Restaurant Tour #14: KYOTO SUSHI RESTAURANT

After a period of rain and grey skies I took the opportunity to meet a colleague for lunch in Soho on the 21st of June 2010 – the summer solstice which I hoped would be a good omen.

I was informed that this particular restaurant KYOTO SUSHI in Soho was listed in LONDON EATING (the definitive guide to eating in London) and read the reviews. All ten from 2008 up to the date of our meal were complimentary.

KYOTO SUSHI RESTAURANT
26 Romilly Street
London
W1D 5AJ

Telephone numbers: 020 7734 7622 / 07850 381 065 (Mobile)

The owner is SEO Yun Il and has been so for about a year although KYOTO SUSHI has been established for five years. The manager is Mr TSE.

The chef has gained her experience, of almost ten years, in Tokyo and the Sushi chef is credited with over twenty years of working in the United Kingdom and Japan.

There is seating for up to forty one diners. The décor is simple and pleasant with cheerful and attentive staff. The menu is well illustrated with photographs of the meals available together with the names and descriptions in English. The majority of dishes are Japanese and the remainder are Korean. Prices vary for lunch and dining in the evening.

Local clientele make up about 80% of customers and include Korean, Japanese and other nationalities. The remaining 20% are transient.

As I normally do, I asked other patrons what their opinions were of the dishes presented to them. Their comments were as complimentary as the reviews in LONDON EATING.

Leicester Square tube station on the Northern and Piccadilly lines is a short walk away as is Piccadilly Circus on the Piccadilly and Bakerloo lines. There are also numerous bus routes along Shaftesbury Avenue offering easy access.

KYOTO SUSHI is in an ideal location for the abundance of nearby theatres, China Town, Jazz clubs (such as Ronnie Scotts) and other venues of entertainment.

I must admit that I am rather partial to both Japanese and Korean food. KYOTO SUSHI fulfils both my requirements for a good meal. I wasn’t disappointed and neither was my colleague.

Five dishes were presented to us for lunch which was shared with the owner and his manager-always a good sign if restaurateurs themselves eat the food prepared.

SASHIMI
Assorted raw fish- Salmon, Tuna, Yellow Tail, Scallop, Halibut, Octopus, Bream and Sea Bass with slices of ginger were presented on a large platter. Wasabi and Soy sauce accompanied this dish.
I always enjoy the variety of fish presented.

CHAMPONG
Mixed seafood with spicy base ramen and sliced peppers, onions and carrots.
One definitely to try if you haven’t done so previously-a spicy soup full of flavour

YAKIUDON SOBA
Stir fried noodles with seafood and assorted sliced vegetables.
My favourite thick noodles are used. A distinctive flavour compared to the rather bland tastes I’ve encountered in other restaurants-definitely one to savour.

BENTO LUNCH BOXES
Every lunch box is separated into quarters, each of which, contain different types of food providing a nourishing and well balanced meal.
1. Mackerel, plain white rice, a mixed salad (cucumber, avocado, tomato, lettuce and thin strips of carrot and white radish) and mandoo (dumplings). Soy sauce also accompanied this dish. The mackerel was moist, seasoned and delicious.
2. Tempura (large prawns and vegetables fried in a light batter), plain white rice, mandoo (dumplings) and a mixed salad (avocado, lettuce, tomato, cucumber and thin strips of carrot and white radish). Again Soy sauce accompanied this dish.

This is a firm favourite of many diners including the two of us. Not only did the weather cheer me up but the quality and taste of the food did so as well.
Centrally located, good food and reasonable prices- KYOTO SUSHI is a good recipe for success.

Restaurant Tour #13: LITTLE KOREA RESTAURANT

Wednesday the 23rd of June 2010 was an eventful day. England had progressed to the knock out stage of the Football World Cup Tournament in South Africa and it was sunny and warm.

I found myself in the West End, in the heart of China Town, for a meal prior to a later appointment. Nothing remarkable here then-but wait.

I was in Lisle Street with its selection of Chinese restaurants together with Public Houses (which were full of drinkers watching England play Slovenia).

However, it wasn’t a Chinese meal I was looking forward to but other cuisine. Astonishingly, I found it in Lisle Street and I was quite surprised.

It was a Korean restaurant with the Korean flag flying high. The name is LITTLE KOREA- which is quite apt because of it’s location amongst the number of the expected Chinese restaurants, food and herbal remedy shops. Its façade is similar to the other restaurants in the street. It granted me respite from the mingling crowds and rising temperature.

