Inside Bancheria: Singapore’s most creative Korean–Spanish fusion food

As unique foodie hunters, we're all about chasing down quirky fusion experiments. Some hit gold, others play it way too safe. But when we heard about Bancheria, the first thing that popped into our heads was: What if Spain and Korea had a food baby??

At Bancheria, Chef Dannel Krishnan answers that question with a playful yet refined menu of tapas-style small plates: an exploratory journey of flavours that brings two food cultures together in curious ways.

And just like the menu, the space itself holds its own surprises. Tucked quietly along a row of shops facing busy Beach Road, Bancheria welcomes you with a glowing neon sign and shelves of colourful jars, each filled with fermenting syrups. Curious, we asked the staff about them, and learnt they’re used mainly in desserts!

Colourful Banchan Platter

After settling down, we started our meal with the Signature Bancheria Banchan Platter ($12 per pax; inclusive of 3 refills), an array of traditional Korean x Spanish side dishes; aka Korean Banchan + Spanish nibbles?! We love the idea!

From Spanish olives to Korean kimchi and pickled lotus roots, the platter felt like a creative smorgasbord: playful, surprising, and a little whimsical. It’s fusion with a wink: half Korean, half Spanish, all joy on the table. We especially adored how the briny olives played to the creamy quail eggs... pairings that were cosy, true to tradition, and cute.

If you’ve ever been torn between craving tapas or anju, this is exactly the place to let both sides of you feast. With their seasonal menu on rotation, no two visits feel quite the same... just the way we like our foodie hunts!

Seasonal Banchan Platter (of 9 dishes)

We moved on to the tapas: another round of Korean-Spanish experimentation. The standout for us was the Corn, Scallop & Cheese Pajeon ($12). Crisp on the outside with pockets of cheese, it carried a gentle sweetness from the corn. What made it pop was the Spanish-inspired dip: a mustard-based sauce whisked with olive oil and sesame seeds. A clever pairing that kept us reaching back for more.

Spot the teeny tiny cheese pull!

Next up: do we hear galbi?? 👀 We’re always fans of Korean galbi, so this dish had our attention from the start.

My co-worker's favourite was the Wagyu Rib Fingers Galbi Kimchi Leek Salad ($12). In her words, "It makes eating a salad fun!"

Picture this: Sweet marinated galbi served atop salad, drizzled with a light kimchi dressing. It's no wonder that it makes even the staunchest of salad haters (aka me) go "That really is quite good!"

We weren’t sure what to expect from the Gambas Al Ajillo ($12): prawns cooked in garlic and olive oil can sometimes lean heavy. But this one turned out to be a pleasant surprise! The prawns were plump and juicy without any greasiness, and pairing them with the garlic confit turned each bite into a rich, creamy hit of prawn-meets-garlic goodness. Definitely a dish that won us over.

We also tried the Iberico Bulgogi & Pipparas ($8) and Smoked Salmon & Kimchi Cream Cheese ($8) open-faced bites where we felt the Korean-Spanish mash-up really clicked. Think crunchy European-style bread topped with bold Asian flavours. It’s the kind of pairing that makes you pause, smile, and go, ah, this is what good fusion food should taste like!

The last item of our main meal was the Chorizo Tteokbokki ($22): a true three-way cultural mash-up. Korean chewy rice cakes simmered in a creamy rosé sauce with smoky chorizo and gooey cheese curds. Bold, rich, and a little indulgent, it lived up to its role as the belly-filler of the night. One hearty dish, and we were more than satisfied!

Now moving onto our sweets: the drinks and desserts!

To wash things down, we went for the Blumon ($6.80) and Berry Fizz ($6.80) coolers. The Blumon had those blue-lemonade vibes: bright, citrusy, a little zippy! While the Berry Fizz leaned sweet-tart, like a sparkling berry soda. Overall, fruity, fizzy, and refreshing... exactly what you’d want on a hot day.

Desserts came as a cultural face-off: Churro ($4) from Spain vs. Hotteok ($5) from Korea. Both looked like cousins, but the hotteok stole the show for us! Crispy on the outside, with ooey-gooey brown sugar, cinnamon, and chopped nuts on the inside. Best part? The sweetness was balanced, earning it what we like to call the ultimate Chinese compliment: “not too sweet.”

The lovely staff at Bancheria :)

As we were soaking the last of our meal, Bancheria was starting to come alive. The after-work crowd was streaming in, starting their night with their first round of drinks. The hospitality of the staff not only extended to us during our meal, but also to the rest of the diners, cracking jokes and making small talk as they set the mood for the rest of the night ahead.

By the end of our meal, we were full, happy, and already planning a return. Watching the evening crowd settle in, it struck us that Bancheria really does embody the best of both worlds: the convivial, tapas-style energy of Spain and the communal, banchan-sharing spirit of Korea. A perfect spot to wrap up the work week: good drinks, good bites, and a fusion culture worth toasting to.

📍Location: Bancheria, 302 Beach Road, #01-06, Concourse Skyline, Singapore 199600