Response to a Korean restaurant blog article 8D
Tried to reply to Korea.net's blog post on the top 10 recommended Korean restaurants in London but the authorisation for some of the open ID sites wouldn't let me sign in properly. So I thought I'd do a quickie post here instead.
Korean restaurants I have been to in London that were mentioned in that chart
I actually agree with some of the author's comments regarding some of the restaurants :) Anyway these are the Korean restaurants I've been to:-
Woo Jung This was the very first Korean restaurant I tried way back in 2005 and we weren't sure what to order, plus due to odd behaviour from the table guests (not from me but the other parties. I won't go any further) we received some weird treatment from the staff. I heard the restaurant had revamped completely and a lot of people seem to give it positive feedback so will try eating here again when I am free.
Bibimbap Soho I went here for lunch and I thought it was quite a funky place. Bit cramped but quite nicely decorated. It's near Prince Edward Theatre (hurrah for Jersey Boys). Took a while for me to get a waitress to take my order as it was busy. Most of the dishes are Bibimbab-centred. I ordered a vegetable Bibimbab and Jap Chae as a side order. Really nice. Apparently you can get your photo taken by the staff and it goes on a wall of fame. I guess it's only during dinner hours. Sadly I didn't get asked for a photo as I'm not a super model.
Arirang Have to agree with the author's comments. Food was nice but the service struggled when it got busy or if there were large groups. My last visit was slightly rushed. They gave me the bill before I even asked for it (translation - hurry up and go), plus my dessert which was an orange. Very nice decor upstairs and downstairs, which has the special ventilation when you want a Korean BBQ for dinner.
Po Cha Really squashed environment. I sat at the counter in front of the bar. My only visit was in 2008 after I finished my Saturday morning Mandarin class. I ordered a Bibimbab (not the stone pot one which was what I intended to order but pointed to the wrong dish ^^;;) and I was about to say where was the red chilli paste until the waiter came over to give it to me. I can't remember much about this place but will visit again.
Assa I think this is the place I've been to in London the most. A French student in my Mandarin class recommended the restaurant when I said I wanted to try Korean food since it had been a while. It's very small yet cosy and gets busy really quick. The queue tends to go outside the door too. The staff are generally ok and I've tipped them a few times. The food is very good and the prices have so far been reasonable. Kitchen is in front of you and the ventilation doesn't actually work so your clothes will seriously smell of cooking. I haven't tried the Noraebang section yet. Maybe one night I will when I get drunk.
Jee's Korean Restaurant The first restaurant I went to when I first visited New Malden on a Sunday evening in April 2012. All the restaurants down that road had closed after lunch and Jee was the only one who was still open after 3pm. We were tired and hungry from a long journey on the road (arguing over directions) so we decided to sit down in Jee's which was quiet and no other customers were seen yet. Was greeted with a friendly An nyoung ha seh yo/안녕하세요 by the manageress and we sat down at a table.
The food took a while to come, maybe 30 mins, but we didn't mind because we were tired and thirsty. The long wait was worth it because our dishes were incredibly nice. We had a hot stonepot Bibimbab, Kimchi Fried Rice (mine), Jap Chae, seafood pancake and deep fried chicken in a spicy Korean sauce. Wow the Bibimbab tasted so much better than the restaurants I had been to in Central London. I couldn't believe it. This one was less salty. The staff don't speak English perfectly though as long as you point on the menu what you want to order it's ok.
**After our yummy dinner we went next door to do some shopping in Sunny Mart for vegetables and other Korean groceries. The guy working there was also helpful and polite.**
Other Korean restaurants I've visited that were not mentioned on Korea.net
Arang OK I think I've lost count how often I went to eat my lunch at Korean restaurants each time I finished my Mandarin classes. This was another place I went to. It's located in Piccadilly Circus and quite posh. I think again like a few other big names it's changed management and decor. I didn't think much of the place. Might've been cultural clashing I'm not sure. Anyway I ordered a huge lunch set including hot Bibimbab, miso soup and the usual side dishes. Was so full.
Bi Won Situated around Russell Square and Holborn I came here to relieve stress from studying for two hours. Ordered a vegetable Bibimbab lunch set that came with side dishes and Miso soup. Can't remember my visit here very well.
Seoul Owned by the same manager of Taro Japanese restaurant next door (used to be our usual haunt for Japanese food), this restaurant is only open for dinner from 6pm onwards. You can have special Korean BBQ orders at discount rate depending by how many people are dining and the staff will cook the food for you. The starters are free and they tend to get a refill automatically when you've finished your little plates of goodies while waiting for the main dishes to arrive.
Little Korea Cosy, small restaurant however has a variety of dishes to choose from which includes Japanese bento boxes. The prices have gone up over time and the set dinners are very expensive. Bibimbab has a few choices. You can have vegetable, beef or seafood to go with the rice and usual ingredients. My last visit made me realise you can only pay by card if your order was £20 or over.
Bibimbab Cafe Tiny cafe situated opposite British Museum. It does what it says on the door and is not a restaurant. However fresh food is constantly prepared and needs to be heated up. They don't have a big menu though if you're after the main favourites like Bibimbab, seafood pancake (£1 per piece) or Ramyun you can get them here. There is also a takeaway service.