LIKO Little Korea Restaurant
2-3 Lisle Street
London
WC2H 7BG

Telephone number: 020 7434 1601
Opening Times: Monday to Thursday 1200 hours to 2300 hours, Friday and Saturday 1200 hours to 2330 hours, Sunday 1200 hours to 2300 hours

Leicester Square tube station on the Northern and Piccadilly lines and Piccadilly Circus tube station on the Bakerloo and Piccadilly lines are both literally a short distance away. Numerous bus routes are also a stone’s throw away.


LITTLE KOREA is in close proximity to the numerous entertainment venues, clubs, public houses, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street and Oxford Street

The owner is Mr Young Kyu LEE and has been so since it’s opening some three years ago.

The décor, to some, could appear to be quite stark with functional frniture. Diners in the area tend not to linger over meals as they are en route to exploring the West End. On the ground floor level there is seating for twenty six patrons and a further forty four on the lower level (which is due for refurbishment in the very near future)

The menu has photographs of many of the meals available with descriptions of all the meals described in English and Korean. A special lunch time menu is also available.

The busiest period during opening times is in the evening. About 20% of diners are Korean, a further 60% are Chinese and the remaining 20% comprise of other nationalities. However, over the course of a year the months between October and February attract the most diners- The Chinese New Year being during the latter part of this period.


Four dishes were served.

YUK WHEDOL BIBIM BAB
(Raw strips of beef, rice and assorted vegetables in a hot pot)

Prior to eating chilli sauce is added and the contents were mixed together. The pot is made of stone which keeps the food warm. Not everybody would entertain the idea of eating raw meat but when it is mixed with the rice and vegetables but it does blend together well. It is a firm favourite with Korean diners.

HAE MUL JIM
(Selected sea food including octopus, scallops, crab and assorted vegetables with chilli sauce)

This combination is then cooked on a portable gas cooker on the table. Patrons then help themselves.

CHEESE DON KATSU
(Deep fried bread crumbed pork cutlet with cheese accompanied by a green salad)

A dish which I eat quite often on my regular trips to South Korea

TUK BOK KI
(Stir fried sliced rice cake together with fish cakes and assorted vegetables in a spicy sauce)

This is what I particularly enjoy when I go to Korean restaurants.

PLAIN WHITE RICE
(An integral part of any Korean meal)

Always balances whatever other dishes form part of a meal.

KIMCHI
(Another side dish always served)

Kimchi is a spicy Chinese leaf lettuce pickle-a must for me at all Korean meals.

The location of LITTLE KOREA in the heart of China Town must be quite a challenge for the owner Mr LEE, but that said, it does offer an alternative venue for diners from the restaurants in the area.

I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the meal.

(Watch the YTN Report)

Restaurant Tour #12: JEE CEE NEH

Another month has gone by and another restaurant to be visited. As New Malden is the home of the largest Korean population in Europe it seemed a good idea to sample the cuisine at another local venue.
Two of us wanted to compare the variance of tastes and flavours which are available in Traditional Korean food in this area, in the heart of this community, which has a wide selection of restaurants.
There are authentic dishes with the same basic ingredients. However, how long are they are marinated for (if appropriate)? What herbs and spices are added and their quantities? The consistency of the meals-are they too glutinous or dense? Are they too bland? Is the overall taste too strong thus not bringing out the natural flavour of the main ingredients?
Such are the pitfalls of preparing any particular meal. Every chef wants to present authentic dishes. So it becomes a challenge and is no mean feat if successful.
In New Malden and the surrounding localities the Korean patrons are particularly discerning when it comes to eating out. They expect the food to taste as they remember it in Korea, more especially, as they know how to cook and achieve the same taste when they prepare meals themselves. This is especially true as the majority of restaurants cater for local and other Korean diners from outside the area.
Competition is therefore, not unnaturally, quite fierce and reputations count for a lot.
Having said that, more non Korean clientele are discovering the benefits of eating well-being food produced by the restaurants.
So with this in mind we had lunch at the JEE CEE NEH restaurant which serves Traditional Korean food.

JEE CEE NEH Korean Restaurant
74 Burlington Road
New Malden
Surrey
KT3 4NU

Telephone number: 020 8942 0682
Opening Hours: Monday (1800 hours to 2300 hours), Tuesday to Friday (1200 hours to 1500 hours, 1800 hours to 2300 hours), Saturday and Sunday (1130 hours to 2230 hours)

New Malden train station is about a 15 minute walk away. Left out of the station along New Malden High Street and then left again into Burlington road.
The stop for buses including the 152 and 131 is virtually outside.
Parking is available close by and in nearby streets.
The owner is CHI Sun Sook.
The restaurant with wooden tables (incorporating B-B-Q facilities) can seat up to sixty diners-some of whom can be in a more private area. Menus describe meals in English and Korean with corresponding photographs.
The Staff are friendly and helpful.
Six main dishes were presented for our meal.

