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Ssam

58-59 Great Marlborough Street, W1F 7JY Full details & map

Restaurant: Korean

Time Out says 3 Users say 2/5 Rate it

By Time Out Editors Posted: Jan 24 2012

Korean businessmen and groups of young professionals seem to like the restaurant that until 2012 was called Ran, and it's easy to see why: impressive chrome extractor fans suggest barbecue is taken seriously here; the interior is handsomely attired; and service is professional yet convivial.

The lengthy menu highlights the house speciality of ssam, a traditional Korean way of eating that involves wrapping morsels of meat in leafy vegetables. We sampled two varieties: a classic bo ssam with tender steamed pork belly and half a head of salted napa cabbage for wrapping; and a version comprising crisp lettuce, seasoned julienned spring onions, fiery raw garlic and spicy ssamjang paste.

Less successful were dry beef rolls wrapped around slivers of pear and spring onions, as the accompanying 'mustard' sauce lacked the promised bite. Bibim naengmyun (chilled spicy cold noodles) was pleasant enough, with the requisite spicy-sour kick, but felt starchier than more accomplished renditions.

A plate of kimchi (radish, cabbage, cucumber) was generous in size, as it should be for £9.50; we found ourselves adding the delicious crunchy morsels to our lettuce wraps. To conclude: it's worth sticking to Ran's extensive barbecue and ssam menu, plus a few bottles of icy cold Hite beer.

Tags: Asian, Korean, Business, Romance, Wow factor, Central, Soho, Mid-range, Restaurant

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Ssam details

Address

Ssam

58-59 Great Marlborough Street W1F 7JY

Transport Oxford Circus tube

Telephone

020 7434 1650

Ssam website

Lunch served noon-3pm Mon-Sat. Dinner served 6-11pm daily

Main courses £5.90-£12. Set lunch £7-£18. Set dinner £25

Credit cards AmEx, MC, V

Facilities

Babies and children admitted, Booking advisable, Separate rooms for parties ( seating 10 ), Takeaway service

Ssam map

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Comments & ratings 2/5 (Average of 3 ratings)

By GourmetFetishGirl - Feb 5 2012

1/5

The korean barbecue was average standard, but overpriced for a korean barbecue. The kimchi served at the table was average and overpriced. The bibimbap was flavourless. The service was atrocious, no communication whatsoever and even though it wasn't busy for a saturday night, the members of staff were very neglectful. It was absolutely cheeky that they put a service charge onto the bill automatically. Should you wish you want to have poor service, a small plate of meat at a hefty price, this is where you could go.

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By Katie - Feb 1 2012

What a shame now that Ran is called Ssam and the layout of the restaurant has changed. There seems to be this trend that dimmer lighting with dark furtniture is the way forward but the familiarity for regulars has gone and there was a lack of buzz. The waiting staff's preparation area is exposed. The toilets were disgusting. Only one working light and the other one was flashing away. The first cubicle had no door. The toilet roll was on the floor in the second. Outside in the hall you could see loads of rubbish in the spare room where they had left the door open. Will not be my recommended Korean restaurant anymore

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By Simon - Sep 7 2011

Jane - you can always refuse to pay service charge! Nothing force you to pay anything apart from that what is stated in the menu. I did that once. If the manager is doing some problems you can just leave.

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By Jane - Jun 19 2011

1/5

I agree with the person who put the comment under. I was very disappointed by the services. The meat got all burned and the people didn't provide right service. However, 12% of service charge at the end. It doesn;t matter how much good foods they are serving, but if they keep this type of "Amazing" service and make customers keep disappointing, they will lose their reputations.

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By Mike - Apr 11 2010

I counted myself as a huge fan of Ran but my last visit was an immense disappointment. We were seated in an ugly, isolated rear room, the service was very slow, leaving our food to burn/go cold respectively, and I was served the wrong dish. I'm not sure whether this was an off day or whether it's going downhill since it's refurbishment...