Dong San

I'm a huge fan of korean food and booked this restaurant to celebrate my husband's birthday based on all the positive reviews given. However, I was sorely dissapointed with the quality and quantity of the food presented to us on the evening of March 21.

We were a large group of 13 people and ordered almost everything on the menu.

To start, we had gyozas, kimchee and seafood pancakes as well as the mixed kimchee and spicy beef soup. The pancakes were quite bland and the gyozas tasted like they were the freezer type variety.

For mains, we ordered, dolsat bibimbap (all 3 varieties on the menu), bugolgi, spicy pork bulgogi as well as an array of bbq meats such as ox tongue and beef rib. The bibimbaps were bland and tasteless, the bulgogis were served on a sizzling plate (minus the sizzle) and was mediocre at best. I actually thought they would cook the bbq meats at the table (like in all other korean restaurants i've vistied) rather than precook them in the kitchen??

The ox tongue was sliced too thick and was too tough and rubbery to chew. To top it off, our beef 'sashimi' came out still frozen (my husband and I bit into a chunk of rather icy meat) and when I sent it back to the kitchen and explained it to the waitress, she simple nodded, looked somewhat confused and took the dish away. 20 minutes later, she reappeared with the same dish, but only this time the meat was thawed! I was appalled that beef 'sashimi' as they had called it, was served frozen and not fresh as sashimi should be served. Needless to say, I told her to take it back as it was unacceptable to re present a dish we had originally sent back to the kitchen.

All in all, whilst the service was attentive and polite, it lacked alot in the taste department.

Similar to a previous diner, the owner (or what appeared to be the manager) was overly eager to provide suggestions and almost forced upon us his suggestions on what to order. There is a clear distinction between subtle recommendation and downright forcefulness.

Definitely left a bitter taste in our mouths and we won't be hurrying back anytime soon.
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Oz_Gastronaut - View all reviews by this user
6 Overall rating
Food 4 | Service 8 | Atmosphere 5 | Value for money 5
Tuesday, March 23, 2010

My wife and another couple visited Dong San on a Satuday night.

It was busy, without being crowded. More importantly, the lay out (in the back section) was open and tables and chairs had ample room between them.

The service was very good and our waitress was very keen to assist us with various combinations.

The food itself was great. Gyoza, kimchi, spicy chicken etc made for a filling entre. Main was the BBQ at the table with various condiments. All the food was very fresh (no wilting greens - hooray!), and the level of spice and chili not excessive.

The bill was relatively modest for 4 people as well as drinks (£105).

A great alternative to some of the lesser Asian restaurants in the area.
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Z
9 Overall rating
Food 9 | Service 9 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 9
Monday, February 15, 2010

My boyfriend and I loved this restaurant so much the first time we tried it that we decided to bring my family there when they visited for Christmas. While the food was as excellent as it had been the first time we were extremely irritated with the service. The man who appears to be the owner sat us at our table and acted as our waiter initially. While both my boyfriend and I eat Korean food often, my family was less familiar with it so we appreciated the owner taking the time to tell us about some Korean specialties. However, the suggestions bordered on boorish when we ordered our food and he tried to suggest other menu items. When I ordered he said that I should actually get a different dish but I said to him that I had already eaten and enjoyed the dish in the past and also that I didn't eat meat (as he was suggesting a meaty option). He persisted in this behaviour to the point where we had to tell him to lay off. Ironically, his energy was focused so much on telling us what we should be eating, he forgot to place the order for my sister's dish and when we pointed it out he admitted he had forgotten it!

