Family-owned and operated, Seoul Pocha offers diners the experience of a traditional yet elevated Korean Pojangmacha, a street stall that serves quick and comforting traditional Korean bites, without having to catch a flight to the East Asian region.
Located in Rondebosch, the food ethos of this restaurant highlights the culinary principles of traditional and comforting Korean dishes, similar to those served at a Pojang-macha.
What's on the menu?
Seoul Pocha's menu features Korean classics such as tteokbokki, pan-fried rice cakes basted in a signature sweet and spicy sauce, and bibimbap, a flavorful rice dish with vegetables, protein, egg, and gochujang sauce (a spicy, sweet and fermented traditional Korean sauce, known to pack a punch of flavour).
If you are in the mood to try a Korean staple, opt for the bibimbap, and if you are feeling a bit more adventurous, we recommend the Korean-style Yakiniku Don, pan-grilled beef slices glazed in-house sauce, served over steamed rice and topped with sesame seeds
With only one dessert option on the menu, the Bungeo-ppang, a fish-shaped pastry with a crispy yet soft shell and stuffed with melted chocolate paired with vanilla ice cream, it is not to be missed. The melted chocolate and warm pastry envelope your taste buds, ending off your meal perfectly.
How do you get there?
Parking in the area is limited, as it's located on Rondebosch Main Road, so it's recommended to use e-hailing services like Uber.
Why go?
Seoul Pocha is one of the few restaurants in Cape Town where diners can savour KBBQ, an interactive dining experience where diners can grill their meat and vegetables at their table, creating a communal dining atmosphere and underpinning one of the principles of Korean dining culture, sharing meals amongst friends and family.
And if you thought your meals were served hot, wait till you visit Seoul Pocha (and no, we are not referring to the spice level, although that should be taken into consideration), many of the dishes, such as bibimbap, are served in a hot stone bowl also known as a dolsot, where sizzling of the bowl can be heard long after it has arrived at your table.
The attentive service offered makes this dining experience feel like a home-away-from-home.
Time Out Insider Info
Aiming to cater to their diners' needs, Seoul Pocha is able to prepare special requests that are not on the menu. On the date of publication of this article, the restaurant does not have a liquor license, and diners are encouraged to bring their own alcohol at no corkage fee.