Asadal

227 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7DA - View on a map
Telephone: 020 7430 9006

Details
Overall 5.5
Food 7.0
Service 4.7
Atmosphere 5.5
Value 4.8
Based on 6 reviews

what the critics say

Guardian

Jay Rayner

Sunday, April 28, 2013 - We start with a kimchi set, which is only one dish of fermented, chilli-spiked cabbage, alongside another of chilli-drenched cucumber and one of a crunchy root vegetable I fail to identify. It's three takes on the same flavour. Kang poong gi is a deep-fried chicken dish drenched in a sweet chilli sauce which tastes like every cheap plate of Chinese American food I've ever eaten. Bin dae duk are small, dull, crisp-shelled pancakes that have the virtue of having taken a bath in the deep-fat fryer. So far this Korean food is the holy trinity of salt, fat and sugar.

your comments review this restaurant and win a bottle of champagne

Food here is good but no better than anywhere else. The service is the worst I've had in any restaurant in London. We had to ask 4 different people to take our food order and each one said they'd send someone to take it, never happened. The waitress who prepared our meat bbq was utterly charmless, didn't bother smiling. Ordered a coke and was brought a can, the waiter said he'd bring a glass and never came back again. You're supposed to eat the bbq wrapped in lettuce using your hands, which inevitably get sticky. They do not have finger bowls or wet wipes. We were told by our waiter that we'd need to go to the toilet and wash our hands. Dinner was removed and no one bothered to clean the scraps of food and sticky bbq sauce that littered the table. Dessert was served amidst the mess by which time we were so annoyed we demanded to have the table cleaned. The bill came and we asked for the service to be removed as it had been so terrible (a first for me), the waitress didn't even blink at this, no manager came over to ask why we weren't happy. Absolutely no interest in customer service.

In conclusion, avoid this place. There are plenty of other Korean restaurants in London that serve similarly good food without the terrible service that this place offers.
Comment on this reader review


Overall rating 3 stars
Food 5 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 5
Sunday, March 03, 2013

I don't know how authentic the food was but what we had was enjoyable and well spiced. In complete contrast to the food was the appalling unsmiling service. After we had asked to order 3 times we finally got the "only person who can take orders" to come to the table to take our order. When we ordered our drinks a beer came with a glass but apparently a coke doesn't merit one- that took 2 requests to resolve. We ordered some barbecue that involved wrapping the meat and other components in a lettuce leaf. Pretty quickly our hands were sticky, all requests for something to wipe our hands with were refused. Having finished the main course the plates were cleared but the table left covered in small bits of food which we had to ask them to clean. We had to ask for dessert and were given only 1 menu for 2 people. The bill arrived before the dessert and I told them to take the service off the bill, something that I don't think I've done in the last 5 years in London. I would only go here if you enjoyed being treated rudely, something is clearly wrong with the staff.
Comment on this reader review

Mark Wilkins
Overall rating 2 stars
Food 6 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 0 | Value for money 2
Sunday, March 03, 2013

I ordered deep fried chicken with spicy sauce. But, it wasn't crispy at all. I smell some sort of bad oil from my dish. I complained about it and was ignored.
Comment on this reader review

jane
Overall rating 2 stars
Food 1 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 4 | Value for money 1
Thursday, October 25, 2012

I was looking for a Korean restaurant to eat at and read some reviews for ASADAL. Some good, some bad. Overall the reviews were good so I decided to try it. I ate here for lunch on a Sat. and ordered one of their boxed lunch meals. I ordered the spicy pork bulgogi. It came with Korean white rice, 2 fried dumplings, 2 fried butterfly shrimp, moo kimchee, side salad, and Miso soup. The meal was fantastic. The pork was very tender and well cooked, with a lot of flavor. The shrimp and dumplings were also very good. The lunch meal was 12.50 pds. I also ordered a side dish of Kimchee. 6 pds extra. It came with Cucumber, moo, & cabbage kimchee. The moo and cucumber kimchee was very good, the cabbage kimchee was ok. I prefer it a little sweeter than what they served, but I still ate it all. The decor was very pleasing and modern. Very clean. I rated it a four due to the price. 18.50 for lunch is a bit pricecy but the meal was well worth it. This place is right outside the Holborn tube station on the High Holborn side. You can't miss it. I would definitely return.
Comment on this reader review

Mitchell Mead
Overall rating 9 stars
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 5
Monday, September 10, 2012