While we still love the food at Dong San we found this element very disappointing. We were the customers and should have been able to order anything we wanted on the menu without harassment. We will consider returning to Dong San but hope that we will get a different waiter!
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North_Londoner
7 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 1 | Atmosphere 7 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, January 05, 2010

One of my favourite restaurants in London, top marks for food quality, service and value. A definite must for people who enjoy delicious food! Make sure you order the glass noodles! Every time we eat here we are impressed and when we had a corporate do here and enjoyed not only the food but the complementary karaoke, everyone said they hadn't had such a fun night in ages. Highly recommended!
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Alice
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, December 29, 2009

This was our first time at Dong San and my wife and I thoroughly enjoyed it (my wife is Korean so she knows authentic Korean food when she sees and tastes it!). The service was excellent, smiling waitresses and very friendly.

We couldn't fault the quality of the food, it was delicious and good value for money.

Give it a try!
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 9 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, December 08, 2009

I have eaten at Dong San a couple of times now and I have to say that it's the best Korean restaurant that I've been to in London- And I'm Korean!! The service was great both times- and the waitresses are smiley and friendly- they even remembered me from the time before! I went there a couple of weeks ago for my birthday and had a spicy cod soup, kimchi pancakes, dumplings and pork belly which is cooked on the table. Everything was delicious and of a high standard- I would definitely recommend it!
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Korean
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Tried out Dong San for Sunday dinner based on the reviews in London Eating. It was absolutely great. We had the set 1 menu (min 2 persons) with a side order of cucumber kimchi. The set dinner started with modum namul (3 pickled veges), kimchi, a bowl of clear beef soup with seaweed and a Korean seafood pancake. The beef soup was refreshing and delicately fragrant. The pancake was light and had squid, prawns and spring onion in it. All very good. The cucumber kimchi came the same time as the cabbage kimchi and modum namul. Once we finished it, they top it up once for free. Gyoza and ojingobokum (squid in chilli sauce) was part of the set meal. Then came the bulgogi with fresh lettuce, korean soya paste and the dolsot (rice cooked with egg and veges in hot stone pot). It finished with a plate of beautifully crafted assorted fruit (melon, oranges & grape). We had two non-alcoholic drinks each to go with the meal. The whole meal came to a very economical £52. The set menu 1 was £23 each person. The meal was good although not the best tasting Korean food we can get in London but it was definitely the best value for money Korean food we ever had in London. Saying that, we have only been there once and so have not tried their non-set menu dishes which could hide a hidden specialty dish which could be their signature dish. Other than fantastic value for money and above average good food, the service was amazing. Three lovely girls, always attentive, always smiling, they explain the menu very well and were just wonderful. The atmosphere was good with well placed decorations, large wooden tables with enough space for all the food to be laid out generously. It was not cramp, not too far apart, just enough for a bit of privacy, lots of leg room, arm room and comfortable. Will definitely be going there again and becoming a regular at this place, mostly because the excellent service, good food and unbeatable value for money.
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E Chan
9 Overall rating
Food 8 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Monday, September 28, 2009

Tried Korean food a couple of times and sort of wandered into this restaurant. It was clean, nicely decorated and very spacious. The service was good, our waiter was friendly and provided good advice. Food was absolutely delicious and the price is very reasonable. The soup my husband ordered was simply divine, it was so tasty. The waiter even brought out 3 dishes of appetizers for us to try! Would definitely go back again for sure. Highly recommended. I can't wait to try the rest of the dishes.
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Bee Lay
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 10
Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Best korean restaurant I've found in London so far - real, delicious korean food, not the watered-down european version...
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10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 10 | Value for money 9
Friday, August 14, 2009

I have been to Dong San twice, once with a big group of friends, and another time with my husband and sister. I am going again tomorrow night with another big group of friends. This is the best Korean restaurant in London - better than Arang, and the competition around the corner, better than anything you would get in Chinatown. All my friends agree too!

The chefs barbeque the meat over charcoal so it has a delicious smokey flavour. The staff there are ALWAYS helpful, and friendly. I can't tell you how good this place is, and they deserve to have a packed house every service. Just try it, you won't be disappointed.
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Madalyn
10 Overall rating
Food 10 | Service 10 | Atmosphere 8 | Value for money 10
Friday, August 07, 2009