Ssäm — Restaurant in Malay

I decided to have dinner here, thinking it would be the most satisfying option. The restaurant staff were lovely and gave me a warm welcome. However, I was not impressed with the food I ordered.

I ordered a vegetarian Japchae, a Korean dish that is typically on the sweeter side. Anyone familiar with it would know that. But here, it seemed like someone had spilled half a bottle of soy sauce into it—it was incredibly salty, far beyond what a normal human palate could tolerate. (For reference, I can handle salty food just fine; I don’t follow a low-sodium diet. But this was way over the top.) If I had finished the whole dish, I might have needed kidney dialysis when I got back to my country. The glass noodles had absorbed the sauce completely, making every bite overwhelmingly salty. I quickly informed the staff that I couldn’t eat it because of how salty it was.

The staff were wonderful and very accommodating, immediately offering to replace it. When the new dish came back, it was better but still quite salty. I ended up only eating some of the vegetables and a few noodles, but in the end, I still couldn’t finish it—half the bowl remained untouched.

As for my husband’s dish, he ordered a Tonkatsu rice set. It was edible, but not impressive—just something to fill the stomach. The chef had used the wrong cut of pork. Tonkatsu should have a slight marbling of fat for the best texture, but the piece he got was dry and tough. The exterior was also over-fried, bordering on burnt, with a deep brown color that was almost too dark.

The appetizer dish, however, was the saving grace of this meal.

You might have to wait a bit longer if you order during meal times, as they also have to prepare food for in-room dining guests.

I truly appreciate the staff for their quick and professional problem-solving. The credit for this experience goes to them. However, I must ask—was there any research done on the ingredients, preparation, or authentic flavors of these dishes? Do you truly understand the essence of the menu items? If you’re going to adapt them to your own style, you should consider who your guests are and how the dishes should be presented. Have the management or senior team members actually tasted all the dishes before serving them to guests? It shouldn’t just be about offering variety if none of the dishes are executed well. It doesn’t seem professional for a hotel of this standard.

Please take this into...

Ssäm at the Movenpick Boracay is a must-try! The food was absolutely amazing, offering great value for the quality. I especially loved the fresh sashimi and the perfectly cooked tonkatsu.

The service was impeccable, with our server Renee providing top-notch service. The restaurant itself has a cozy and intimate atmosphere, which was perfect for enjoying conversation without any distracting noise. The speed of service was also commendable; our food arrived quickly.

Prices were very reasonable, making it an even more enjoyable dining experience. I would definitely recommend this restaurant and plan to return before...

Amazing gem of a restaurant serving fabulous sushi with other Japanese and Korean gems. The salmon sushi and Korean fried chicken and yellowfin sashimi were all absolutely amazing but honestly everything we had was BEYOND outstanding. Also special shout out to Renee who elevated the whole experience and nothing was too much trouble! 😃 thanks...