I went their with my daughter, we loved this place, the food and the service was excellent, She also went back with her friends, everybody who visits us in London goes there with is because it's the best Korean Restaurant for us in London
Comment on this reader review

ASHA BECKER
Overall rating 10 stars
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 8
Friday, June 15, 2012

Love Asadal!!! Especially the BBQ selection such as the massive tasty tiger prawns and cuttle fish. The meats were marinated nicely and with the bbq grill on the table to do.. gave it that extra nice flavor.. wrapping it up in lettuce and some beanpaste gave it that crunch :-) I would definitely recommend here for a Korean Eating Experience.. 10/10!!!!!!
Comment on this reader review

Wendy Chan
Overall rating 9 stars
Food 10 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 8
Tuesday, May 29, 2012

As koreans we were absolutely disgusted. The appetiser consisting of octopus, ehich is normally a main menu in Korea was 18 pounds with only a few mouthfuls ofthe seafood and too much vegetables. Still can't believe that little doah was 18 pounds..so much more than our main meals. My main meal is a meal with rice and raw meat (though it sounds weird it really is good). Only when it came out the meat was sizzling in the hot pot

This meal is normally supposed to be eaten cold. That's why there is raw food. I have eaten this dish plenty of times in korea and everytime the meal was cold. When I asked the waiter about it, he said that it was their own way of cooking this meal. Wow...uhmmm...ok. Then why is this traditional korean meal named 육회 which means raw meat in korean?!!

The staff..was ok. Well the waiter was arrogant to the max. We are not being arrogant..really. I've never written a review for anything but plz..don't go. I would cook a better and cheaper meal than this with much nicer respect to my customers. I was gonna leave a tip when I arrived at the restaurant cuz I was korean .but hell no.
Comment on this reader review

- View all reviews by this user
Overall rating 1 stars
Food 2 | Service 0 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 0
Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Really excellent food and and all staff very kind and great service..
Comment on this reader review

mickey
Overall rating 10 stars
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Friday, December 30, 2011

4 of us visited the restaurant at lunch time. Very quiet, only about 6 tables occupied but the service is bad. None came to the table to take our drinks order, had to wave my hand for attention and the waiter eventually came and took the order. Food is only average. When we finished, we have to ask for our bills 3 times. The waiter and waitress are too busy talking to each other when laying the table. Why in a hurry to lay the table when the restaurant is 90% empty. Finally, the waiter came unwillingly with the bill. £70 for 1 course lunch without wine, expensive & will not go back.
Comment on this reader review

S Poon
Overall rating 3 stars
Food 6 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 3 | Value for money 2
Saturday, August 13, 2011

I have been to Asadal for few times now. I was there last night with friends and hoped service has improved however hasnt changed at all.

My friend booked a table for 7 and we were showed to a private table.

When my friend went to see the floor staff to say that we wanted to have grill on our table but manager told her that we have a better table which is a private table which they will charge us £100 ( My friend DIDNT BOOK A PRIVATE TABLE EVEN.... and manager was asking us to pay for £100)

Anyway we sat down , but no one came to take order , we have to go to the floor to get staff's attention everytime we needed something.

They told us whoever took us to the table should have informed there is a bell under the table.. but didnt.

After few times in Asadal , I think I would never go back again.
Comment on this reader review

aromari
Overall rating 3 stars
Food 6 | Service 2 | Atmosphere 2 | Value for money 2
Tuesday, May 31, 2011


what the bloggers say

Bellaphon

Bellaphon

Friday, July 31, 2009 - The barbecued dish of Joo Mool Luk Kui- slices of sirloin marinated in sesame oil and garlic. What was an otherwise average tasting dish, it was certainly trumped up by the novelty feature of someone cooking the meat in front of you...Sul Lung Tang- a milky noodle soup concocted with oxtail and beef slices served with a second carb of rice. Strongly seasoned with loads of white pepper, possibly to even out the strong tasting oxtail. I quite enjoyed this dish but couldn't help fussing about the size of the small portion.

You may also like these restaurants:
quick search
user tools
latest blog entry

Deal Of The Week

50% Off Your Food Bill At Heaton, Butler & Bayne (WC2)
london tweeting

Barrio Bars to open a new site in Shoreditch next month (via Caterer) - http://t.co/DmDQwfUl

save this page
best for...
cuisine
our sites
city eating