Young Bean

Defecting from the north to the south side of London Wall has had a rejuvenating effect on this canteen-like Korean hangout atop the quiet ‘highwalk’ between the Barbican & Guildhall. The bright, unassuming premises have been smartly kitted out with bentwood chairs, slatted blinds & a few bits of greenery – although a soundtrack of West Coast FM rock struck an oddly occidental note on our visit. A handful of Chinese & Japanese interlopers pop up on the menu, but it pays to stay with the genuine Korean specialities: soups or grilled skewers, spicy seafood hotpot with tofu, & the show-stopping yukwhe dolsot bibimbap – a stone pot of bubbling broth & goodies brought to the table, with crispy rice at the bottom & separate bowls of marinated raw beef & egg yolk for stirring into the mix. At lunchtime, takers for the £10 buffet create an agreeable buzz.