Lousy Food Banished

Norwood Central Plaza, Norwood

If you’re after a quiet, delicate meal where you can sip on tea and contemplate life- this ain’t it. 88 Pocha is loud, lively, and unapologetically generous with its portions, spice, and booze. Nestled in Norwood Central Plaza, this Korean spot delivers on food, fun, and a side of mild chaos.

The Feast Begins

We order Set B, because if you’re going to do Korean food, you might as well go all in. First up: Cheese Dakgalbi, a spicy-sweet stir-fried chicken dish topped with gooey melted cheese. It was served with udon noodles, which soaked up the rich, spicy sauce beautifully, while makgdksu (a cold buckwheat noodle salad) sat on the side, ready to refresh the palate in between fiery bites.

Then came the sides:

• Seafood Pancake- a rice-based pancake with a crisp base, topped with vegetables and prawns- which to be honest, I couldn’t even fit in. But it must have been good, as my friends inhaled it like they hadn’t seen food in weeks.
• Gimmari- deep fried seaweed rolls stuffed with glass noodles- golden, crunchy and dangerously addictive.

The Hotplate Saga

Seated around a round table with a built in hot-plate, we watched as the staff poured the Dakgalbi onto the sizzling pan and told us to keep mixing and cutting it into pieces. Naturally, we took the first instruction very seriously, but completely ignored the second. After a few minutes of stirring and staring at the uncut chicken and vegetables, the staff must have decided we were beyond help. One stepped in, took the spatula and scissors, and saved us from our own incompetence.

More Food, Why Not?

As the Dakgalbi simmered, the plates just kept coming:

• Korean Fried Chicken (KFC, the only kind I’ll eat)- drizzled in Hamyang Secret sauce, a soy-based glaze with a subtle chilli kick. Crispy, sticky, perfect.
• Waygu MB9+ Steak Tartare- Served in a waffle cone. Yep, a cone. It looked like a melting meat ice cream but tasted like a buttery, seasoned perfection. Im convinced this is how steak tartare was always meant to be served.

A Birthday Surprise (For Everyone, Including Me)

Now, when i booked the table, I left a note about a birthday. And then, like a true friend, I immediately forgot about it. Cue the lights dimming, the music blasting, and a special Korean sweet pancake (Hotteok) with a candle and ice cream appeared at our table, my birthday friend looked mortified, and I look… confused. Turns out, I surprised myself.

To top it off, the staff handed us three Soju Bombs. The Soju came in a glass, and then, with a flair worthy bartender in an action movie, a beer was shaken and poured in, creating a foamy but delicious drink. Did I need it? Probably not. Did I love it? Absolutely.

Final Verdict: Bring Your Appetite (and Maybe a Spare Stomach)

88 Pocha isn’t just about food- its a full-blown experience. From interactive cooking (or, in my case, supervised cooking) to surprised birthday theatrics and Soju-fueled celebrations, its a place to gather, eat too much, and roll home with a box of leftovers. Highly recommend- just don’t forget to cut the Dakgalbi.