Yeon-Ji

I'm Korean and was really missing Korean food. After good reviews here my English husband and myself made the trek to New Malden for a slice of Korea. The decor is certainly something one would expect from a low-key barbeque restaurant anywhere in Korea. As for the service and food, I'm not sure many Koreans would put up with it.

I ignored all the newer-looking and flash Korean places on New Malden High St remembering all the hidden gems in Seoul were often shabby looking at best. It's certainly nothing to look at. After walking down slightly dingy Burlington Rd we were greeted by a miserable looking hostess. The most puzzling thing about this place is the menu. In any Korean restaurant if you order galbi (Korean barbecue) you are either given free lettuce or given the option of ordering it. They don't give you any lettuce or other fresh vegetables here to wrap up the meat. Just meat and side dishes which are all made a few days before and just taken out of the fridge.

Anyone who has had Korean barbecue before knows wrapping the meat in the lettuce with rice, other vegetables and soy paste is the ultimate galbi experience. Not only is the essential experience missing but the small soup you can order with your meal in Korean restaurants was also non-existent on the menu. If you want any form of soup here you have to pay £10. The starters are also £10 and up. I wasn't willing to pay £10 just for a measly starter or a soup so didn't order any.

So what did I get for my money? 3 side dishes from their containers in the fridge. Broccoli, beanshoots and kimchi. 2 portions of pork meat which was cooked by me by the gas cooker on our table. The hostess didn't even bother to turn on the hob herself and left me to work it out. When we ran out of kimchi she reluctantly brought us some more after we asked although the good things is it's free. We also got 2 portions of small rice from the rice cooker. So basically, no on-site cooking was involved and the one waitress (also the hostess) seemed to resent any form of serving.

After this I regret not trying some of the more well-heeled places on the High St as it was a very disappointing experience. It's certainly not a patch on the numerous and good value Korean restaurants one can find in Korea and even in some parts of London, and I can only hope other Korean restaurants in New Malden hold up the reputation of Korean food. I don't think many Koreans would put up with such unwilling service and basic food.
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Soo
2 Overall rating
Food 3 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Saturday, February 27, 2010

This is a little gem in New Malden. A very nice, warm, cosy, value for money, friendly service restaurant serve authentic good food, free generous and yummy sides dishes (incl kimchi), free hot Korean tea... can't recommend enough! Their specialty is hotpots which is spicy & tasty. Overall all their food are superb!!

We visit them regularly and I would recommend them to everyone!
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Stan & Miki
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Saturday, August 15, 2009