Discovering Bosong Rice Cake: A Korean Specialty from Ajumma in Singapore

Introducing Bosong Rice Cake

On a recent outing, I stumbled upon an intriguing little shop called Bosong Rice Cake located on the second floor of Beauty World Plaza in Singapore. This quaint takeaway spot is run by Mrs. Jo Ja Young, a Korean ajumma from Yoju. Here, you can find a variety of handcrafted tteok (rice cakes), with prices starting at 5 SGD (approximately 85,000 VND) for a box that can hold anywhere from two large pieces to nine small ones.

Highlights of Bosong Rice Cake

Tteokbokki, a popular Korean street food, is usually served with a spicy gochujang sauce and has become a favorite among many Singaporeans who love Korean culture. Finding a place that sells sweet tteok in Singapore can be quite challenging, so I was thrilled to discover Bosong Rice Cake.

The tteok at Bosong comes with a variety of traditional fillings and flavors. Mrs. Jo, who starts baking at 5 AM, ensures that all products are freshly made every day. Her 23-year-old son, Min Sung, helps her out whenever he has free time from his university studies.

Experiencing Tteok at Bosong

At Bosong Rice Cake, there are around 12 different types of tteok for me to choose from. Initially, I wasn’t sure what each one was. Min Sung, with a voice that sounded just like a local Singaporean, explained each rice cake to me. Although Mrs. Jo was a bit shy, she made an effort to communicate in her limited English. They are truly friendly people!

I began my journey of tasting Korean tteok with the Kkot Tteok (10 SGD for 3 pieces). These cakes are shaped like small cherry blossoms and are decorated in lovely pastel colors like yellow and pink. I was a bit surprised not to see them on the shop's Instagram page. Min Sung explained that his mother frequently makes new products, so the menu is not updated regularly.

Before indulging, I took a moment to admire the intricate design of these flower-shaped tteok. The white and pink cakes are filled with red bean paste, while the yellow ones contain sweet potato, and the light purple ones are stuffed with purple sweet potato. Their texture is similar to tteokbokki, chewy and dense. The filling isn’t overly sweet, and having one reminded me of a softer version of Vietnam’s traditional ang ku kueh.

Other Rice Cake Varieties at Bosong

Next, I tried the Honey Rice Cake (6.50 SGD for 7 pieces). Upon seeing them, I immediately thought of the Chinese longevity buns filled with mung bean paste, often served during traditional birthday celebrations. These cute mini tteok even share the same pink and white colors as the buns. When I took a bite, I experienced an explosion of flavors. I told Rachel it reminded me of bánh trôi nước, while she said it made her think of ondeh ondeh.

Inside, the cake features a sweet honey filling along with a generous amount of white sesame. After trying another piece, I realized this flavor combines elements of the two local desserts I had mentioned.

Mujigae Tteok (6 SGD for 2 pieces) might be one of my favorites in terms of appearance. Also known as rainbow rice cake, this tteok comes in four colors: white (rice), purple (purple sweet potato), brown (cinnamon), and green (wormwood). If you’re not familiar with wormwood, no worries! It’s a wild herb used by Koreans as a home remedy for bleeding and to stabilize the stomach.

Location and Operating Hours

Beauty World Plaza is located in Upper Bukit Timah but is less crowded than its famous neighbor, Beauty World Centre. Bosong Rice Cake doesn't attract many customers since it’s on the second floor, where there are several brokerage centers and a few quiet small shops. Mrs. Jo moved to Singapore in 1999 and has operated Bosong Rice Cake at various locations, including Bukit Batok and Bukit Timah Plaza. The current shop at Beauty World Plaza opened in 2018, initially relying on local Korean customers who ordered online, especially during the festive season.

Mrs. Jo hopes to be known as “tteok jib ajumma,” meaning “the rice cake house auntie.” In my eyes, she truly is an extraordinary woman. Everything is handmade, and each filling is prepared with care. Bosong Rice Cake is open only from Thursday to Saturday for direct orders and online requests. On the other days of the week when closed, she still goes to the shop to prepare fillings and handle large orders—sometimes only getting a few hours of sleep!

Conclusion

It’s rare to find traditional Korean rice cakes made in Singapore by a genuine Korean woman. Make sure to visit Bosong Rice Cake at Beauty World Plaza to enjoy these unique snacks without needing a plane ticket to Korea—I promise you won’t regret it! To place an order or inquire further, message them on WhatsApp at +65 9169 3587. Keep in mind that quantities may be limited, so be prepared!

This article was referenced and edited from: Seth Lui Food