Rice accompanied by seafood mixed with red and green peppers, mushrooms, carrots and onion----bland enough to balance the stronger tasting dishes
Spicy Bulgogi (marinated beef) again with an assortment of vegetables accompanied by rice----a firm favourite of mine and a must for people experiencing Korean food for the first and subsequent times
A salad with lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and other vegetables on a bed of ice----an innovative presentation complementing the other dishes
Large prawns in batter with apple in a sweet and sour sauce----delicious
Shredded spring onion salad----spicy, most enjoyable and another of my favourites
Noodles made from sweet potato with vegetables and seafood (including octopus)----a popular dish and again spicy
Two side dishes of cucumber Kimchi and Chinese Leaf Lettuce Kimchi (both Korean pickles) ----a must for me

Having enjoyed meals in restaurants in Korea over a period of many years the culinary experience at this venue in New Malden was comparable. I wasn’t surprised to see a number of Korean people I know in New Malden lunching at the same time.

Restaurant Tour #11: Genghis Khan Restaurant in London

My monthly visit for September 2009 found me in the Genghis Khan restaurant with a couple of friends. I have eaten here on occasions since it opened some four and a half years ago.

Genghis Khan Chinese Restaurant
87 Kingston Road, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 3PA
Telephone Number: 020 8949 7977
Take Away service is available

A limited selection of alcoholic beverages is offered.
There is seating for fifty diners with the patrons being almost exclusively Korean.
The menu is in English and Korean and includes two set lunches, two set dinners and a varied selection of other dishes.

The owner is Mrs. KIM Su Bun
New Malden train station is a 12 minute walk away.
Numerous bus routes, including numbers 131, 213 and X26, stop at the Fountain roundabout which is a mere 5 minute walk away.
There is parking locally.
We chose four dishes for our meal.

* Strips of Jelly fish surrounded by prawns, crab sticks, cucumber, carrot, red and green peppers----------attractively presented and all mixed together when
about to be eaten.
* Crispy rice cakes, baby octopus, squid, prawns, water chestnut, two types of mushroom, baby sweet corn, broccoli and red peppers in a flavoured sauce--- a pleasant dish.
* Strips of beef mixed with leeks, onions and chilli-----spicy and most enjoyable.
* Noodles in seafood soup with mussels, prawns, baby octopus, squid, egg and pak choi---popular with many diners.
* Side dishes of Chinese Leaf lettuce Kimchi, spring onion Kimchi (pickles), salad, slices of yellow pickled radish and pieces of onion together with a dip of black bean sauce.

The two chefs employed over the last three years have transformed the quality of the dishes available.
This will continue to be one of the restaurants that I will patronise in New Malden.

Restaurant Tour #10: MIGA Korean Restaurant in London

Goodge Street in London is awash with eateries. So it goes without saying that at some stage I would eat at one of them.

MIGA-BBQ, Bar & Oriental Fusion restaurant

29 Goodge Street, London W1T 2PP

Tel No: 020 7636 7688

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 1200 hours to 2300 hour Sunday 1800 hours to 2300 hours (Booking is advisable)

Goodge Street tube Station (Northern Line) is literally two minutes walk away. The owner and chef is Mr. KO who has many years experience in the preparation of Korean cuisine. His English and that of his staff are of a good standard. First impressions can be quite misleading. It is a no frills restaurant that can accommodate forty six diners. There are wooden tables and wooden chairs in the restaurant on the ground floor with Karaoke facilities at a lower level. The décor is quite stark but the premises are due for a makeover in the not too distant future. The patrons are mainly students (from the nearby UCL), office workers and tourists. The dishes on the menu are all described in English and Korean. The following dishes were placed in front of us:

* Seasoned Barbecued Sirloin steak served with salad----tender and succulent and without doubt one of the best steaks I’ve had for a long time.

* Salmon with a different salad----well seasoned and not overcooked and dry

* Beef Rib and cabbage soup----full of flavour

* A different type of Rib soup----meat well cooked

* Soup containing bean curd, mung beans and intestines----popular with a lot of diners but not to my taste

* Green Tea ice cream----definitely to my taste

I felt that the culinary skills of Mr. KO surpassed the area in which the restaurant was located. Furthermore, I have no doubt with the décor change combined with the quality of the food this eatery will be even busier than it is at the moment.

