Koggii: New Korean-style “cai fan” concept at Suntec City with meals starting from S$9.90

Office workers in the Suntec City neighbourhood have yet another wallet-friendly spot to add to their rotation of lunch places: Koggii. It’s the new brainchild of the folks behind the popular Sotpot and Onggii, both located within the same mall. 

What Koggii serves up is not exactly the cai fan (or economic rice) that most of us might be accustomed to, but the spot does come with a buffet-line set-up where you can pick and choose a selection of sides to go with your rice, kimchi and soup. 

This set-up, which reminds us more of a Korean office cafeteria, happens at lunchtime on weekdays, from 11.30am to 3.30pm. 

The selection of dishes rotate daily and prices range from S$9.90 to S$14.90 (before GST and service charge), based on what’s being served that day.

When it first opened, Koggii allowed diners to help themselves liberally to the side dishes, free-flow, but the mains once only.

In the one week since it’s opened though, the store has tweaked things slightly. 

There are now two main sections: A one-time section that comprises a mish-mash of the day’s offerings, as well as a free-flow section with rice, cabbage kimchi and the soup of the day. 

Koggii doesn’t police the one-time section strictly, but there are staff standing around helping with the flow of the queue, to ensure the ravenous lunch crowd gets their food quickly.

You can preview what Koggii serves in its weekday lunch spread on a board outside or through its little printouts plastered on its walls — especially useful for those who work in the vicinity.

To get an idea of the variety and type of dishes you can expect, the spread when we visited cost S$12.90 and comprised:

• Grilled pork or chicken bulgogi with soy sauce
• Japchae (stir-fried glass noodles)
• Spicy fresh cucumber kimchi
• Oyster mushroom with beansprouts
• Sandwiches
• Steamed egg
• Salad of plain lettuce
• Kimchi soup 

We visited slightly around peak lunch time and the crowd was relentless, with queues both leading into the store and at the buffet line. We’d advise you visit after 2pm, if you can — especially if waiting isn’t your thing. 

While the menu changes daily, we really loved the japchae — which was well-seasoned, al dente and packed with fishcake — as well as the steamed egg. 

The steamed egg was silky smooth and yet, not too watered-down. And while what we received was pretty generous, we could have easily enjoyed three portions, if we weren’t limited to just one.

If there’s any item we’d return to try, it’ll be the rose spaghetti, which blends tomato and cream sauce, and even the Andong braised chicken. 

Admittedly at S$9.90 to S$14.90, Koggii’s prices are nearly two to three times that of a decently portioned local cai fan. 

But if you consider the prime location, the fact that you can get two or more protein choices — the mains, eggs, and some soups come with protein — and how some of these Korean dishes (e.g. japchae) can easily cost in the double-digit range, we’d say this is quite a steal.

In fact we won’t be surprised if prices go up after this — it is the town area after all. 

If weekday lunches don’t quite work for you, the outlet is planning to retain some of its “cai fan” favourites for its dinner and weekend crowds, alongside its S$39.90 free-flow Korean barbecue buffet. 

That won’t be economical for sure, but what we’re certain of is that you will — and can — get your fill of veggies, meat, sides, rice, and soup then. 

This was an invited tasting.

For more places to explore around Suntec City, check out Paik’s Noodle, a Korean-Chinese concept by celebrity chef Baek Jong-won, as well as these places you can only find at the mall itself. 

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out. 

You can also book a ride to Koggii at Suntec City.