Move over sushi, on your bike Vietnamese, South Korean cuisine is now our new favourite Asian cuisine.
According to official grocery purveyor to the #TMCTL generation Waitrose, ingredients used to make Korean food are flying off the shelves, from Chinese cabbage which is pickled to make kimchi, (a vinegary cabbage so delicious Gizzi Erskine has named her cat after it) to sesame seeds and tofu. Also in demand? Soju; a Korean booze made from rice, wheat or barley that Gangnam Style terror Psy is very fond of; even fronting a campaign for one brand Chamisul.
Feel like trying out some for yourself? Here’s where to go to get some.
Seoul Bakery, London
This one is RIGHT by Debrief HQ and always surrounded by people desperate to get a seat at one of the four or so tables in this tiny restaurant. And for good reason too. Super yummy bibimbap (literally fried rice, veg and sometimes a fried egg for good measure) is available from only £3.50 PLUS there’s a bonus Kpop café downstairs for good measure.
Korrito, London (Mostly)
This ace food stall can normally be found over the weekend on London’s Southbank at the Real Food Market but they do travel around so check their Facebook to find out where they’ll be popping up next. The concept is simple – choose between a salad box, burrito and rice box then pick which delicious BBQ’ed meat you fancy as a topping. There’s also yummy kimchi fried rice on offer too.
Surakhan, Bristol
This restaurant might not look all that from the outside but it’s won best Asian restaurant in Bristol for two years running. Opened by housewife Miyoung Kim, it claims to be the first Korean restaurant in Bristol and specialises in deopbap or ‘covered rice’.
Yakinuku At The Seoul House Hotel, Cardiff
Situated somewhere between Newport and Cardiff, Yakinuku’s not in the most glamourous of locations but people visit this place from as far afield from Birmingham and Reading. Each table’s got a nifty little BBQ so you can literally cook ‘yaki nuku’ or Korean BBQ at your own table – which is always fun.
Jubo, London
Most Korean food is relatively healthy, but if you’re after some naughtier dishes Jubo’s your man. Check out KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) and the bulgogi sub – described by one reviewer as ‘a bit like a a Korean style Philly cheese steak.’ Erm yum.
Follow Jess on Twitter @jess_commons
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.