Kimchee, London

Taking its name from from the national dish of Korea, Kimchee offers an affordable yet delicious taste of Seoul in the heart of London.

Kimchee restaurant in London - Restaurant Reviews - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK
Kimchee restaurant in London - Restaurant Reviews - Marie Claire - Marie Claire UK

Taking its name from from the national dish of Korea, Kimchee offers an affordable yet delicious taste of Seoul in the heart of London.

When we arrived at Kimchee a sizeable queue had already formed, which I took to be very a good sign, especially on a miserable Tuesday night.

On first impressions, the restaurant reminded me of a Korean version of Wagamamas with its bench-style dining and open kitchen, but on closer inspection it's much more stylish and the staff exceedingly more friendly.

If you've never tried Korean cuisine food before the menu can seem a little daunting but with our friendly waiter pointing us in the direction of all the right dishes we soon found ourselves enjoying a feast of authentic looking and tasting (as far as I know) food.

We began the evening with a delicious and refreshing Soju Red cocktail made from Soju, a white spirit similar to vodka but with a slightly sweeter taste.

Next, having slightly over-ordered in our excitement, we devoured Bulgogi (thinly sliced marinated beef - our fave dish of the evening), lamb skewers, portobello mushrooms, Mul Naengmyeon (buckwheat noodles in a beef broth), Beef Mari (beef and vegetables wrapped in rice paper), Crab Tuigim (soft-shelled crab in breadcrumbs with plum sauce), goggi mandu (chicken dumplings) and, of course, Kimchee (pickled cabbage with chilli and garlic).

All the food was tasty, incredibly morish and, at £3-5 for small dishes and £6-10 for mains, great value.

It's safe to say we rolled out of the door satisfied and a little bit heavier than we were before!

For more information visit the website.