I am usually not a fan of neighbourhood bars but having seen some photos of the food from Habits, and given how the place that we initially wanted to hit for dinner ended up being closed unexpectedly for the day, we found ourselves being here — and thankfully we did, because little did we know that we would be able to find such gastronomical affair in a bar filled with neon lights and patio tables with a dimly-lit interior.

We have had three items here and I will go as far to say that we were left impressed by all the three; that being said I would think that the Korean Pasta impressed us in more ways than one here — described to have come with elements such as Jeyuk (Pork), Kimchi and Parmesan. Unlike most Korean Pasta that usually seem to draw heavier flavours from Kimchi, I liked how the Korean Pasta here seems to have a light cream base almost akin to the classic Carbonara; the kimchi only adding a slight savoury-tang that tickles the tastebuds and creating a juicy crunch that makes things so ever intriguing with every twirl of the pasta — nothing overly creamy or jelak, nor overly sour, making it pretty addictive on its own. I was most impressed by the Jeyuk; whilst there was this uncanny resemblance to bulgogi pork, what really surprised us was how tender they were; all that whilst devoid of any undesirable porky stench and being pretty savour with a hint of smokiness from the char.

It’s easy to pass by Habits and deem it as a regular bar given its rather flashy outlook, but I like how they seem to defy every bit of that characteristic for those who would venture into the unknown. Here, Habits have very much ditched that association of bars that usually serve albeit uninspiring finger food; instead, the quality of the dishes on their menu surpasses that of some cafes even — being more towards a gastro-bar without the hefty price tag (most of the food falls around the price tag of $12 to $18, with only a few items that passes $18 with the most expensive dish being priced at $24.90) and a rather interesting location that is out-of-town. Such establishments aren’t really quite my thing, but I must say the Habits is a place that I am really keen on revisiting again for how they do their food so well (and that is something I thought I would never say) — a hidden gem for those who are near the Springleaf area that is worth making a trip for!

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