Restaurant Tour #9: POCHANGMACHA

On most streets in South Korea you’ll find roadside eateries with plastic roll-down walls affording protection from the elements. They are basically used by people who want an inexpensive meal and a drink of Soju (an alcoholic drink). This type of eating place is called a "POCHANGMACHA" - meaning a “Covered Cart” which can be pulled or pushed by hand. It is quite apt because they are able to change locations easily.

My meal this month was at a restaurant with the same name. This venue has been open for six years.

POCHANGMACHA
56 St Giles High Street
London
WC2 8LH

Telephone No: 020 7379 7381

Opening Times: Monday to Saturday 1200 hours to 1500 hours
1800 hours to 0100 hours
Sunday 1800 hours to 2400 hours

A limited selection of alcoholic beverages is available
Tottenham Court Road tube station ( Northern and Central lines) is literally a minute’s walk away. Numerous bus routes offer easy access.

The owner is Ms Cheong Shin Briggs
The chef is Kyeon Chon Pyo
There are a five staff working in the kitchen and serving customers.
Good English is spoken by the owner, chef and staff.

This restaurant has the capacity to seat twenty eight patrons in the main ground floor dining area. The kitchen is also on this level enabling the meals to be seen whilst being prepared.
The lower dining area can seat twenty further patrons and is currently being redecorated to become a Japanese Sushi restaurant with a different name.

The décor is simple with dark painted walls, complimentary lighting, wooden tables and wooden chairs with padded seats.
The menu describes the dishes in Korean and in English. Set lunch menus are also available. Portable barbeques are provided when necessary.

POCHANGMACHA has a certain ambience echoing similar restaurants in South Korea with Korean food being served at competitive prices for the area.

Approximately half the clientele are Korean (students for the most part) and other nationalities make up the remainder including office workers and tourists. The busiest times are from Thursday evenings to Sunday nights.

Three main dishes were served.

Ham and Noodle Big Pot Stew
Ham, Kimchi, vegetables, Korean noodles and Tofu with spicy sauce- a favourite with diners

Stone Bibimbab
Rice topped with vegetables and a fried egg in a stone bowl-a dish I enjoy

Steamed spicy Cod
Steamed Cod and vegetables with a spicy sauce-compliments the Bibimbab

Side dishes
Namul------thin strips of marinated white radish (Mooli)
Seaweed
Kimchi-----Pickled Chinese Leaf Lettuce-an agreeable taste

Boiled rice
I didn’t know what to expect upon entering POCHANGMACHA albeit there were diners were of different nationalities present. Our meal only consisted of three main dishes but was quite sufficient for the two of us. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and taste. A return visit in the future cannot be ruled out.

Restaurant Tour #8: NARU Korean Restaurant

Having been open barely a month it seemed an opportune time to try the cuisine at the NARU restaurant.

It is located at: 230 Shaftesbury Avenue,
London, WC2 8EG (Takeaway service is available)
Tel. Numbers: 020 7379 7962 / 07877 850513
Website: www.narurestaurant.com
Opening times: Monday to Saturday (1200 hours to 1500 hours / 1730 hours to 2230 hours), Sunday (CLOSED)
How to get there: Tottenham Court Road ( Northern and Central Lines ) and Holborn ( Central Line ) Underground stations are a short walk away.
Numerous bus routes along New Oxford Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, Bloomsbury Way and High Holborn also offer easy access.

The owner is Ms. YEONEE KIM, whose previous career was assisting in the making of documentaries, has a good command of the English language as has the Chef.
PHILIP LEE is the Chef. His previous experience includes working for a large hotel in Seoul and being a Public House landlord in Gloucester incorporating a Japanese/Korean restaurant.
Four other members of staff-all who speak good English- assist in the restaurant and kitchen areas.
There is seating for thirty eight patrons. The tables have wooden tops without built in BBQ facilities. The choice of alcoholic beverages is limited.
Clientele consists of approximately 80% of tourists/transient diners as numerous theatres and shops are in the vicinity. The remaining 20% are made up of office workers and Korean people.
Although this is a fledgling restaurant with a limited menu-a choice of thirteen starters, fifteen main dishes and five side dishes the quality of the food is surprisingly good. The Chef, PHILIP LEE emphasises that only fresh ingredients are used.

