Kimchee

This was my first experience of Korean food and I loved every minute of it! Group of six, although there was a queue at the door, we were seated promptly. The atmosphere was fantastic, buzzing and the food just kept coming.. bbq-ed pork belly, sizzling beef, scallops and traditional Bulgoggi pot (beef broth) were amongst my favourites. Still managed to fit in some ice creams- almond and rosted green tea were just divine. Great value for money- I will definitely go back to sample the rest of the menu!

I recently went to Kimchee with some work associates who had never had Korean before and I was so embarrassed. The restaurant represented Koreans and our food so awfully! The service was terrible and quality of the food was worse. We ordered beef bulgogi and it first came out burnt. Who burns bulgogi??? Anyway, when I complained, they looked annoyed and took it away and an HOUR later, came back with a new plate. It was not burnt but it tasted like someone mixed a dirty sock with the meat. Disgusting. I am so disappointed as I used to rave about this place. Especially as I thought their jajamyeung and jampong were delish. I won't be going back and certainly not taking any colleagues or friends.

Horrifically overpriced and service was absolutely terrible. Took ages to get their attention to order, and an item was forgotten- if I wasn't more embarrassed to do so, I would have asked to have the option 12.5% service charge taken off my bill.

Hi guys i completely agree with all the complains about the service. The staff there really have no clue on how to arrange tables. I reserved a table for 10 people for my friend's birthday - and they have this strange policy that you can not be seated unless all 10 people arrive - this is just hilarious. One of the staff - a guy with the ponytail (as mentioned below) was really rude. It took them 1 hour to bring us dessert and half an hour to bring some water. This place is hilarious..... Almost everyone on the table got really frustrated. If you want to have a relaxed night out - this is not the place to be.

Food was ok but service was very poor. I'm a Korean, I went to this restaurant with my British boyfriend in April. We ordered sweet chilli fried chicken as a starter, it was pretty good. But the problem started from the main dishes. We ordered Gal bi tang and Dol sot bibimbap. My Gal bi tang came first. I tried to eat slowly so we can enjoy eating together. I can understand that the dishes may come different times but I don't think Dol sot takes that long. In the time we finish the starter and one main dish. Even the person right next to us came later and ordered Gal bi set dish. The dish served earlier than my boyfriend’s. It wasn’t lunchtime but was busy. I couldn’t get any chance to talk to the waiters. So I went to one of them and asked about his Dol sot, then eventually it came to us. We finished our food. I wanted to go to the bathroom. I walked down to the corridor and looked around the restaurant if there is any sign of the bathroom. 2 or 3 waiters just passed by me, no one wanted to know why I was in the middle of the corridor. I was expecting someone to tell me where it is (because I think usually the customer wants to find the bathroom if he/she is standing in the corridor alone and looking around.) It took some time to ask someone. We got the bill, which also took ages to get, went to the till to pay. I found there was additional service charge and decided not to pay. I stopped one of the waiters (looked like a manager) and told him ‘I wasn’t happy about your service today so I don’t want to pay the service charge.’ His answer was ‘It’s ok.’ I didn’t pay service charge and it was ok for him. Did I expect too much from the waiter? I thought he might ask me why I wasn’t happy. If you visit this restaurant, you should not expect good service. I would go to another Korean restaurant near by. That one is much nicer. (Maybe little bit pricy though.)

Good food. Shame about the service and group seating policy. constantly have to chase the waiters, service was very slow and even the manager was rude when we mentioned it to him. I will not be going back.

Very disappointed service, not worth a visit at all. They have a strict policy that unless all of your friends are present, you will not be seated. The food quality is below average. If you are looking for real Korean food, this is not the right place for you.

I visited Kimchee for lunch today having said about a year ago I’d never go back. I've been a few times before (with the first being its opening day) because I work in the same building and almost every time something has been poor - usually to do with the service. Today we ordered 2 drinks, 2 starters and 2 mains for 2 people. You'd think that would be pretty easy to keep track of. After finishing all the food and drinks that had arrived we were still waiting on one of the mains. A polite reminder to the server was waved off as if it was all in hand. Meanwhile, the couple sitting next to us were experiencing similar problems and complained to the manager who used the excuse of computer problems and promised their food would arrive soon. Again we asked on our meal so the server went to investigate. He came back to serve somebody else without even acknowledging us until I asked and was told that the order was never put through - it didn't seem he'd done much to rectify the situation either so we said we'll take the bill and leave it. 10 minutes, no bill. So we got up to see the manager who was showing more interest in the couple beside us with similar issues and a new couple behind us having problems. We explained we wanted to leave and about our experience to which he had no sympathy and dismissed us with a stereotyped Gallic nonchalance. He said in recognition of our poor experience he would take the service charge off. Oh great, thanks. If I wavered before, I will not again. I will never go back to Kimchee.

Food and interior is really nice. But I wish they would be more friendly. There aren't any Korean staff, so they couldn'r explan to us what the food were. And bought another dish instead of I ordered, but no apology, no refunding as well.

I've hardly ever written review of a restaurant, however i've had to write something about Kimchee (Holborn) after what I have encountered today. It was my 3rd visit today and, for the last two times I somewhat enjoyed dining there (thought food was not authentic Korean, but not terrible) with friends once I managed to ignore the slow service. However today I have had the worst service of my life. The staff were clueless when it comes to simply arranging the table to put down the food; and the manager (a tall guy in blue shirt with a short ponytail) was just the rudest person ever!!! He literally 'dumped' one of our dishes next to my friend, mind you it was a hot bowl which could easily burnt my friend's hand. when my friend complained and asked him to arrange the table so that hot bowl could be put down in the middle, that manager said my friend was annoying. This is absolutely ridiculous. I do not understand why someone like him can even be allowed to work in the service industry not knowing the basics of how to treat a customer. For all of you who are planning to visit Kimchee Holborn I think you should consider carefully. I certainly will not return there and will tell friends not to waste their time & money either.