Korean barbecue restaurant KOBA is a long-standing fixture of Fitzrovia’s restaurant scene, having thrilled diners since opening its doors in 2005. The restaurant is unique in that its dining room is smarter than people have come to expect from barbecue restaurants, while a refurbishment in 2016 helped to give the space a little bit of extra sheen.
Of course, the main appeal of dining here is the chance to practise your skills on the grill and have a go at cooking your own lunch or dinner, but there are plenty more dishes on the menu to entertain you before you get to that stage. Appetisers at KOBA include a daily-changing soup and a squid and seaweed salad, while you can pad out your table barbecue with assorted kimchi or a portion of steamed rice. Drinks wise, expect a succinct but impressive list of wines from around Europe (with a few international flourishes too), alongside tempting house cocktails and a few Korean beers.
The restaurant is open for both lunch and dinner, and if you are flying solo at lunchtime, we would recommend nabbing a spot at the bar. KOBA’s lunch menu includes stir-fried noodles topped with chicken, vegetables or seafood, while you can also enjoy steamed rice topped with the likes of spicy pork and grilled mackerel.
If you are short on time, you will also be glad to know that some of KOBA’s menu is available to take away. Among the dishes that you can bring back home or to the office are a Korean-style pancake topped with seafood and spring onion, or a kimchi and pork stew on a bed of steamed rice.
KOBA is also a viable option when it comes to dining out in a group. For parties of eight people or more, there is a set menu available which takes away the burden of having to order for multiple people.