GOOD KOREAN IN LONDON

[Lucyclem]

Hi my first time posting but I often read! I am desperately searching for good Korean restaurants in London UK, hopefully someone can help! Central London area by Holborn/covent garden/soho.....Got Korean guests next week who wish to eat Korean and I haven't a clue! Please help!

[zuriga1]

I finally got to Asadal with a friend last week. It's a lovely place and we found the service to be excellent. The staff were extremely friendly and helpful. I can't fault the food. It was tasty and fine, but some portions were rather small and not really good value for money.

But... I came away feeling happy that I live not that far from Sorabal and some of the other restaurants in New Malden. I think the food is better there as are the portion sizes. The seafood pancake was not near as good as Sorabal's and neither was the Jap che.

[Tash]

I really like Korean food and have found the little row of Korean places on St Giles High Street, right by Tottenham Court Road tube hard to beat. You can find some more throughout Soho, from older places to new and trendier ones such as Bi Bim Bap but these I do not think compare. I just wish I would try something other than the bibimbap! I just love the combo of rice and egg.

[zuriga1]

Thanks, I'll remember your suggestion. I'm a bit addicted to a few dishes, too!

[zuriga1]

We revisited Sorabol in New Malden last night. The meal was superb and I'm only sorry we don't get there more often. I made it my mission to try some new dishes and thought the sticky chicken and sweet potato vermicelli with beef (I know the Korean names but they are eluding me this morning) were fantastic.

I guess it's important I try one of the London restaurants so I can compare the quality.

[brokentelephone]

Are those noodles called Jap Chae? I loooooove that stuff if so.

[zuriga1]

Yes, that's just what it was... and scrumptious. Sorabol serves it as an appetiser, but it could have been my entire meal except we were really hungry. I liked the sticky chicken dish even more if that's possible. Next time I'll try the mung bean souffle. I've read in reviews that it's outstanding.

[brokentelephone]

I've been eating at a place called Naru near Holborn/British Museum. I've only had their bibimbap, but it is one of the best I've had, and at lunch it's about 5.50 or something.

It uses the traditional purplely rice (no idea what this is called), and the meat, veg, egg are all great. I love popping in there for a quick bite during the workweek.

[chief1284]

I think the purple rice comes from cooking normal rice with some sort of seed or fruit which stains everything. Had it a number of times.

[gembellina]

Went to Cah Chi in Earlsfield last week for a very quick dinner. It was perfectly fine - but then we weren't very adventurous in our choices. Pajeon, spinach namul + complimentary mixed namul, galbi, pork bulgogi, steam rice, 2 diet cokes, £30. They don't take cards, only cash and cheque.

Not a big fan of Ran anymore since they had their refit, not so cool with communal round tables (or was it Arang, i always get them mixed up). Didn't appreciate being seated on a table where two other diners laughed at my boyfriend's clumsy way with chopsticks. Not the restaurant's fault, obviously, but would prefer to sit on a private table.

[jonY]

Koba (not Koya!) is the best Korean I've had in London. The pork belly on the BBQ is amazing as is their other non-BBQ food such as the yook hwei and the bibimbap.

[t_g]

yeah i liked koba but i found it quite expensive

[hayes64]

Expensive?
If you can recommend a cheaper Korean restaurant in central London where the food is at least as good as Koba then please shout it out. Koba's menu: http://www.koba-london.com/menu.html doesn't look too expensive unless you compare it to New Malden prices.

[t_g]

idk... when we went there we ended up spending over £30 each i think which for me, for korean, is a lot. also is v v v v annoying that you need to pay for lettuce + kim chi + whatnot to have w/ the bbq

[markp123]

I 'd have to agree about Koba..I was pretty let down. The food was ok but I kept feeling like they were trying to squeeze every pence out of me...after charging for every little thing (I did think the banchan was ok though albeit small in quantity) watching them recycle the paper chopstick covers on the sly seemed kind of lame given that they were squeezing me for every piece of cabbage, every piece of beef (quantity was quite small), and every piece of squid...Next time I'm in London I think I'll go somewhere else...

[zuriga1]

Head for New Malden... a short train ride and quite a few very good Korean places to choose from.

[brokentelephone]

I agree that it is very expensive for what you get, but still really like it.

[kschnepp]

Asadal was okay, but way too expensive for the quality. . Koya is the better choice. Assa is also fun

[limster]

Is this the Assa in Soho or in the Korean restaurant row around Centrepoint? (Or are they the same? Haven't been in a while.) Thanks!

[Noodle fanatic]

limster - would love if you could help kick off this thread about real Japanese food in London: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/7211... . Thanks in advance!

[kschnepp]

around Centrepoint....

[limster]

Thanks - I like Assa too -- I've only been to of the Centrepoint places once, but I think it was my favourite of the lot.

[Noodle fanatic]

To reiterate, the name of the Korean restaurant is Koba, not Koya.

[gemuse]

Haven't tried Asadal yet (will have to put this on the list). We've had a number of very mediocre Korean meals around London. The best so far has been Arirang, off Oxford Street in SoHo. I'm not sure if it gets much better in central London. My understanding is that all the places the Koreans like to go are out in New Malden.

[brokentelephone]

There is a very good place near Tottenhem Court Road called Koya which has excellent BBQ. I'd also recommend Kaya on Abermarle Street near Green Park tube.

Granted, the places in New Malden are probably better for certain regional dishes, but the aforementioned places do the basics very well.

[Noodle fanatic]

brokentelephone, I think you meant Koba near Tottenham Court Road. Delicious and authentic bbq in Soho. Lots of Koreans whenever I go there.

[brokentelephone]

Indeed I did.....

[Noodle fanatic]

P.S. Koya is the udon specialist in Soho: http://www.timeout.com/london/restaur...

[limster]

Best bet in central London is probably Asadal (next to Holborn tube station). The Korean grill seemed a little weak when I was there, but many of the other non-grill dishes were great.

[helen b]

If you're prepared to travel, then Sorabol in New Malden is really really good - there's a whole Korean enclave there.

[hayes64]

I'll 2nd Sorabol; I was there last Saturday night with three Korean friends (lucky enough to drop in and get a table without booking as the place was packed to the rafters) and we had an amazing meal. The Royal Galbi Jjim is to die for!