Korean Food in London

London's Korean food scene has grown significantly — driven partly by the large Korean community in New Malden in southwest London and partly by mainstream interest in Korean cuisine more broadly.

New Malden

New Malden, in southwest London (20 minutes from Waterloo on South Western Railway), has the largest Korean community in Europe and the most authentic and varied Korean restaurant scene in the UK. Everything from home-style Korean-Chinese (jajangmyeon, jjamppong) to proper barbecue restaurants with table grills and excellent Korean bakeries. Worth the journey specifically for food.

Central London

The streets around Tottenham Court Road, particularly along St Giles High Street and the blocks north of Oxford Street, have a useful concentration of Korean restaurants — more accessible but slightly more tourist-adjusted than New Malden. Good for a central lunch without the journey south.

What to Eat

Korean barbecue (galbi, samgyeopsal) cooked at the table is the social experience. Bibimbap (rice bowl with vegetables and egg) and doenjang jjigae (fermented soybean stew) are reliable benchmark dishes. Kimchi pancakes (kimchi-jeon) and Korean fried chicken are good entry points. Korean fried chicken has its own category — a distinct double-fried style very different from American versions.

Tips

• New Malden is significantly better for Korean food than anywhere in central London — worth the Tube-then-train journey.
• Book table-barbecue restaurants for weekend evenings — they fill up.
• Korean fried chicken places often don't take reservations — arrive early or expect a wait.