Restaurants

One of New Malden’s more sophisticated dining establishments, Su La has been styled with panache. The main room is fairly typical for a Korean barbecue restaurant – red barbecue tables, potted bamboo and Heath Robinson chrome extractor vents dangling from the roof – but the private banquet rooms are gorgeous. Separated by sliding shoji (wood and paper) screens, these intimate spaces have floor cushions and low wooden tables where you can faithfully recreate the feel of a banquet dinner in a traditional Korean kalbi house. The menu is primarily in Korean, and the English descriptions aren’t always revealing; ‘bulgogi’ appears as ‘roasted beef’, for instance. Ask if you’re not sure. We stopped by for a set lunch. For £5.90 we received a huge mound of sweet-marinated bulgogi beef and rice, a bowl of beancurd soup and a spread of namul and panch’an, including apple and potato in mayonnaise, tingly cabbage kimchi and sesame-seasoned beansprouts. A side order of mandu soup was also expertly prepared, with soft dumplings and plenty of meat shreds, egg and onions in a fresh, clear broth. Speedy service also made eating here a pleasure. Highly recommended.

Time Out Eating & Drinking Guide 2008