With the growing influence of K-culture, numerous Korean eateries are springing up all around London. So, it won’t hurt to try out some of the best Korean restaurants in London town.
London’s food culture is world-renowned and well-known for its diverse flavours and styles. This multicultural metropolis draws influence worldwide. Besides, the most fabulous Korean restaurants in London serve the most authentic food outside Seoul.
With so many available, how do you sift between the clutter? You’re likely to discover some Korean food in London that you enjoy, regardless of your style, taste, or budget. That’s why our expert team here at Eating In London, after extensive review, has compiled the best Korean restaurants in London for you to try out.
Promise us one thing? You’ll let us know your favourites from this list of best restaurants in London!
Table of Contents
1. Koba
Koba is located on Pont Street in Fitzrovia. It is one of many excellent Korean restaurants that have opened up in central London over recent years. As you’d expect, it specialises in dishes made with beef—the ‘Gangnam Style sirloin steak.’
You can expect to pay around £10-£20 per head for a meal here. The decor is simple but tasteful, and it gets bustling at lunchtime; bookings are recommended. Another thing that stands out about Koba is its wine list, which features some good Korean wines.
If you’re looking for something special to drink with your meal, you could do much worse than trying one of these. Although Koba also has a pretty good range of drinks and cocktails, if alcohol isn’t your thing.
Visit kobalondon.com
It is one of many excellent Korean restaurants that have opened up in central London.
2. Olle
If you’re after authentic Korean cuisine, a lively atmosphere, and friendly service, Olle should be at the top of your list of Korean restaurants in London. The restaurant offers prices to suit all wallets, and its location is close to Shaftesbury Avenue. Olle is a good choice for groups or families and couples.
The restaurant has an open kitchen where diners can watch their food prepared and served, which adds to its appeal. In addition, the restaurant has modern decor with wooden furniture, high ceilings, and large windows that allow plenty of natural light into each table.
There are several different menus on offer depending on what you want to eat. For example, there is a standard menu that offers dishes such as seafood pancakes (Haemul Pajeon), spicy stir-fried pork (Dwaeji Bulgogi), and steamed egg cake (Gyeran Jjim).
There are also seasonal specials available throughout the year, so it’s worth checking out what new dishes have been added since your last visit.
Visit ollelondon.com
The restaurant has an open kitchen where diners can watch their food prepared and served.
3. The Petite Corée
Located a stone’s throw from West Hampstead, The Petite Corée offers diners a little bit of Korea without traveling far. Serving everything from bibimbap to bulgogi is delicious, but it’s also relatively cheap for a restaurant with such excellent food.
One of the things about Korean restaurants is that they all have their unique flair and theme, whether kitsch or modern. For example, The Petite Corée has a cute vintage-style interior and friendly staff who will help you navigate their menu if you’re new to Korean cuisine.
However, their drinks list sets them apart; yes, many Korean restaurants here in London offer some alcohol. But, at The Petite Corée, there are a whole host of traditional beverages on offer. There’s something for everyone from mul-cha (which tastes like a mix between wine and beer) to makgeolli (rice wine).
And as a bonus, these drinks are often cheaper than most other places! So if you want good food at reasonable prices served by friendly people, I highly recommend giving The Petite Corée a try. You won’t regret it!
Also, if you are wondering where to find a good Greek restaurant in the city, then better check our article on the best Greek restaurants in London.
Visit thepetitecoree.com
4. Sarang – Korean Restaurant in London
Sarang, a small Korean restaurant, serves delectable meat dishes with an extensive selection of side dishes and kimchi. Sarang’s pork neck and seafood pancake are excellent.
Sarang has a decent array of vegetable options for vegetarians, including agedashi tofu and dolsot bibimbap served in a hot stone pot. If you like spicy food, you can ask for extra chili sauce to add some kick to your meal.
The service is quick and attentive; if you have any questions about your order or want to ask for recommendations on what to eat next time, ask one of their friendly waiters or waitresses. Their menu is also available online to see what it looks like before visiting.
Visit sarang-restaurant.business.site
A small Korean restaurant serves delectable meat dishes with an extensive selection of side dishes and kimchi.
5. Gogi Korean Restaurant
Noodles and barbecue might not sound like a happy marriage, but at Gogi, it works very well. Try a spicy noodle soup or chili squid with buckwheat noodles for an authentic Korean experience.
If you fancy filling your boots with beef brisket and squid, pork belly, or duck, they also have a BBQ dining room. The restaurant is bright and welcoming, making it perfect for groups of friends looking to eat together.
A full bar means there are plenty of cocktails to choose from too. If you’re after some grub before going out, their set menu is reasonably priced and good. It includes a small side dish, miso soup and dessert, and your main meal. You can even place an order online, so you don’t have to worry about queuing on arrival.
