Our favourite spots in Glasgow for Korean cuisine

On chillier winter nights a steaming bowl of Jeongol (hot pot) with gamjatang, budae jjigae, beef and mushroom, or tofu and mushroom, is just the ticket, followed by some hotteok (sweet pancakes filled with cinnamon and brown sugar). And a two-course meal deal for £13.95 per person is available from Monday to Saturday. Order a glass of white grape flavour Makgeolli rice wine, a peach cocktail (made with Korea’s national spirit, Soju), or skip the alcohol and sip on some green plum iced tea. And it caters well to those on a plant-based diet; there’s at least one vegan option for almost every dish category. It all started with a wee food van in Partick, before Namu Korean Kitchen moved to its city centre location (on Hope Street) just over a year ago. The restaurant has sunny vibes, with a colourful Korean mural and Scandi-style furnishings.

More cafe than a restaurant, Bibimbap serves up colourful comfort food and snacks in its two properties; one is bang in the centre of town, the other at the Partick end of the west end. Naturally, its bibimbap is a highlight of the menu (for those uninitiated this is a hot stone pot with rice and vegetables topped with a fried egg, and either beef or tofu). But you can also sample deobap, gim-bap and bokk-eumbab, alongside soup, noodles and wok-fried dishes. Bibimbap’s small plates are made for sharing, with skewers, dumplings, fried fish cakes, korean pancakes, tempura and salad on the list. There’s a great value takeaway offer for your lunch break, or take a seat beneath the colourful upside-down umbrellas and sip on cocktails after work; try the house West Nile (Portobello gin, elderflower liquor, lemon, fresh basil, pressed apple, celery bitters and egg whites) or a BBB Zombie (a house blend of three rums, pink grapefruit, orange, lychee falernum, plum syrup, passion fruit and overproof rum). 

Open for lunch and dinner Monday through to Saturday, Silla Korean Restaurant is found in Finnieston. The venue is rooted in authentic and traditional cooking, yet showcases more recent trends in Korean food too. Bul gogi, bokkeum udon, ja jang myeon, fried chicken and kan poon gi are among the most popular dishes. But you can opt for something quirkier, such as a refreshing cold noodle soup or a super healthy hoe deop bap (sticky rice with sliced raw salmon, thinly sliced vegetables and homemade tasty chilli sauce). Silla Korean Restaurant doesn’t take reservations, so is best for those seeking a spur-of-the-moment meal.

It may not sound like a Korean restaurant, but Jay’s Grill Bar on Argyle Street provides Glaswegians with the opportunity to indulge in a traditional K-bbq experience. Tables come with a recessed cooking section in the centre, allowing diners to sizzle up their own dinner from mouth watering platters of meats, fish and veggies brought to the table by the servers. This is definitely one to do with a bunch of friends — the more of you there are, the more you can order, providing a greater variety of tastes and broths to dunk your scran into. A Korean BBQ is also a fantastic option for a first date, giving you something to do and talk about as you get to know one another. Just watch out for the spicier sauces if you have sensitive taste buds!

This classy city centre brasserie with a glitzy bar is set across two floors — the main dining area with floor-to-ceiling windows looking onto the passing footfall of Ingram Street and a mezzanine. It has a grown-up feel that’s perfect for a sophisticated meal out, or a date night. The menus are derived from South East Asian recipes, but the dishes are predominantly made from ingredients produced, reared, farmed and fished across the British Isles. There’s also an emphasis on home cooking with Mamasan’s own pastes and coconut cream in the mix. Halal, vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free diets are all catered for as well.