Cálong is a new Korean bistro in Stoke Newington
We’ve been fans of Cálong ever since we first tried chef Joo Won’s modern Korean cooking at his Chinatown pop-up back in 2021. Previously Head Chef at the Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows, Joo ran Cálong as a “side-hustle”, popping up across London for the past four years—so it’s exciting to see it finally put down roots. Now settled into the old Rubedo site on Stoke Newington Church Street, the new space has a relaxed vibe, blending Joo’s Korean heritage with European and French techniques, seasonal British ingredients, and a standout selection of natural wines.
Eat This
With a fine dining background, it’s safe to say Joo Won knows his way around a kitchen. His Korean-inspired dishes hit all the right notes—perfectly balanced in salt, acid, fat, and heat. You’d be mad not to start with the kimchi fritters and chilli mayo, plus a round of pollock croquettes for good measure.
From there, the sea trout hoe with sesame, plum soy, and rhubarb is bright, punchy, and seriously moreish. The pressed brawn with bossam mooli is a great example of how Cálong blends wine bar snacks with bold Korean flavours. The grilled pork jeyuk is a rich, fatty well cooked piece of meat, paired with a spicy gem ssamjang salad. And don’t skip the clay pot rice—sotbap mushrooms with brown butter, served with a chilli vinegar dressing, is the kind of hearty, umami-packed dish you’ll go back for…
Drink This
There is a small but perfectly formed wine list of mainly low intervention labels, most of which are available by the glass. We enjoyed an interesting Moscat, a delicate Sicilian skin contact ‘Ninfa’ from Valdibella, an anti-mafia collective in Italy, and a light gammay. Given the food is so punchy in flavours, the wines are all quite light, fresh, and good value. There’s also a couple of cocktails with Korean flavours and the odd beer and softie but wine is really the name of the game.
Why Go
There aren’t many Korean spots in north London to begin with, let alone a “hipster” Korean wine bar – so if you’re up for trying something new without straying too far from your natural wine bar comfort zone, Cálong has you covered. But beyond that, it’s just a seriously good little bistro, and once word gets out, it’s going to be absolutely rammed.
Key Information
Address | 35 Stoke Newington Church Street, London N16 0NX
For more information | @calonglondon