Korean food is the latest Asian food trend that’s sweeping London right now, and it seems like the capital’s restaurants can’t get enough of bibimbap, Korean BBQ, Korean fried chicken, kimchi… The list goes on.
What makes Korean cuisine different to other East Asian cuisines is the strong, punchy flavours that typically dominate – but without the greasiness that often accompanies Chinese food. With that in mind, here are some of the best places in London you can sample some tasty, healthy Korean dishes!
Asadal, Holborn
This rather upmarket traditional Korean restaurant is the perfect place to take your date on a chilly winter’s evening. The luxe decor nicely offsets the great food – we recommend the classic Korean barbecue, which allows you to grill your own selection of meat, vegetables and seafood on a tabletop hotplate.
Bibimbap, Fitzrovia
This casual diner on Charlotte Street manages to hold its own in an area saturated with great food – partly because it specialises in the Korean staple dish that forms its namesake. Bibimbap, literally meaning ‘mixed rice’, consists of chopped raw vegetables and grilled meat on rice topped with a raw egg yolk, served in a hot stone bowl. You then mix the ingredients to your heart’s content, and the stone bowl makes sure that your rice is cooked to crispy deliciousness.
Seoul Bakery, Holborn
This home-style Korean cafe is popular with international students, and it’s not hard to see why. The cute, kitschy interior is the perfect setting for a relaxing meal with friends. As well as serving the classic bibimbap, you can also find a range of spicy, warming Korean stews, noodle soups, dumplings and gimbap (Korean sushi) here. Don’t miss out on their delicious pajeon, or seafood pancake.
On the Bab, Covent Garden and Shoreditch
This hip restaurant showcases the best of Korean street food. We like the lip-smackingly good Korean fried chicken wings that come with a hefty dose of chilli sauce, and the fluffy steamed pork buns are also particularly good.
Koba, Fitzrovia
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This is another classy Korean restaurant that’s often packed with Korean regulars. Koba is deservedly famous for its KBBQ, and attentive staff are on hand to help you with grilling your food if you are a novice. Perfect for when you want to treat yo’ self to something special.
Kimchee, Holborn
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Kimchee is another traditional-meets-hip Korean joint that opened in London a couple of years ago. You can choose from a wide range of classic Korean stews, hot pots and bibimbaps, but we recommend branching out into the delicious side dishes too.
Eat Dirty 