Korean restaurants I have been to in London that were mentioned in that chart
I actually agree with some of the author's comments regarding some of the restaurants :) Anyway these are the Korean restaurants I've been to:-
Woo Jung This was the very first Korean restaurant I tried way back in 2005 and we weren't sure what to order, plus due to odd behaviour from the table guests (not from me but the other parties. I won't go any further) we received some weird treatment from the staff. I heard the restaurant had revamped completely and a lot of people seem to give it positive feedback so will try eating here again when I am free.
Bibimbap Soho I went here for lunch and I thought it was quite a funky place. Bit cramped but quite nicely decorated. It's near Prince Edward Theatre (hurrah for Jersey Boys). Took a while for me to get a waitress to take my order as it was busy. Most of the dishes are Bibimbab-centred. I ordered a vegetable Bibimbab and Jap Chae as a side order. Really nice. Apparently you can get your photo taken by the staff and it goes on a wall of fame. I guess it's only during dinner hours. Sadly I didn't get asked for a photo as I'm not a super model.
Arirang Have to agree with the author's comments. Food was nice but the service struggled when it got busy or if there were large groups. My last visit was slightly rushed. They gave me the bill before I even asked for it (translation - hurry up and go), plus my dessert which was an orange. Very nice decor upstairs and downstairs, which has the special ventilation when you want a Korean BBQ for dinner.
Po Cha Really squashed environment. I sat at the counter in front of the bar. My only visit was in 2008 after I finished my Saturday morning Mandarin class. I ordered a Bibimbab (not the stone pot one which was what I intended to order but pointed to the wrong dish ^^;;) and I was about to say where was the red chilli paste until the waiter came over to give it to me. I can't remember much about this place but will visit again.
Assa I think this is the place I've been to in London the most. A French student in my Mandarin class recommended the restaurant when I said I wanted to try Korean food since it had been a while. It's very small yet cosy and gets busy really quick. The queue tends to go outside the door too. The staff are generally ok and I've tipped them a few times. The food is very good and the prices have so far been reasonable. Kitchen is in front of you and the ventilation doesn't actually work so your clothes will seriously smell of cooking. I haven't tried the Noraebang section yet. Maybe one night I will when I get drunk.
Jee's Korean Restaurant The first restaurant I went to when I first visited New Malden on a Sunday evening in April 2012. All the restaurants down that road had closed after lunch and Jee was the only one who was still open after 3pm. We were tired and hungry from a long journey on the road (arguing over directions) so we decided to sit down in Jee's which was quiet and no other customers were seen yet. Was greeted with a friendly An nyoung ha seh yo/안녕하세요 by the manageress and we sat down at a table.
The food took a while to come, maybe 30 mins, but we didn't mind because we were tired and thirsty. The long wait was worth it because our dishes were incredibly nice. We had a hot stonepot Bibimbab, Kimchi Fried Rice (mine), Jap Chae, seafood pancake and deep fried chicken in a spicy Korean sauce. Wow the Bibimbab tasted so much better than the restaurants I had been to in Central London. I couldn't believe it. This one was less salty. The staff don't speak English perfectly though as long as you point on the menu what you want to order it's ok.
**After our yummy dinner we went next door to do some shopping in Sunny Mart for vegetables and other Korean groceries. The guy working there was also helpful and polite.**
Other Korean restaurants I've visited that were not mentioned on Korea.net
Arang OK I think I've lost count how often I went to eat my lunch at Korean restaurants each time I finished my Mandarin classes. This was another place I went to. It's located in Piccadilly Circus and quite posh. I think again like a few other big names it's changed management and decor. I didn't think much of the place. Might've been cultural clashing I'm not sure. Anyway I ordered a huge lunch set including hot Bibimbab, miso soup and the usual side dishes. Was so full.
Bi Won Situated around Russell Square and Holborn I came here to relieve stress from studying for two hours. Ordered a vegetable Bibimbab lunch set that came with side dishes and Miso soup. Can't remember my visit here very well.
Seoul Owned by the same manager of Taro Japanese restaurant next door (used to be our usual haunt for Japanese food), this restaurant is only open for dinner from 6pm onwards. You can have special Korean BBQ orders at discount rate depending by how many people are dining and the staff will cook the food for you. The starters are free and they tend to get a refill automatically when you've finished your little plates of goodies while waiting for the main dishes to arrive.
Little Korea Cosy, small restaurant however has a variety of dishes to choose from which includes Japanese bento boxes. The prices have gone up over time and the set dinners are very expensive. Bibimbab has a few choices. You can have vegetable, beef or seafood to go with the rice and usual ingredients. My last visit made me realise you can only pay by card if your order was £20 or over.
Bibimbab Cafe Tiny cafe situated opposite British Museum. It does what it says on the door and is not a restaurant. However fresh food is constantly prepared and needs to be heated up. They don't have a big menu though if you're after the main favourites like Bibimbab, seafood pancake (£1 per piece) or Ramyun you can get them here. There is also a takeaway service.