Soju

It may look like a hole in the wall to the uninitiated, but Soju is renowned locally for its good-value Korean food, decent set lunches, & barbecue dishes such as classic bulgogi (strips of marinated beef) cooked at the table on portable hotplates. The populist menu covers most staples of the cuisine, including spicy kimchi pickle, japchae (stir-fried glass noodles), seafood pancakes, pork dumplings, & crispy fried chicken with sweet & spicy sauce. Staff are helpful & kindly, guiding first-timers around the menu; along with a clutch of European & Asian regulars, many tourists find their way here from nearby Piccadilly Circus. The name Soju refers to Korea’s vodka-like distilled tipple, sold here alongside sul jung mae (plum wine), Korean beers & New World wines (from £14.50).