London's top 50 restaurants: Korean

Don't know your kimchi from you bibimbap? Here's our guide to dining out, Gangnam style

Sizzling hotplates, chili spice and all things nice: Korean food has taken off in London, and here's our pick of the most affordable and fun places to try it. Do you agree with the choices? Use the comments box below or tweet your suggestions.

Cah Chi

Rated as: 4/5
Price band: 2/4
Critics choice

This original branch of Cah Chi in Raynes Park has long been one of our favourite Korean restaurants. You won’t find watered-down Korean food – all the dishes we’ve tried here have been confidently rendered with no compromise on flavour. Crisp pa jeon (a sort of pancake) filled with fresh seafood and spring onions, or strips of raw beef sizzling in a stone bowl (dolsot) with rice, pickles and vegetables, being just two of many great examples. There are plenty of more esoteric dishes for the adventurous, such as pigs' ears casseroles, pig's liver dishes and blood pudding.

When to go: For Korean food without the clichéd barbecue-side theatrics.

What to have: Fill up on the panchan (small side dishes) and move swiftly on to the grilled marinated meats.

Read Cah Chi review

34 Durham Road, SW20 0TW

More info

Rob Greig

Koba

Rated as: 5/5
Price band: 2/4
Critics choice

Koba is one of the most consistent Korean restaurants in central London; we’ve yet to have a bad meal here. The menu features a roll-call of classics like barbecued kalbi beef, stir-fried glass noodles (japchae) and crisp Korean pajeon pancakes. Slick service too.

When to go: When you're in the mood for some table-top barbecue.

What to have: Bulgogi beef wrapped in lettuce leaves with a smudge of bean and chilli paste.

Read Koba review