Everyone has been talking about the new Korean barbecue restaurant in Dundee.
At least, lots of people in my friendship circle have been.
And for good reason, too. Korean BBQ Dundee, which opened in the former unit of The Brothy on Whitehall Street in March, is the first restaurant of its kind in the city.
That is, it offers customers an “authentic” Korean communal cooking and dining experience.
Each table features an electric hot grill, where customers can cook marinated meat. The meat is usually accompanied by a range of side dishes.
But if that scares you – or you’re vegetarian – they also offer a range of prepared dishes, including stir fries, noodles and stews.
The company behind the restaurant, KJ Groups, also owns Korean BBQ Edinburgh, Korean Munchies and Soul Sushi in the capital.
Modern and Asian-inspired interiors at Korean BBQ Dundee
Their new Dundee venue, which I arrive at on a Saturday evening with two work friends, is decorated beautifully.
The interiors – reminiscent of Asian-inspired chain Wagamama – feature stylish black walls, smooth pine flooring, sleek white tables and a well-stocked bar.
Traditional Korean trinkets infuse the otherwise modern space with a warm, family-friendly charm, while a grey tartan carpet offers a subtle nod to the restaurant’s Scottish location.
The spacious venue is also heaving, packed full at just 6pm, and I give myself a pat on the back for making a reservation in advance.
Our dining experience gets off to an exciting start, as we are shown to our seats and instructed to “press the button” at the end of the table when we are ready to place our order.
It’s a nice feature, and I enjoy the fact that we don’t need to spend any time pointedly closing our menus and attempting to catch the eye of a passing server.
Keen to try as much as possible, we ask for an array of dishes, including starters, mains and sides.
Again, a bit like Wagamama, nothing comes in the order you might expect. The food just appears when it’s ready.
This means we kick things off with our barbecue mains. I’ve opted for the king prawns, which are drizzled in a sweet soy sauce and topped with sliced spring onions.
Grilling meat at Korean BBQ Dundee
The waiter, who has switched the grill on for us, recommends that I cook the prawns for about six minutes on each side.
Using the silver tongs provided, I pop them on to the hot grill. They produce a mouth-watering fragrance while slowly turning pink.
My companions Sarah and Laura, who have opted for beef and chicken respectively, also pop their meat onto the grill.
I am something of a ‘loose’ pescatarian (I’ve drunkenly ordered a chicken kebab on a night out before) so the proximity of my prawns to the meat on the grill – juices are definitely mixing – doesn’t bother me too much.
However, this is something worth bearing in mind for those who are more meat-averse, as there’s just one grill per table.
While those cook, we tuck into the array of delicate side dishes which come with the meat.
This includes a cabbage salad, which is juicy, fresh and full of flavour. I love the crunchiness of the cabbage with the sweet, glossy dressing.
Healthy and balanced side dishes stand out
There’s also a beautiful bowl of radish salad, which is like nothing I’ve ever eaten before. The bright orange spiralised vegetable – which resembles a bowl of spaghetti – is tart and peppery.
The only side dish which disappoints is the beansprouts. While they are plump and plentiful, they also lack flavour. I can discern no dressing or seasoning.
We’ve also been given a bowl of lettuce leaves, which we are encouraged to use like “taco shells” for the meat.
My prawns are ready now, so after awkwardly removing one of the crustaceans from its shell (I’ve only ever had them peeled before) I stick it on a green leaf and transport it to my mouth.
I am delighted with myself. The shrimp meat is tender, high quality and – dare I say – perfectly cooked!
Sarah and Laura are equally enamored, with both commenting on the quality of the meat.
However, although their cuts of chicken and beef have been marinated, they both agree they are slightly lacking in flavour and seasoning.
Still, it’s nothing that a few dollops of the tasty chilli and soy sauces on the side can’t fix. The former – rich and creamy – is my favourite.
We also order three portions of steamed white rice, perfectly light and fluffy, and a side of seaweed, crispy and salty, to share. The latter is nice enough, but struggles to compete with the myriad of punchier flavours on the table.
Savoury kimchi pancakes pack delicious punch at Korean BBQ Dundee
The girls also enjoy a plate of chips drizzled in cheese, honey and garlic. Sarah raves about these, saying the sweetness of the honey breaks up the spiciness of the other dishes.
As for our ‘starters’, I am absolutely blown away by the kimchi pancakes, which are my favourite dish of the evening.
Kimchi – a fermented vegetable dish made with cabbage and seasonings such as garlic, chilli and ginger – is a staple of Korean cuisine. It’s known for its sour, salty and spicy flavour, and this dish definitely delivers all three.
Served with a light sesame oil dressing, the savoury pancakes are incredibly light and crispy. I’ll definitely be ordering them again in the future.
Sarah, who has gone for the fried chicken dumplings, says they are crispy and cooked well.
Laura, on the other hand, is perfectly satisfied with her fried pork dumplings.
The verdict
Korean BBQ Dundee offers a fun and sociable dining experience that I think most people would enjoy.
While it’s a little messy – you kind of have to get stuck right in with your fingers – the delicious result is worth it (maybe just ask for some extra napkins).
Meanwhile, the flavours are vibrant, rich and flavourful – and I really appreciate how healthy and balanced the dishes were. I rarely feel energised instead of bloated after a meal out!
I’ll be recommending this restaurant to anyone who enjoys or wants to try speciality Korean cuisine.
Information
Address: 32 Whitehall St, Dundee DD1 4AF
Website: koreanbbqdundee.kjgroups.co.uk/
Telephone: 01382 521144
Disabled access? Yes.
Dog friendly? No.
Price: £104.15 for three starters, three mains, five sides and four soft drinks
Scores:
Food: 4/5
Service: 5/5
Surroundings: 5/5
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