Blurb
Authentic Korean cuisine grilled at your table in the heart of South Kensington. Offering set menus and a la carte with a wide selection of Korean Soju, cocktails and wines from across the world.
Food
We went for the KGK Chef’s feast with a Soju pairing (a Korean light spirit, similar to Vodka). “Feast’ is a very appropriate term because the servings are generous. Eight seasonal namul, Bibim noodles, Jeon, Japchae, Yuzu salad and two seasonal kimchi come first, followed by the grill which presents Tiger Prawns, 35 Day Aged Rib Eye, King Kalbi (a cut short rib) as well as a ‘cut of the day’ which for for us, was lamb. There’s also steamed rice with soup and a Ssam platter with three house sauces. Phew!
This is a lot of food for your money and I was certainly not complaining, but beware, you’ll want to work up that appetite before you arrive.
In quality terms, I should say that I haven’t eaten too many Korean dishes to offer a great deal of comparison, but if the flavour presented at KGK is a good representation of the cuisine, I’ve probably been missing out. And whilst there were certainly dishes (such as the King Kalbi), that I preferred more than others, the overall quality of the menu is hard to fault.
The Dessert after the vast feast is a mercifully small serving of tasty Korean Soy Bean Ice Cream with a light caramel flavour.
Service was excellent and impressively discreet – no mean feat when food is being cooked right in front of you, because each table has its own grill and your server will cook the assorted meats and fish precisely to your liking.
Style
If there was anything working against KGK’s favour, it would be the general atmosphere or rather, lack of it. It’s not an unpleasant environment by any stretch of the imagination, (indeed, quite the opposite as the air conditioned interior on a very warm evening was extremely welcome) it’s just a somewhat unremarkable dining area; unfussy and relaxed but still formal enough to remind you of what postcode you’re in.
Overall, It’s a pretty sedate atmosphere, lacking in the sort of buzz and crowds you might experience in other venues. For some, this would be obviously be perfect but if you want an exciting venue to kick off your evening, then there may be other options. KGK could benefit from softer lighting to add a little more intimacy. The Spotify playlist might need updating too, as the soft rock background music makes for an interesting choice.
In a nutshell
It was an excellent meal that, rarely for South Ken, offers great value and great flavour. It’s just a shame that the venue itself can’t match the excitement of the food.
The details
KGK Chef’s Feast £65 per person with the Soju and Wine Pairing at £30 and £35 per person respectively.
Courtfield Rd, South Kensington, London SW7 4LH
