Photo: Hanwoo Village: Where tradition meets refinement. Indulge in premium Korean barbecue and authentic flavours in the heart of Islington.
Korean Cuisine Elevated Beyond Expectations
Hanwoo Village delivers authentic Korean cuisine with heart, soul, and precision. From tender barbecue meats to tangy kimchi, Chef Jin Kyung Jeon offers exceptional flavors matched by thoughtful service.
There are restaurants that feed, and there are restaurants that define a standard. Hanwoo Village in Islington belongs firmly in the second category. A short walk from Angel Station, this Korean dining room has established itself quietly yet decisively as one of London’s most important addresses for anyone who takes food seriously.
Hanwoo Village is not simply a place to eat. It is a philosophy made tangible, where every decision from sourcing to plating speaks of care, respect, and craft. The moment you enter, the impression is not one of spectacle but of intention. This is not dining designed to overwhelm or distract. It is dining that invites focus on what matters: flavour, balance, and the culture from which it comes.
Hanwoo Village masterfully highlights Korean culinary traditions, offering authentic flavours and a remarkable dining experience in the heart of London.
A Welcome with Purpose
The interior is calm and unpretentious. It does not demand attention with grand statements but instead creates a space where the food leads the experience. Staff welcome you with an ease that feels natural rather than rehearsed. Their training is evident not only in efficiency but in the way they communicate the story of each dish. This is service that seeks to connect rather than perform, setting the tone for what follows.
The opening drink, a sparkling pomegranate, appears modest at first glance but proves significant. Its refreshing lift and gentle tartness set the palate alive without overwhelming it. More importantly, it establishes the principle that runs throughout the menu: clarity and balance. Every element exists to support the whole. Nothing is superfluous.
Fried Chicken with Authority
Korean Fried Chicken is now known around the world, but its popularity has also led to mediocrity. Too often it is drowned in sauce or reduced to greasy comfort food. Hanwoo Village reclaims its authority. The chicken arrives crisp without heaviness, tender without compromise. Each bite speaks of balance, the coating crackling lightly before giving way to juicy flesh.
There is restraint in the seasoning. The kitchen does not mask the quality of the meat with an excess of sweetness or spice. Instead, the chicken is allowed to stand on its own. It is both familiar and fresh, a reminder of why this dish became beloved in the first place.
“Hanwoo Village is more than a restaurant. It is a celebration of Korean food culture in the heart of London.” – Binod Baral
The Barbecue Experience
Barbecue is the heart of Korean dining, yet in London it is too often treated as a novelty. At Hanwoo Village, it becomes something far more refined. The selection of meats is carefully curated, including premium Japanese wagyu, Australian beef and other cuts chosen for flavour and marbling. The sourcing is impeccable, and the kitchen respects the integrity of each cut.
Cooking is guided rather than imposed. Diners are not left to guesswork, nor are they bombarded with smoke and showmanship. Instead, the barbecue unfolds as a conversation with the food itself. Each slice carries the character of its origin, from the silkiness of wagyu to the robust bite of Australian beef.
One of the restaurant’s most admirable decisions is to ensure that most meats are halal. This expands accessibility without sacrificing authenticity or quality, and it demonstrates a thoughtful awareness of the diverse communities that shape London’s dining culture.
Dumplings that Carry Story
The Mandu, or dumplings, were among the highlights of the evening. The chicken Mandu was delicate and juicy, a lesson in balance where filling and wrapper complement each other without excess. The prawn Mandu, crisped to a gentle chew, brought personal nostalgia by recalling the Kothe Momo dumplings of Nepal. This is food that not only satisfies but resonates, bridging cultures through shared memory.
The sauce accompanying the Mandu deserves particular attention. Many kitchens would lean heavily on soy or chili. Here, the flavour is layered with garlic, umami depth and a measured sweetness that ties the elements together. The precision of this balance reflects the wider philosophy of the kitchen.
Vegetables with Equal Respect
Where many barbecue restaurants allow meat to dominate, Hanwoo Village ensures that vegetables receive equal respect. The variety of banchan served alongside is remarkable, each one prepared with freshness and clarity. Seasonal vegetables, tofu dishes and lighter plates are not afterthoughts but integral to the meal.
The kimchi selection stands out as a feast in itself. Instead of a single obligatory version, diners are offered multiple varieties, each with its own spice, tang and depth of fermentation. For anyone who values the art of pickling, this is a rare and generous display. It also ensures that vegetarians and vegans experience the same richness and variety as meat eaters, a detail that sets this restaurant apart.
A Gesture of Hospitality
Perhaps the most striking moment of the evening came when the manager, Jin Kyung Jeon, prepared the restaurant’s signature beef tartare tableside. The availability of this dish is limited, which only enhances its sense of privilege. Watching the tartare come together was more than theatre. It was an intimate gesture that connected diner to host, food to culture.
The quality of the beef was exceptional, but what lingered most was the act itself. It was hospitality expressed not through words but through action, an offering that carried with it the Korean tradition of warmth and care.
Service and Culture in Harmony
Hanwoo Village succeeds because it understands that dining is not simply about what is eaten but how it is experienced. I have eaten barbecue in Seoul where technique reaches its highest refinement, and in Tokyo where precision is absolute. Yet here in Islington, the experience felt richer because it combined excellence with accessibility.
The staff are not only attentive but also interpreters of culture. They explain, guide and share without condescension. Diners are not made to feel like outsiders looking in. They are welcomed as participants in a cultural dialogue. This is the difference between a meal and an experience, between service and hospitality.
A New Standard for London
London has no shortage of Korean restaurants, from quick-service fried chicken spots to ambitious barbecue houses. What Hanwoo Village achieves, however, is rare. It balances authenticity with inclusivity, technical mastery with emotional warmth. Every dish, whether a simple side of kimchi or the most prized cut of beef, receives the same attention and respect.
This integrity defines the restaurant. It does not compromise for trend or convenience. Instead, it insists that tradition and craft can exist alongside innovation and accessibility. That balance is what sets it apart and establishes it as a benchmark for Korean dining in the city.
A critic must resist easy exaggeration, but it is equally important to recognise when a restaurant has achieved something remarkable. Hanwoo Village has raised the standard of Korean dining in London not only through food but through the way it communicates culture.
Dining here is not a performance. It is a conversation that carries memory, comfort and connection. The flavours are extraordinary, but what stays with you is the sense of being welcomed into something larger than the meal itself.
Whether you arrive seeking the boldness of barbecue, the comfort of dumplings, or the lightness of pickled vegetables, you will leave with a deeper appreciation of Korean cuisine as soul food. For London, Hanwoo Village is more than an addition to the restaurant scene. It is a gift.
Rating: 5 out of 5. A restaurant that sets a new benchmark for Korean dining in London.
Good for: romantic evenings, family gatherings and shared plates with friends.
Jin Kyung Jeon: Bringing the Soul of Korean Cuisine to London
Jin kyung Jeon, manager of Hanwoo Village, shares her vision of authentic Korean cuisine, cultural connection, and the art of crafting memorable dining experiences in the heart of London.
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