Visit gogirestaurantnola.com
If you’re after some grub before going out, their set menu is reasonably priced and good.
6. K-Town Restaurant
Well, here it is. K-Town is no secret, but if you don’t know about it, you may be trying out Korean cuisine for the first time. This tiny little place serves up some big flavors of Korea, with different kinds of delicious bibimbap (Korean for mixed rice).
Their spicy chicken bibimbap is one of its remarkable delicacies. If you are ever on the ropes on where to go for dinner, ask any local, and they’ll tell you: K-Town! It’s practically a rite of passage to check out at least once during your stay here.
The interior has that authentic vibe, which might make you feel like you’re actually in Seoul itself. Staffs are always kind and welcoming, and they also offer takeout service, so don’t worry about being unable to enjoy their fantastic food from home either!
Visit ktownbbq.co.uk
This tiny little place serves up some big flavors of Korea.
7. Lime Orange Korean Restaurant
Lime Orange is an authentic Korean restaurant located in Victoria. The restaurant specialises in traditional cuisine, including bulgogi and bibimbap. It is not too expensive, and it’s highly rated! The serving sizes are small, so you can order multiple dishes to try more food.
The interior decor is simple, with wooden tables and chairs. There’s a bar area where you can sit or grab some takeaway. This is a place worth checking out if you like Korean food.
Asides from bulgogi and bibimbap, they have a good range of different dishes, including dumplings and spicy chicken wings.
They also have a fabulous drink menu that includes Soju cocktails and beer from Asia. This restaurant is perfect for couples, friends, and families as there’s a good selection of different dishes that everyone will enjoy.
And even though it’s located in a busy environment, it has a very relaxed atmosphere and service. Another great thing about Lime Orange is that it open until late most nights, so it’s perfect for after-work drinks or dinner after a night out.
Visit limeorange.co.uk
This restaurant is perfect for couples, friends, and families as there’s a good selection of different dishes.
8. Imone
Imone is located at the heart of New Malden. Many of the ingredients are locally sourced, and the menu features some traditional Korean dishes such as bibimbap (fried rice with vegetables) and kimchi jjigae (kimchi stew).
If you’re looking for an authentic taste of Korea, but don’t fancy traveling out to Korea Town, then Imone is worth checking out. The restaurant has a modern and chic decor, perfect for any occasion, whether you’re meeting friends or on a date night with your partner.
An excellent place to start would be one of their small plates, galbi tang – beef short rib soup served with rice. The broth is made from beef bones, spring onions, and leeks, while other ingredients include mushrooms, zucchini, and eggplant – making it delicious!
Another dish worth trying would be dolsot bibimbap – mixed vegetable fried rice served in a hot stone pot. If you’re still feeling peckish after your meal, head to the bar, where they serve soju cocktails, beer, and several different wine types.
Visit imonelondon.com
An excellent place to start would be one of their small plates, galbi tang – beef short rib soup served with rice.
9. Paranhodu Korean Restaurant
Paranhodu is a gem located on Lewisham Way, serving one of London’s best authentic Korean food. Their menu boasts generous portions at reasonable prices—but don’t be fooled by their calm interior appearance.
Although they specialise in traditional Korean meals, such as BBQ meats and soups served with rice and noodles, you would also want to try out their japchae! Their menu almost competes with the best Thai restaurants in London.
The best part? It comes with a side of vegetables so you can make it as healthy as you please. If meat isn’t your thing, you can order their bibimbap, translated to mixed rice in Korean. The mix includes vegetables and meat (or tofu) served over steamed white rice topped with an egg yolk.
The staffs are amicable and will answer any questions you have about their menu or ingredients. So go ahead, give them a visit!
However, if you want to enjoy some authentic Brazilian dishes, then click on this link to find the best Brazilian restaurants in London.
Visit facebook.com/paranhodu
Their menu boasts generous portions at reasonable prices—but don’t be fooled by their calm interior appearance.
10. Masigo
Masigo is an award-winning Korean restaurant located in Angel. It has received five stars from many publications, including TimeOut and Zagat. The atmosphere is calm and reserved, and prices are highly reasonable for such high-quality food.
The menu is full of classic favorites, including bibimbap (mixed rice with vegetables and beef), spicy Kimchi (cabbage) soup, or Gamjatang (pork neck bones) with lots of different meat or seafood options to choose from as well.
Their menu is more likely to be compared as well to the best Chinese restaurants in London.
They also have a selection of authentic side dishes that you can order to accompany your meal. The interior is very modern and clean, with white walls and dark furniture. Several large flat-screen TVs are placed around to watch sports while eating if you like.
