Last Updated on October 15, 2024
KGK, Kensington’s very own Korean restaurant, offers a delicious, authentic Korean grill experience.
Located a short distance from bustling Gloucester Road tube station, KGK’s entrance, with its mythical lions and imposing columns, belies the very warm welcome you’ll receive. Stepping inside you’ll find an elegant but relaxed restaurant with a team of friendly and attentive staff on hand. A meal at KGK Korean Grill blends traditional flavours with modern culinary excellence presented with a degree of calm theatricality which takes the experience to a very memorable level.
Each table incorporates a plate-sized built-in grill, and while you feast on salads and kimchi, your skilled attendant will cook premium cuts of meat to your preferred taste, all served with KGK’s signature sauces.
Open for over a year, the restaurant builds seasonal specialities into its menu which features an array of main courses, sides and of course excellent cuts of beef (halal) as well or pork, lamb and prawns. The waiting staff are happy to explain the menu, but if you’re new to Korean food why not try the Chef Korean Feast, a set menu which offers a fantastic introduction to Korean food and flavours?
The order placed, your table is successively covered with bowls and small plates of colourful side dishes and sauces. There are seasonal namul or vegetable dishes, in addition to noodles, two types of kimchi, a sweet yuzu salad, jeon, (vegetable pancake) and japchae (a glass noodle stir fry). The plainer bowls of rice and broth, which to Western eyes might seem superfluous to this rich feast, are for Koreans an integral part of the meal, in fact, the main element, and not to be overlooked. Finally come the accompaniments to the meat, a platter of ssam or leaf wraps with three house sauces which will perfectly complement the meats. This is in total a feast for the eye as well as your tastebuds.
As the grill warms, it’s time to relax and enjoy another Korean speciality, soju. Mostly served in shot glasses or small ceramic cups, shot back or sipped as you prefer, Korea’s rice wine (13%) is the nation’s most consumed alcohol. Tasting rather like a weak vodka, soju is fermented white rice with a crisp flavour, a little apple, and sometimes a touch of burnt rice. KGK’s drinks menu offers premium soju and the very popular fruit versions but if this is not for you there’s an affordably priced wine, cocktail and soft drinks list.
Whilst tucking into the small plates the skilled waiting team grills to perfection and soon juicy tiger prawns are dropping out of their shells. Three excellent cuts of meat follow:- 35-day aged rib-eye, much-marbled flat iron and last but in no way least, KGK’s signature King Kalbi, diamond cut short rib marinated in KGK’s signature sauce. With each steak grilled at the table and then neatly scissor-snipped into chopstick-manageable pieces, it’s possible to ensure the meat is prepared to each diner’s individual taste.
Then the fun begins. The colourful platter of ssam comes into its own with lettuce leaves creating the base on which to create your own parcel of deliciousness combining the meat pieces with the sauces and vegetable salads edged with garlic, chilli, sesame and yuzo to name but a few (think very messy pancake rolls!).
Dessert is a palate-cleansing ice cream with sharp blueberries.
For date nights, catching up with friends, for a family gathering or a celebration calling for somewhere special, KGK is the perfect venue. Geonbae! Cheers!
Jenny was a guest of KGK, Korean Grill Kensington
You’ll find KGK at Courtfield Road, South Kensington, London, SW7 4QH; Tel: 0207 331 6331
Open: Mon-Fri 1700-2200; Sat-Sun 1200-2200
Bookings: Reservations@koreangrillkensington.com