ratings.
To keep the rating purely on the Bingsu itself, the Injeolmi Bingsoos will be rated according to the following 3 factors:
1. Fineness of (Milk)Ice
2. Quantity and Quality of Toppings
3. Price
ARE YOU READY FOR THE COUNTDOWN?
Let's go!
#5 - O'ma spoon Korean Dessert Cafe
Injeolmi Bingsu ($11.90)
Apparently, their signature is the Berry Cheesecake Bingsu, which has gotten rave reviews on the Instagram Universe. Just skip the Injeolmi flavour if you decide to pop by.
- Fineness of (Milk)Ice
(4)- Quantity and Quality of Toppings
(1)- Price
(3.5)Total #evilbeans Rating:
(2.5)
O'ma spoon Korean Dessert Cafe
313 @ Somerset 313 Orchard Road #04-20/32
313 @ Somerset 313 Orchard Road #04-20/32
Singapore 238895
Nearest MRT Station: Somerset
Tel: +65 6333 0995
Nearest MRT Station: Somerset
Tel: +65 6333 0995
Opening Hours:
Daily: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
#4 - Bing Go Jung Korean Dessert House
Injeolmi Bingsu ($11)
Bing Go Jung is probably one of the first Bingsu cafe to open in Singapore, when they started way back in 2014.
The fineness of the ice here is not as fine, and the quality of the Injeolmi toppings were a little off, especially the rice cakes, which were pretty hard. However, this is probably the only Bingsu cafe to have ingredients INSIDE the shaved ice as compared to others where Injeolmi are literally just the "toppings". Quantity is good, quality is just average.
They really need to upgrade their ice-machine to the top-grade ones to up their Bingsu game.
- Fineness of (Milk)Ice
(2)- Quantity and Quality of Toppings
(3.5)- Price
(3.5)Total #evilbeans Rating:
(3)
Bing Go Jung Korean Dessert House
102 Guillemard Road #01-01
Singapore 399719
Nearest MRT Station: Mountbatten
Singapore 399719
Nearest MRT Station: Mountbatten
Tel: +65 6440 5509
Opening Hours:
Daily: 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Daily: 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
#3 - Snowy Village
Injeolmi Bingsu ($12.90 SPECIAL DEAL: $6.40)
The Injelomi Bingsu here was very interesting. This is probably the only Bingsu cafe that serves their Injeolmi with a scoop of ice-cream and red beans as their default. Like what I have mentioned on my Instagram (@Evilbean), the ice resembles more of those Taiwan shaved ice variety - flakes instead of fluffy snow, which is coarser. You could also feel that the whole container is vibrating whenever they use their machines.
Although ambience is not taken into account in this guide, I would just like to say that I really loved the way they decorated their outdoor area:
There is a deal on deals.com.sg now, where you pay just $6.40 for their Injeolmi Bingsu and $7.70 for their signature Pineapple Bingsu, which makes the bingsu here super value for money as long as the deal is on:
http://www.deal.com.sg/deals/6-40-onwards-for-snowy-village-authentic-korean-bingsu-5-flavor-includes-signature-injeolmi-black-sesame-very-berry-pineapple-and-sweet-potato-bingsu-unlimited-redemption-daily
In my opinion, this Injeolmi Bingsu is worth the trip down at $6.40. However, at its regular price of $12:90, this Injeolmi version might not be that one that you would come back for again and again.
- Fineness of (Milk)Ice
(2)- Quantity and Quality of Toppings
(3.5)- Price
Without discount:
(2) (5)Total #evilbeans Rating:
(3.5)
Snowy Village
120A Prinsep Street
Singapore 187937
Singapore 187937
Nearest MRT Station: Bugis (Beside Lasalle Art College)
Tel: +65 8284 4627
Opening Hours:
Daily: 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Daily: 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
#2 - Nunsaram Korean Dessert Cafe
Injeolmi Bingsu ($12.90)
As you can see from the photo, that was the first time I had the Injeolmi Bingsu from Nunsaram. The amount of Injeolmi toppings were just DAEBAK and the rice balls were of those small, cute ones which are easier to chew.
However, on my second visit, the toppings were considerably lesser and the mochi balls that I got were all larger in size, which do not go as well on your palette as those mini-ones. Nevertheless, the quality of the toppings are top notch, and the addition of almond flakes + whole almonds gives the bingsu a refreshing nutty flavour when paired with huge mouthful of fluffy ice.
- Fineness of (Milk)Ice
(5)- Quantity and Quality of Toppings
(5)- Price
(3.5)
Total #evilbeans Rating:
(4)
Nunsaram Korean Dessert Cafe
181 Orchard Road, Orchard Central, #05-51/52
Singapore 238896
Nearest MRT: Somerset Station
Opening Hours:
Daily: 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
Injeolmi Bingsu ($14.90)
Nunsongyee, which means snowflake in Korean, is one of the cafes that proves the power of Instagram and defeats all Real Estate logic. Despite being in a really secluded area, so secluded that you can hear what the crickets are trying to tell you if you listen closely, this place still attracts throngs of people when we were there in the evening.
The Injeolmi Bingsu here is awesome: smooth, fluffy, fine milk ice with lots of intricate mini mochi balls that provides that chewy texture in between mouthful of soybean powder and milk ice. The almond flakes were crispy and makes a wonderful choir in your mouth as you bite on them.
It was a close fight between the "Nuns" as they were 90% similar in their quantity and quality. After considering all the 3 factors, the Injeolmi Bingsu from Nunsongyee wins by a hair breath, all thanks to the little rice balls which makes it easier to chew and goes better with huge spoonfuls of milk ice!
Again, although ambience and service are not part of the ratings, I would like to give a special shoutout to the friendly service. It makes the whole Bingsu experience wonderful when the staff thank you in Korean and also asking you to "eat well" in Korean. To that I say, JJANG!
- Fineness of (Milk)Ice
(5)- Quantity and Quality of Toppings
(5)- Price
(2)
Total #evilbeans Rating:
(4.5)
Nunsongyee 눈송이
45 Burghley Drive #01-04
Singapore 559022
Nearest MRT Station: Lorong Chuan
Singapore 559022
Nearest MRT Station: Lorong Chuan
Tel: +65 6988 4591
Opening Hours:
Tues - Thurs: 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Friday: 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Sun: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
*Closed on Mondays*
Tues - Thurs: 12:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Friday: 12:00 PM - 11:00 PM
Sat: 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Sun: 10:00 AM - 10:00 PM
*Closed on Mondays*
If you know of any other Bingsu cafes in Singapore that serves awesome Injeolmi Bingsu, do let me know by dropping a comment below and I will update the list accordingly!
Now go experience this LOVE/COUPLE BINGSU with the ones you love, and may you stick together with him/her for a long, long time.
I have multiple "Evilbean" personalities. Meet EatingEvilbean, Traevilbean, Lifebean and Rantingbean. They are all pleased to meet you.
3 comments
Helloo thanks for ur recomendations ��
ReplyDeleteWelcome! :>
DeleteIm your number 1 fan!
ReplyDelete