GOCHU: A Hidden Korean Cave-Style Restaurant Tucked Inside Orchid Country Club, Yishun

Dinner tonight felt a little special. Since I was already in Yishun for an appointment, we decided to check out GOCHU, a newly opened Korean restaurant hidden within Orchid Country Club. Tucked away at the golf driving range, GOCHU feels like one of those places you wouldn’t stumble upon by chance — but once you step inside, you’ll be glad you made the trip.

Designed with stone walls, warm lighting and surrounded by greenery, the space has a calm, almost cave-like atmosphere. It feels removed from the city bustle, yet you’re still very much in Singapore. The vibe is relaxed, welcoming, and surprisingly cool — easily one of the youngest and trendiest dining spots you’ll find in Yishun, judging by the crowd that night.

While GOCHU isn’t a direct import from Korea, it’s opened by the team behind familiar Korean dining concepts such as D’RIM, MODU and Kimchi Dining, so expectations were naturally high. The name Gochu means chilli pepper in Korean, and fittingly, the menu spans a wide range of Korean classics alongside more inventive dishes. In the evenings, GOCHU also offers K-BBQ.

One thing that stood out immediately was the restaurant’s focus on ribs. We started with the Galbitang Bansang, a beef short ribs soup that’s been boiled for 24 hours. The broth was clear yet deeply comforting, with silky glass noodles soaking up all that flavour. But the real highlight was the ribs themselves — large, juicy, and so tender they slipped right off the bone.

Another comforting option on the menu is the Pork Ribs Kimchi Jjim Bansang, which comes loaded with kimchi, enoki mushrooms, tofu and generous portions of pork ribs. The broth is tangy and hearty, making it a satisfying choice if you’re craving something bold and warming.

For dinner, GOCHU also serves a dedicated K-BBQ menu, including their Grilled Pork Ribs, which turned out to be a standout. These ribs may look simple, but they’re first sous-vided, then finished over a binchotan and oakwood fire. This technique locks in the juices while adding a smoky char that really elevates the dish.

The ribs come in two flavours — Sweet & Savoury and Spicy. The spicy version packs a confident kick that’s bold and deeply satisfying, while the sweet and savoury ribs shine with a lovely smokiness from the grill. Both were excellent, but if you enjoy heat, the spicy one is a must-order.

Eating the ribs tableside adds to the experience. A pot of melted cheese is heated in the centre of your grill, and once the ribs are ready, the staff dips them into the cheese before putting it on a plate.

My personal favourite of the night was the Chilli Pickle Noodle. Despite its name, it’s surprisingly refreshing. There’s a gentle balance of sweetness and spice that makes the noodles incredibly slurp-worthy — one of those dishes you don’t expect to love, but end up thinking about after the meal.

If you’re dining in a group, there are plenty of sharing options as well. The Zucchini Pancake with Dried Prawn, Grilled Rice Balls and Boneless Fried Chicken are safe crowd-pleasers. But the most talked-about dish at our table was the Big Crispy Chilli with Special Spicy Sauce. A giant chilli pepper is stuffed with minced pork, tzatziki and more, then deep-fried and served with a house spicy sauce. As you cut into it, the juices spill out beautifully. On its own, the chilli isn’t as fiery as it looks, but the special spicy sauce adds a moderate heat that rounds everything off nicely.

The location may be slightly out of the way, but free parking is available, and there’s also a complimentary shuttle service for those who prefer not to drive. Service was another highlight — friendly, attentive, and genuinely enthusiastic. We were lucky to get a table within 15 minutes, and the service team patiently walked us through the menu with bright smiles. In fact, GOCHU has been receiving such an overwhelming response that they’ve temporarily stopped taking reservations — it’s walk-ins only for now.

If you’re looking for a refreshing Korean dining experience away from the usual city crowd, GOCHU is well worth the trip. Who knew Yishun had such a cool hidden gem?