Service here is always excellent and very attentive without being intrusive. So if you’re craving Korean food, look no further than Masigo.
Visit masigo.business.site
11. Dotori
If you’re looking for authentic Korean food, head to Dotori. It serves up a mix of bibimbap and bulgogi dishes, alongside other typical Asian-fusion dishes like pad thai. It’s a little pricey (but with excellent service and no skimping on ingredients). It’s popular with office workers looking for an affordable lunch option but with all the fixings of a meal out.
The restaurant is just off Lower Marsh Lambeth, so it might be worth checking out if you’re working around that area. Be sure to try their signature seafood pancake and fried chicken wings. They are some of the best in town!
When it comes to drinks, there’s a range of different options available: beer, wine, sake, and cocktails. They’ll take your order without making you feel pressured into buying anything too expensive. That’s common when you go somewhere new!
Visit dotori.co.uk
It’s popular with office workers looking for an affordable lunch option but with all the fixings of a meal out.
12. GoGo Pocha – Korean Restaurant
Located just outside Waterloo station, it’s a fantastic place to go for Korean food. Its signature dish is its bibimbap, a tasty mix of meat and veggies with a raw egg yolk for frying. It’s also got plenty of great dishes, including bulgogi and kimchi jjigae.
It’s open on weekdays, so it’s a good option if you need some lunch before work or dinner after your commute home. The decor here is excellent; there are wood panels throughout, giving it a warm feel. The tables are pretty close together, but they have booths around the side where you can sit down with friends without feeling too cramped.
In addition to their delicious food, GoGo Pocha also has an extensive drinks menu. You can get beers, wines, cocktails, and soft drinks at a reasonable price depending on what you order. There’s a good selection of cocktails available here as well.
Visit gogo-pocha.com
Located just outside Waterloo station, it’s a fantastic place to go for Korean food.
13. Hongdae Pocha
After taking in the pumping music and bubbling atmosphere, you’ll find yourself in an indoor alleyway lighted by daylight from the skylight above. There are booths covered in glittering lights, steel roofs, and plenty of graffiti.
The majority of the graffiti is in Korean, which is encouraging, and it openly encourages it. You’ll find your pen attached to your menu. Speaking of menus, this one is jam-packed with Korean classics, notably those found at the 1980s pocha joints.
Some of it is difficult, some are comforting, and some are spicy enough to cause hallucinations. It offers everything from yangyum sauce to fried chicken or garlic soy to stir-fried whelks in a punchy chili sauce. There is also fine alcohol available for grabs, including lots of soju, Korean beer, and cocktails.
Soju is so prevalent in Korea that many soju & beer combinations are available, such as the Te-sla, pouring Terra beer into a glass of Cham Eseul soju. It’s fantastic, and you’ll be wondering how long it will take for good ol’ British pubs to catch on.
Then there are the drinks, which range from highballs to one that has a whole iced lollipop dunked in it. The idea is that it will both cool and flavor the drink gradually. By the way, the lollipop is a Korean classic known as a Screw Bar.
Visit hongdaepocha.com
It offers everything from yangyum sauce to fried chicken or garlic soy to stir-fried.
14. Korean Dinner Party
Korean Dinner Party is inspired by Los Angeles’ Koreatown restaurants, which offer a wonderful fusion of Korean, American, and Mexican cuisine. This delicate fusion balance is kept tilted toward innovative rather than gimmicky.
Corndogs are available, but there’s also bacon’mochi’ (rice cakes wrapped in bacon with gochujang caramel), slow-cooked beef, short rib tacos, and chicken nuggets doused with garlic sauce.
However, the innovative drinks menu should take center stage. Daring combinations like the Yakult Royale and the Burnt Rice Old Fashione. Korean Dinner Party is a casual place to enjoy inventive fusion food, served by staff who have a passion for food and know how to make you feel at home.
Visit koreandinnerparty.com
Korean Dinner Party is a casual place to enjoy inventive fusion food, served by staff who have a passion for food.
I hope you enjoyed our review of the best Korean restaurants in London? Yes, these are some incredible places to eat in London, and several of them serve up traditional, delicious Korean dishes for you to enjoy.
You can also read our article on the best Pan-Asian restaurants in London, the best Japanese restaurants in London , and the best Burmese restaurants in London surely it will interest you!
So, if you’re in search of a vibrant, exciting new cuisine, grab your friends and head to one of the best Korean restaurants in London which we’ve reviewed.
You may also check our articles on the best Lebanese restaurants in London as well as the best British restaurants in London to add to your choices.
Each of these places will make you want to come back for more!
Please let us know in the comments if you tried any, and what your favourites are.
Founder of Eating in London
