Ask Korean expats living in Bangkok where to go for authentic eats from their home country and they probably won’t say Korean Town, that three-story arcade in Asok that’s home to an array of restaurants and supermarkets peddling goodies from the land of bibimbap and bulgogi. Instead, they’re more likely to point you in the direction of Banjoo.
Tucked on the upper floor of Mille Malle shopping complex on Soi 20, Banjoo is one of your better bets for traditional Korean fare accompanied by a side—or two—of soju. The restaurant is usually packed with local Thais and expats looking to satiate their post-lockdown cravings for Korean fare. The severity of dark wood furniture and concrete flooring are softened by colorful ceiling lamps that give an impression of dining in a neighborhood barbeque joint in Seoul.
Steering the kitchen is Injin Kim whose family owns a number of restaurants in Korea and Thailand such as Chamnamugol in Seoul and Ary Soondae in Time Square, Bangkok. Though she’s versed in French cooking, having graduated from Le Cordon Bleu, Kim decided to put up a Korean restaurant serving food that follows old family recipes. “The more I cooked Western food, the more I wanted to cook food inspired by my heritage,” she explains.
A meal at Banjoo is best kicked off with an order of house-made banchan (small Korean side dishes, B120). We recommend the myeongnan (fermented cod roe) and the nakji jeotgal (fermented Korean octopus), which both boast strong and robust flavors. Pair these starters with shiraegi (dried radish greens) and kkaenip-kimchi (perilla leaf kimchi). And of course, a few shots of soju will do just right.
The food is authentic, which means they are not tweaked to appease local palates (unlike many Korean establishments in town). The rice cake in the tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes, B260) is doused in a slightly sweet sauce, while the kimchi stew (B250) boasts a zesty flavor, and is served with tofu and pork belly.
But the star of the meal is, hands down, the grilled meat. Our serving of rib-eye wagyu (B790), cooked right before our very eyes, tasted heavenly, while other meats such as chicken thighs (B350) and pork belly (B350) were equally satisfying.
Banjoo offers a full-on Korean dining experience and offers a range of authentic dishes, some of which may not be familiar to non-adventurous diners. Given this authenticity, plus the modern cozy ambiance, it takes the very top spot on our list when it come to Korean fare.
