Hamgipak

I've visited here 3 times now, the food is fantastic. We took a Korean friend who was over from America. He told us that he hadn't eaten food this authentic since he lived in Korea over 30 years ago. The staff are also incredibly friendly - it's a family run business and real homestyle cooking (no msg). There aren't many tables, you have to go down an alleyway to get to the loo, and the tableware is all very frugal... but it just adds to the atmoshphere. I'll definetly be going back.
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Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, July 28, 2008

I came to London without much hope of finding a decent korean place to get a good korean feed. However, New Malden has it all. Went searching for Asadal as they were one of the first but unfortunately on sunday they and most other place in the High Street are closed but we were luck to find this place.

The place is quite small and you could easily walk by the front in about 5 steps. It will only seat about 20 or so adults with simple wooden beech colour benches. The place was almost full with only 2 seats to spare when we went. There are no table top BBQs but that is more for the tourists because the real cooking happens in the kitchen.

We had the Soo doo boo chigae (spicy soft tofu soup), Beef Bulgogi (BBQ sizzling beef) and Dol Sot Bibimbap (Hot Pot Bibimbap). All the dishes were fantastic but I rated the Soondooboo the best.

Soft velvety tofu in a hot and spicy soup with seafood and egg just like you would get in any little place in Seoul. The Beef Bulgogi came out on a hot sizzling plate on a bed of slivers of onion and a mildly sweet sauce. The meat was tender and fell apart in the mouth and even better when wrapped in fresh crunchy lettuce and samjang, the salt spicy soy paste. The bibimbap came out in a hot stone pot and was a complete meal in itself with plenty of hot chilli to accompany the crackling hot bowl. Unfortunately couldn't manage a bite as my dining partner fought off every attempt to take a spoonful of their meal.

The only minor issue I had was there was no soup to accompany the bibimbap and we only got one bowl of rice with the two other mains. However, not many people other than a picky Korean would complain but in the end it was a good thing because I couldn't manage to say a word after the full belly from the feast that I had that day.

It is highly RECOMMENDED. Although hate to say because it will mean the next time I will probably be waiting outside until a table is cleared.
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Peter
Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 9
Monday, January 21, 2008

There is no better place to eat Korean food in the UK, and very possibly the world! I have a Korean wife, lived in London and now in Hong Kong and travel to Korea regularly, so I'm very familiar with this generally excellent cuisine. This place sticks fondly in our memories. Everything here is good but I especially yearn for their Pajeon - you must try it. Great staff, great service.
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AC
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Thursday, September 06, 2007

Where can I start? This place is brilliant - the one and only problem is that it isn't closer to my house!

This little restaurant serves the most delicious of korean food - home cooked style. On a cold winters day you can warm your heart with a delicious soodooboo chigae (a spicy stew made with soft tofu, shell fish and an egg) and rice with all of the delicious banchan (side dishes). The joy of Hamgibak is that these side dishes keep coming out and they are never boring. The agoochim (monk fish in chilli with watercress and beansprouts) is to die for. The fish is firm but tender and marinated to absolute mouthwatering heaven.

The service is excellent.

If you like Korean food - you'll love it after you've been to Hamgibak.
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Caroline
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Monday, August 06, 2007

My in laws are intown and when we lived in Hong Kong they always insisted we went out for a Korean meal so today we did a search and came up on your site. I was a bit skeptical at first that you gave Hamgipak such a high rating.

We have just had the most authentic Korean meal that i have ever had in the UK.

The restraunt lacks the traditional barbeque charcoal fires and hood extractors but Ajima ( lady incharge) tells me it is designed to be more like a korean cafe but one which actually serves mainstream meals like Yuk ke jang.

The only surprise was that there is no alcohol served but you are allowed to bring your own and there is a Seoul Plaza down the street that sells Soju and OB Beer so one can have as authentic a meal as one wishes.

All in all an excellent experience and we will definitely be back.
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Vivek
Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Monday, June 04, 2007