If you wanna feast on Korean fried chicken followed by belting out some karaoke, CheeMc in Soho is the spot you want (there’s also a branch in Elephant & Castle but it doesn’t have a karaoke lounge). The signature KFC comes in a variety of flavours including honey butter, sweet soy, mad garlic and Korean buffalo, and you can get bottomless Korean fried chicken and a drink for £19.90 a head, Monday – Thursday. There’s plenty for the bird-averse too, with bibimbap, kimchi pancake, beef LA galbi, toppoki, cheese buldak, udon noodles and bingsoo also on the menu.
"Perfectly crispy, golden-battered Korean fried chicken that stays juicy inside, with over 10 authentic sauces to mix and match. Plus, they serve everyday Korean classics done right."
"A true family-run gem. Dad helms the open kitchen while the younger generation welcomes guests into a bright, airy space. The homey warmth makes it the perfect spot for a date."
Michelin-starred Sollip (named after the Korean word for pine needle) is run by husband and wife team Woongchul Park and Bomee Ki, who have worked at The Ledbury, Koffman’s and The Arts Club. The restaurant blends the flavours and techniques of Korean cookery with the French and European training the pair have had, with food presented on specific hand-made ceramics from Korean artisans. Expect modern, polished dishes like daikon tarte tatin with kimchi and toasted barley; monkfish with red cabbage, onion caper and passion fruit; strip loin, black bean, salsify and deoduck; and black sesame pain perdu with seoritae ice cream, burnt vanilla and pecan.
"A Michelin-starred Korean restaurant that’s surprisingly affordable. Sollip is a quiet love letter to both French and Korean cuisine, where husband-and-wife duo Woongchul Park and Bomee Ki craft beautifully refined dishes."
After founding Mexican Seoul when he was furloughed in 2020, Ashley Chipchase has gone on to trade at a range of London markets and festivals across the UK; won an array of awards at Wing Fest; and opened a permanent location in Bow Wharf, right on the corner of Victoria Park. There he serves up Mexican-Korean fusion dishes like elote-style corn ribs with pecorino cheese and miso mayo; tuna tostadas with guacamole, oi muchim & fried leeks; spicy pork belly tacos topped with Korean slaw, lime crema, fried onions & homemade salsa verde; and Honey Buffanero and Gochu-Gang chicken wings. You can pair your tacos with Kimchi Bloody Marys, Sesame Old Fashioneds, Soju Martinis and Somaek (that’s a beer and soju combo).
"London’s best Korean-Mexican spot, hands down. Their wings? Next level. You won’t find them anywhere else. And don’t skip the Kimchi Bloody Mary—a bold, flavour-packed twist that’ll wake up your taste buds."
"A central London Korean BBQ joint that goes beyond the grill. Their three-layer steam box—stacked with seafood, meats, and veggies—is a feast in itself. But the real magic? The noodle soup made from the essence of everything at the end."
Mukbap, a small walk-in only spot on the border of Shoreditch and the City, is London’s first fully-vegan Korean restaurant. You can get an array of classic Korean dishes, including bibimbap, kimbap, tteokbokki, japchae and kimchi pancake, all completely plant-based and all still packing plenty of spice and flavour. You don’t even have to miss out on Korean fried chicken or spicy pork as Mukbap uses clever substitutes from brands like Mock for the traditionally meat-based dishes.
"Korean comfort food, redefined—entirely plant-based but just as rich in deep, nostalgic flavours. They prove that you don’t need meat for true soul-warming satisfaction."
Assa in Soho looks pretty understated from the outside but there’s plenty going on inside to make it worth a visit – and waiting in line for. The hotpots are the main draw here, which come loaded with toppings like sausage, kimchi, spam, ramen noodles and more (and you can add on extras), but the tteokbokki covered with melted cheese runs them a close second. The portions are generous and the prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you get, so worth a visit when you’re craving something warming.
"A London go-to for Korean hotpot, specializing in army stew. What sets it apart? Over 10 different toppings, letting you customise your hotpot exactly to your taste."
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). The food menu includes kimchi pancakes, cheese buldak , japchae, tteokbokki, pork belly with ssamjang, and fish cake soup. The drinks really are the standout here, especially the makgeolli, a Korean rice wine that’s milky and lightly sparkling, which is brewed in-house. There’s also sojo, plum wine and other Korean spirits on offer – try them in one of the cocktials, like the K-Negroni, Jeju Mule and Andong Sour.
"A cocktail experience like no other—multi-award-winning bartender Taeyeol Kim crafts innovative drinks designed to engage all five senses. Bonus: they also run their own makgeolli brewery."
This New Malden spot calls itself a Korean BBQ restaurant – and though that’s the main event here, the menu is extensive, with a ton of a la carte dishes besides what goes on the grill. As well as classics like pajeon, japchae, budae jjigae, and tteokbokki, there’s also dishes like stir-fried Korean blood sausage, acorn jelly salad with perilla seeds, grilled ox intestine with chives and potato, and cold octopus with roasted seaweed on offer. If you do go for the BBQ, you’re in for a treat at Cahchi dry-ages its meat for between 7 – 14 days. And it’s one vegans to bookmark too as the restaurant also has a separate vegan menu.
"One of London’s oldest Korean restaurants and, in my opinion, the best Korean BBQ spot in the city. They dry-age their meats for extra depth, and they’re the only place in London serving offal BBQ. Everything, from side dishes to blood sausage, is made in-house."
One of the oldest restaurants in the area, Genghis Khan stands out amongst other New Malden establishments thanks to its take on Korean-Chinese food. Jjajangmyeon (noodles with pork in a black bean sauce) and jjampong (spicy seafood noodle soup) are two of the most popular Korean-Chinese dishes and you can find them both at Genghis Khan, plus a range of other stir-fries and soups, and decent value set combos on offer at lunch.
"A Korean-Chinese restaurant serving up a distinctly Korean spin on classic Chinese dishes. A rare taste of a cuisine that’s become an essential part of Korean comfort food."
