There’s never been a better time to be a Korean food fan in London
It’s not hard to find Korean food in London – and it’s certainly not new to the capital. But we’ve recently seen a real broadening of the cuisine here in London, in no small part down to the Korean Wave (or Hallyu). That’s been in motion since the 90s, but in the 2010s it completely exploded; we love Korean films (remember when Bong Joon-ho swept the Oscars?), TV (practically everyone on the planet watched Squid Game) and musicians (K-pop stars are some of the most beloved celebs in the world). And, crucially, we love the food.
New Malden has long been known as London’s Koreatown: in the 70s, the Ambassador for the Republic of Korea lived in the area, and it’s now home to an estimated 10,000 Koreans. It’s been the city’s hub of Korean restaurants (alongside Chinatown) for five decades, but a recent influx of new openings has seen a proliferation of the cuisine all across the city.
As the Wave continues to gather momentum – as more and more exciting Korean restaurants open across town – we’re sharing the spots you should start checking off your list. Whether you’re looking for something ultra-traditional, a new-wave menu or the meal Jennie from BLACKPINK had last time she visited London.
Miga
Miga is a ‘modern Korean kitchen’ run by two brothers and their dad (who takes sole reins in the kitchen) – it’s a real family affair. The restaurant (which actually began its journey in New Malden 22 years ago) has a short but sweet menu that centres around beef and ox bone broth and has been earning rave reviews since launching in June.
Pochawa Grill
From the same group that brought us Bunsik, Bullgogi and Gogi, Pochawa Grill is inspired by Korean pubs and takes its name from the shortened version of the word pojangmacha, a Korean street food stall or restaurant on wheels. They serve up dishes like tofu kimchi, osam-bulgogi (spicy squid and pork stir fry) and rabokki (a ramen-tteokbokki mash-up), alongside drinks like soju, traditional East Asian bevs and cocktails.
Sollip
Sollip is a Korean-inspired, modern European restaurant started by husband and wife team Woongchul Park and Bomee Ki, who have worked at The Ledbury, Koffman’s and The Arts Club. Expect dishes like steak tartare with gochujang, red mullet with leek jangajj, daikon tarte tatin, and perilla leaf ice cream all presented on specific hand-made ceramics from Korean artisans.
Jang
One of a pair of recent openings in the Royal Exchange from Des Gunewardena (formerly Chief Executive of D&D London), Jang is a Korean Japanese restaurant led by chef Dana Choi, previously of Jinjuu in Mayfair and Seoul Bird. Expect to find the likes of Jang KFC, spicy miso black cod, bibim guksu & sea vegetable salad, and K-BBQ sirloin steak with Korean condiments on the menu.
Chungdam
Korean BBQ restaurant Chungdam, named after the Cheongdam-dong district in Seoul, comes from the same team that’s behind Shibuya and Hongdae Pocha. Everything about this spot feels premium, from the green marble tables to the chateaubriand filet mignon.
Korean Dinner Party
Korean Dinner Party is inspired by LA’s Koreatown, with a menu designed by Ana Gonçalves and Zijun Meng of TATA Eatery. Don’t miss the bacon mochi.
Olle
Olle is a classic Korean BBQ joint, where you can sizzle everything from Wagyu beef to Iberico pork to seafood on your very own tabletop stove. They were also visited by BTS back in 2019 – a major coup.
Seoul Bakery
This much-loved central London spot is small and permanently busy; its walls are covered in writing and doodles of K-pop stars. And it serves up some of the best Korean food in town.
Ogam
Ogam is a Korean cocktail and tapas bar in Angel which is a go-to for anju plates (side dishes and snacks usually eaten with alcohol). They also brew their own makgeolli, a Korean rice wine that’s milky and lightly sparkling.
Oh Gee
Coming very soon, Oh Gee is a new pop-up from chef Byungtae Ahn, the grand champ of Netflix’s K-Chicken War. Korean fried chicken, aka yangnyeom dak, is known for its super crunchy coating and punchy glazes and at Oh Gee you can try original, hot pepper and potato crisp coatings and five different glazes – sweet & spicy, hot & spicy, garlic crumble, soy honey and supreme.
Saba
The UK’s first-ever Korean ramen bar, Saba, opened in Knightsbridge back in March and it remains the only place in London where you can use Korea’s popular instant ramen machines. If you’re not sold yet, they’ve also got robots making fried chicken.
Bunsik
These guys spearheaded the Korean corn dog trend in London and there are always lengthy queues outside the shops for the notorious street food dish. You can’t go wrong with the classic corn dog, but grab the mozzarella option for that cheese pull IG shot.
