Chinatown’s got a fantastic Korean BBQ spot.
You’re going to want to take Olle your friends.
It’s perched right on the corner of Macclesfield Street, and heading inside, you’ll find deep teal walls, soft retro lighting, and sleek stone-top tables fitted with hot plates and BBQ grills over pits so that you can get involved with some of the cooking itself.
You’ll find all of Korean cuisine’s best-loved dishes on offer, from japchae glass noodles with sautéed veg & beef to seafood pajeon pancakes. But there’s also a few treats that might be less familiar, like egg soufflé in kelp broth and the mouthwatering mandu dumplings. You can order bigger dishes from the kitchen, too – spicy stews loaded with fish or vegetables, or bibimbap delivered in sizzling stone bowls. But your best bet is to plump for the BBQ, roll your sleeves up and get involved with the interactive cooking that gives the place such a buzz.
Beef is the star of the show here, and is sourced from premium breeds from across the UK, Japan and the US. You can toss thin strips of ox tongue, tender wagyu ribeye and marbled chuck flat, LA galbi (short ribs cut in a cross-section), brisket, and of course bulgogi – beautifully marinated strips – onto the grill. If you’ve any room left, there’s also pork belly, scallops and tiger prawns to round it out.
Order a little soju to wash it all down with, and you’ll see why BTS swung by here last time they were in town…
NOTE: Olle is open noon-11pm daily (10.30pm Sundays). For more information, or to book, visit their website here.
Olle | 86-88 Shaftesbury Avenue, W1D 6NH
Like Korean BBQ? Check out our pick of the best spots for Korean food in London.