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There’s a lot of construction going on in Claremont right now. If they’re not digging up Imam Haron Road or blocking the side streets, houses are being pulled down and apartments are going in.
But for the last month or two, it’s the shopfront of 109 Belvedere Road that’s caught my eye, not least because one of the first things to go on the wall was a new sign.
“Chingu. Authentic Korean Food.”
The Backstory
This corner of the southern suburbs is a surprisingly diverse hotbed of global cuisine. Lebanese Bakery is perhaps the OG of the area, but I’m also partial to Pho House next to Coimbra Bakery. Further down the road, Edo Sushi hits the quality/price notes just right. The kitchen at Hot Stuff always looks a little dubious, but their naan breads and Pakistani plates are superb.
But Chingu is the first Korean restaurant in this part of town, and long may it last.
While the restaurant may be new, the energy in the kitchen comes with a Cape Korean pedigree. Chingu is the new outing from Chone-Hee Cho, who also runs the popular Korean Kitchen in Stadum on Main. At Chingu, she works hand in hand with Saburo Adaniya.
“At Korean Kitchen, we found that a lot of Muslim customers would come in and ask about the food, but unfortunately, we sell pork there,” explains Saburo. “So she had the idea to open a restaurant that would be more inclusive for Muslim diners. ‘Chingu’ means ‘friend’ in Korean, and she wanted the restaurant to feel friendly and for customers to build a relationship with us here. Come in, have a chat, and learn about Korean food and culture.”
Chingu is in the final stages of full Halaal certification, but pork will be the last thing on your wishlist here anyway.
The Food
Step inside, and the menu stretches the width of the shop. In pride of place? Korean fried chicken.
“The chicken is the heart of everything,” says Saburo with a smile. “And most of our chicken is wings. About 90 percent.”
And they are unbelievably good. Unlike other fried chicken outlets where the batter goes limp in minutes, the generous crumb and double fry (those are the only secrets Saburo let slip) ensure that even by the time I got to the bottom of my order, the wings were perfectly crisp. Inside, the meat is as succulent as you could ask for.
Portions are generous, from the nine-piece family box to the 14-wing Half & Half. You won’t go hungry. There are also sauce options, and while I’ll be back for the garlic option, the Honey Butter sauce served up sweet richness that neatly offsets the batter's subtle spice.
But, it’s still just chicken, right? Great chicken, yes. But still chicken.
It’s the bookends of the menu where it gets more interesting, with a collection of authentic Korean dishes that might be new to your palate.
“There’s a mix of traditional Korean food, home-style dishes and Korean street food,” says Saburo. “Bibimbap, for example, is a home-style dish with rice, vegetables served separately, beef and an egg on top. The chilli sauce is served on the side, so you can choose how spicy you want it. The idea is that everything is kept separate, and then you mix it together yourself.”
You’ll also find jajjang myun, a traditional Korean noodle dish made with black bean paste, potatoes, chicken and udon noodles, as well as suntofu, a fiery Korean soup made with kimchi and soft tofu.
“It comes with rice on the side. It’s very spicy!” says Saburo. “You know when your nose runs and you get that tickle at the back of your throat? That’s how spicy. It’s one of my favourite dishes, especially in winter.”
There are also dokbokki rice cakes, udon noodle soup, mandu dumplings and traditional gimbab. I especially loved the triangle gimbab – similar to Japanese onigiri – with sushi rice and kimchi folded into a triangle and wrapped in sheets of nori.
Desserts were, sadly, out of stock when I stopped by, but in a few weeks you’ll expect to find a collection of imported Korean sweets and cakes.
The Drinks
Along with a selection of soft drinks there’s a small collection of Korean juices, iced coffee (BTS branded, of course) and sachets of instant coffee that are, I’m told, a thing in Korea. There’s no alcohol served, so you’ll need to order a takeaway if you want to enjoy your wings with a beer.
The Vibe
Chingu sits somewhere between take-away and a casual restaurant. The open kitchen and counter-style ordering lend themselves to grabbing your order and heading home, but there are tables and window-facing counter seating if you want to eat in. The TV blares K-pop dance videos to help you pretend you’re somewhere in Seoul, not the southern suburbs.
Time Out Tip
If there’s a downside to Chingu, it’s that you have to find parking. It’s an age-old problem on this corner, but at least Chingu does have four spots right alongside. Otherwise, hit the side streets and take a stroll. They’ll also be on delivery platforms soon.
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