Naru Restaurant

This Shaftesbury Avenue Korean stands its ground when it comes to authenticity, & can never be accused of dumbing down. Deeply savoury doen jang jji gae soup sets the tone for a menu that offers a full complement of native favourites, from steaming jigae hotpots & sizzling dolsot bibimbap (rice & all sorts of goodies mixed together in a hot stone bowl) to BBQ meats & sam kyeop sal (slow-cooked pork in a sweet & spicy sauce). The kitchen also shows some flashes of creativity: classic jap chee (stir-fried glass noodles & vegetables) might be wrapped in rice paper & deep-fried to make a crunchy, spring-roll starter. Friendly staff ensure that everything runs smoothly in the softly lit dining room, where pale wood, cream walls & subtle oriental designs define the mood.