Readon for our review of Kimchee, one of the best Korean restaurants in London.
You do have great hopes for a restaurant when you see crowds of people not very patiently queuing at dinner time – we had to almost elbow our way into Kimchee London on our visit one Thursday night!
Kimchee London, a Korean restaurant, named after one of the country’s most famous national dishes (fermented vegetables with a variety of seasonings), opened last year at 71 High Holborn in London. It’s the brainchild of Korean entrepreneur and Wasabi restaurant owner Dong Hyun Kim.
Kimchee London’s interior features dark wood panelling, beautiful lampshades and an open kitchen. The Wagamama type seating offers not very intimate, but buzzing and canteen-esque dining experience.
Korean food is much less popular in the UK than Chinese or Thai and being not that familiar with its dishes, I always get a bit confused about what to order. Koreans traditionally share an array of dishes, so my friend Beata and I decided to try as many different plates as our appetite would allow us.
Kimchee London’s manager was of great help and simply said: “I’ll send a few dishes, shall I?” So here is the list of what we ate and drank, and… our verdict!
Kimchee
Pickled cabbage with chilly & garlic. I find it hard to get excited about fermented cabbage, and you have to be a lover of very sour flavours, similar to sauerkraut to really enjoy it. Good, but, it’s still a cabbage… (£2.50)
Yuk Hwae
Thinly sliced raw beef, sliced pear & egg yolk. Similar to beef tartare and absolutely amazing! Beata and I were slightly put off by the sight of raw beef and raw egg, but after the first bite, we both quickly got over the hesitation. Excellent dish that we both highly recommend. (£4.90)
Pa Jeon
Traditional Korean pancake with spring onions and mixed seafood, served with soy & chilly sauce. The filling and very good. I really loved the bits of seafood, especially the baby octopus. (£5.90)
Seafood Dolsot Bibimbap
Rice, vegetables, raw egg, red chilly paste, scallops, calamari, mussel and prawns. My least favourite dish. I found it a bit dry and neither of us wanted the only mussel… The dish is served sizzling in earthenware pot and before the rice is placed in the pot, the bottom of the bowl is coated with sesame oil, making the rice touching the pot crispy and golden brown. Not my ideal choice. (£8.40)
Spicy Chicken Bulgogi
Chicken marinated in hot & spicy chilly pepper sauce, onions and garlic and served with crispy lettuce leaves. Very enjoyable. We both loved wrapping the chicken in lettuce. Tasted filling and healthy (we hope!) (£6.90)
Pork Bulgogi
Thinly sliced pork, marinated in fruity sauce, with onions & garlic. Very similar to the chicken dish above, but less spicy. Very good! (£7.20)
Hot Pot Bulgogi
Thinly sliced beef in soy marinade, cooked with vegetables and glass noodles in a steaming broth. The most flavoursome and exotic dish. I really loved the broth with dates. Sweet, but not too much. (£7.60)
Kimberry cocktail
Makgeolli mixed with raspberry liqueur, shaken with crushed ice and raspberries. Sweet and milky Makgeolli is the traditional Korean alcohol made of fermented rice and wheat. The raspberry cocktail was sweet and delicious and best enjoyed after the meal. (£5.40)
Mae Wha Soo – fantastic Korean plum wine. Almost too good. (£11/300ml)
Verdict: Kimchee is a place for a quick, delicious, reasonably priced, but not very relaxing, meal. The waiters were running around looking a bit stressed, the plates took time to be cleared away and the flow of people didn’t stop throughout our dinner.
But Korean food is definitely on my ‘get-to-know-better’ list and I’d certainly go back to Kimchee, but would ideally try to get there at a less busy time.
Need somewhere for a drink while you wait for the queues at Kimchee London? Then head to the Rosewood London.
Address: Kimchee London 71 High Holborn, London
Phone: 020 7430 0956
You may also want to read our review of Koba London.
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