Kal Bi koo-yi
Roast of thinly sliced beef rib marinated in a Chef’s special sauce with a side plate of lettuce, chilli ( Very Hot), cucumber and carrot----Tender meat cooked to individual tastes on a small portable BBQ.
Yook Hwe
Thinly sliced raw beef served with sliced Korean pear and egg yolk----Again tender meat but not to my liking but the other person sharing this dish enjoyed it.
Kimchi ( pickled Chinese leaf lettuce)
One very lightly spiced—suitable for an introduction to this taste- but a bit salty for me. The second- spicier and much more to my taste
Dolsot Bib im Bap
Steamed rice and mixed vegetables and beef with special chilli sauce-served in a ceramic bowl-One of my favourite Korean dishes.
Na Mul
Three types of seasoned vegetables-cucumber, radish and carrot-I enjoyed these vegetables
Ke Sal Ssam
Pancakes with crab, sliced cucumber, sliced carrot, a mixed green salad and honey mustard sauce-Worth trying

The word NARU in Korean means a landing place for ferry passengers. Hence, it could apply to travellers using public transport in London who want a break going from one destination to another.

This restaurant fulfils the needs of people who want a satisfying meal. It provides a good introduction to traditional and well-known Korean cuisine.
With more experience and the introduction of further Korean dishes the owner YEONEE KIM should have no difficulty in establishing NARU as one of the more popular eateries in the area.

Photos courtesy of Naru Korean Restaurant

Restaurant Tour #7: Ran Restaurant

Another month gone by and another restaurant to visit so I found myself on the 19th March 2009 having lunch at the RAN FUSION RESTAURANT, 58-59 Great Marlborough Street, London, W1F 7JY (Takeaway Facilities available).
It is recommended that bookings be made especially over the weekends and in the evenings.

Opening Hours: Monday to Saturday 1200 hours to 1500 hours and 1800 hours to 2300 hour, Sunday 1800 hours to 2300 hours.
Telephone Number: 020 7434 1650
Web: http://www.ranrestaurant.com/
Nearest Tube Stations: Oxford Circus on the Victoria and Central Lines, Tottenham Court Road on the Northern and Central Lines (Numerous bus routes along Oxford Street and Regent Street afford easy access).

Apart from the Owner Ms. KANG EUN YOUNG and the Manager SHIN UNG CHEOK there are thirteen members of staff-six who are responsible for preparing the food.
The restaurant was established in 1987, refurbished and reopened earlier this month. Eight wooden tables, with BBQ facilities built in, are in this main dining area. Extractor fans are positioned directly above each BBQ facility. There is room for forty eight patrons with sufficient space between tables for conversations to be held in relative privacy. Mellifluous music can be heard in the background. A private dining room on a lower level can also seat a further dozen clientele. There is an adequate bar serving the dining areas.

The décor is simple and the ambience comfortable but not intimate. Karaoke facilities with a Sake bar will become available in April 2009 on the lower level and will accommodate up to forty people. A high percentage of diners are from the world of business. Others include people who want to enjoy meals in the company of their friends and families.

All nationalities are represented, with of course, a large number of Korean patrons.I did ask diners at two separate tables of their opinions of the venue and food. Their comments were positive and complementary. The menu is extensive with a detailed description of the meals offered including Table D’hôte, Korean grills and lunch boxes.

The dishes recommended and served were as follows:

Beef with Glass Noodles - Vegetables sautéed with marinated sliced beef and dang men noodles in a blend of Korean spices --- a traditional Korean dish.

Mixed Chun Platter - Sauteed cod, seafood, tofu, courgette battered chun accompanied by fried dumplings --- a little bit of everything I enjoy.

Korean Grill Platter - Beef bulgogi, short ribs, Jumulleok sirloin, beef tongue, spicy chicken and spicy pork bulgogi --- as I don’t eat meat regularly I appreciated the various tastes apart from the Beef tongue , which I wouldn’t eat normally, but I did try it.

Seared Tuna - With avocado and bean sprout salad --- a pleasant alternative to the meat dishes.

Dolsot Bibimbab - A bed of steamed rice garnished with shreds of namul vegetables, beef and a fried egg served in a heated stone dish --- one of my favourite meals in Korea.

Raw minced beef - On a bed of lettuce

Special seafood Platter - A range of specially selected seafood including King prawns, squid and shellfish --- another favourite of mine.

Mixed Kimchi selection of Traditional Cabbage, White Radish and Stuffed Cucumber - Classic Korean dishes of vegetables naturally preserved in a piquant blend of red chilli, anchovy paste, root ginger and crushed garlic --- Good flavours without being too strong

Mixed Namul selection of Bean sprouts, Spinach and White Radish - Fresh vegetables blanched then tossed in sesame oil and rice vinegar and complemented with the delicate nutty flavour of toasted sesame seeds --- the tastes of the respective vegetables were enhanced by the seasonings.

I didn’t have the Green Tea ice cream-as I normally do-but on the next occasion I certainly will as I have developed a taste for it in Korea. The food tasted as good as it looked. I can fully understand why this particular restaurant is well patronised.