Korean cuisine has been sailing relatively low on London’s radar for some time now – but it’s high time that it’s given the praise it deserves. Besides, who wouldn’t want to indulge in barbecued meats, bibimbap and bulgogi? Spotlighting Korea’s tradition for communal dinners and dishes designed to share, expect a meal filled with feasting plates, banchan (side dishes), plenty of lettuce and green onion (yes, you read that right) and more marinades than you can shake a stick at. Here are the best Korean restaurants in London, proving there’s much more to this cuisine than chicken wings and corndogs. 

KGK, Kensington

Offering London’s only Korean omakase dining experience, KGK invites diners to immerse themselves in Korean cuisine, from flipping meats on the grill to drinking traditional soju. Embrace your inner chef and get ready to barbecue, with each table featuring a tabletop grill,chopsticks and tongues on which to cook your selection of wagyu rib eye steak, whole tiger prawns and seasonal vegetables just the way you like them. Other menu must-haves include yukhoe – a Korean take on beef tartare, flavoured with sesame oil, soy sauce, garlic and pear with an egg yolk on top – as well as a la carte options of pork belly su-yuk (kimchi) and soybean ice cream for dessert.

Staying true to its roots, KGK encourages diners to follow tradition by breaking up meals with fresh greens to balance out the sweet flavours of the marinated meat – be sure to try its signature ssam, a lettuce and perilla leaf dish designed to wrap meats and assorted sauces. Marinades are prominent in Korean cuisine, as are banchan – expect traditional Korean kimchi, pajeoli (green onion and chilli) salad and seasonal namul (green vegetables) to complement the meal. 

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Dosa, Mayfair

One of acclaimed chef Akira Back’s many culinary outlets at the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, Dosa – meaning ‘expert’ in Korean – serves contemporary dishes from his homeland in an intimate 14-seater counter style setting. The concept is based on Back’s global heritage, which saw him leave his native Korea as a teenager to move to Colorado, and his subsequent travels building his restaurant portfolio. At the Mayfair outpost, Back is joined by executive chef Jihun Maxime Kim, who is also originally from Korea and has worked in kitchens in San Francisco, Dubai and Melbourne.

Each dish tells its own story, and the eight-course chef’s table experience evolves daily. The ever-changing menu features Korean classics with a twist, such as mulhoe: a fisherman’s chilled soup from Pohang on the Korean peninsula. Traditionally blended with kimchi and gochujang, Dosa’s version includes wild pink seabream from Cornwall, donchimi, red pepper, salsify and a wasabi sorbet. Another highlight is majangdong, inspired by a district in Seoul known for its hanwoo beef and nose-to-tail culinary traditions. This dish presents three cuts of Korean beef, prepared in front of guests to create three unique offerings: yukhoe bibimbap (Korean beef tartare mixed with rice) and bulgogi (thinly-sliced meat marinated in garlic, ginger and pear). 

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Sollip, Southwark

Although founder and head chef Woongchul Park insists his one Michelin-starred restaurant isn’t exclusively Korean, it certainly fits the bill as far as we’re concerned. Having grown up in Korea, where he married his wife and fellow chef, Bomee Ki, the duo founded Sollip in 2020, driven by their passion for combining French techniques with the flavours of home. Offering a single tasting menu coloured by the ingredients that shaped their childhoods in South Korea, every element of Sollip – the Korean word for pine needle – is uniquely personal, resulting in nine courses of meticulously-designed flavour. 

Dine on the likes of a tartlet of beef tartare and gochujang; daikon tarte tatin with toasted barley; skate white asparagus with gat-kimchi romesco; and lamb doenjang with wild garlic and haggis in softly-lit, warm, white surrounds. While produce at Sollip is sourced predominantly from the UK, a handful of speciality ingredients come from small-scale artisanal producers across Korea, including certain seaweed varieties (dashima and gamtae), makgeolli (a fermented Korean rice wine), perilla seed oil and yuza (a Korean variety of yuzu). 

Visit sollip.co.uk

Chungdam, Soho

Images: Chungdam

Putting a modern spin on native delicacies, Chungdam is one of London’s most authentic Korean eateries. Situated on Soho’s Greek Street, the menu has been crafted with the vibrant food culture of Seoul in mind, guided by traditional Korean cooking techniques to create an interactive dining experience. The extensive menu starts with a selection of sides, such as japchae – vermicelli noodles with prime beef and vegetables – seafood pancakes, and mandoo (chicken dumplings). However,it’s the array of grilled meats that makes this restaurant stand out from the crowd, ranging from chateaubriand to salted chicken thigh, and Iberico marinated secreto to wagyu – all barbecued in front of your eyes. 

Don’t miss the signature offering: the pyeonbaek steam box. Cooking meats, seafood and vegetables over pyeonbaek wood provides five times more phytoncide than other woods so imparts a fragrant flavour. For £95 a pop, the three-tier steam box is designed for sharing, and features thinly sliced beef brisket, abalone, Spanish prawns, lobster tail and more. Oh, and round off your night in the private karaoke room for the full experience. 

Visit chungdam.co.uk

Koba, Fitzrovia

Koba has been a firm fixture on London's Korean dining scene since 2005, specialising in Korean table barbecue where you can grill premium cuts of meat at the table. In 2016, the restaurant marked its 10 year anniversary with fresh interiors inspired by Korea’s rich cultural heritage, featuring pared-back wooden shelves, large skylights and funnel spotlights. The menu, meanwhile, has been designed to reflect the communal nature of Korean food, featuring traditional sharing dishes like saewoo gangjung (deep fried chilli prawns), squid and seaweed salad, and soy tofu with ponzu. 

Table barbecue highlights include la galbi (soy-marinated spare beef ribs), ox tongue in sesame oil, and spicy pork belly. Can’t decide? Opt for one of the barbecue packages designed for two people to share, including the classic Koba selection: rib eye, pork belly, spicy chicken, squid, prawn, and vegetables – perfectly complemented by a side of lettuce and spring onion, of course. 

Visit kobalondon.com

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