In the name of *ahem* cultural education, we've hopped from one restaurant to another and sussed out the best Korean restaurants in Jakarta.
Korean food is taking the world by storm and for good reason! We personally haven’t found a Korean fried chicken joint we haven’t loved, and there really is nothing better than an ice cold bowl of naengmyeon on a hot summer’s day. Whether you’re looking for kimchi, bibimbap, Korean barbecue, or simply, a glass of soju, here are our favourite Korean restaurants in Jakarta.
THE BEST KOREAN RESTAURANTS IN JAKARTA
1. Magal
With over 450 stores in Korea and several others in China, Thailand, and America, Magal is famous for a reason. It is the first Korean barbecue restaurant to bring the concept of cooking steamed egg on the side, which quickly becomes the signature of the house. As you grill your meat on the grill, the oil will drip down onto the grill grate’s side slot which is filled with the raw beaten egg, so you can only imagine how tasty it will get. The result? A perfectly cooked egg soufflé!
2. Chung Gi Wa
This gem of a neighbourhood BBQ joint was famous among South Jakartans when it first opened in Dharmawangsa area. Do go in large groups – great samgyeopsal (AKA pork belly) is always fun to share, but usually we end up fighting over them in a chopsticks war… and here’s why: their meat and pork are flown in from Chung Gi Wa‘s very own farm all the way in Korea. Due to its popularity, the restaurant has also branched out to various shopping malls in the city, so you know you’ll always have a backup plan if one of their restaurants is fully booked.
3. Chir Chir
Those who love fried chicken would looove Chir Chir. The Korean chicken specialist is famous for their crispy fried chicken, which is given a twist with its use of various sauces like honey butter, cream sauce, or garlic. The best way to taste everything is by getting their Half Half Crispy Chicken, which is a combination of the original sauce, and either the spicy or garlic sauce. Oh, don’t forget to pair the meal with their delicious whipped cream-topped beer to cool things off!
4. Gahyo
Gahyo wasn’t crowned Jakarta’s best Korean restaurant three times for nothing. They serve premium Wagyu beef, which won the gold medal in the Australian produce award. For first timers, their lunch set is a great intro to top-notch Korean food, serving galbi (AKA ribs) and sundubu jjigae (the sizzling hot seafood and tofu stew) in one go. As for the real Korean cuisine aficionados – we dare you to chow down their famous daechang (AKA beef intestine). Top it off with a soju shot and you’re good to go for a wild gangnam-style night!
5. Bornga
Bornga was established in Korea by a celebrity chef, Paik Jong-Won. With more than 30 branches in Korea, we were excited to visit Jakarta’s branch to try their patented – yes, patented – woo sam gyup, which is thinly sliced beef brisket. The thrill we got from seeing those marbled slices curl up while cooking on the grill was comparable to actually tasting it. Dipped in the special Bornga sauce, it’s a K-pop stage with kaleidoscopic fireworks on your taste buds. Or, get their chadol doenjang jjigae, AKA soybean paste stew, for a healthier, steamier meal.
6. Sam Won House
Enter Sam Won House and you’ll instantly feel like you’re in traditional Korea. Some of their cuisine is authentic Korean, like the cold noodle soup with beef and egg, or the ginseng chicken. If you’re looking for a more familiar fare, opt for their best-selling seasoned beef ribs and bibimbap served in a hotplate. With ingredients imported from Korea and beef imported from Australia and US, Sam Won House let you indulge like nowhere else.
7. Chunghae Soosan
The thing we love about Korean restaurants is their generous serving of complimentary side dishes, but honestly, we’ve never had as many – and as delicious! – as the one we had at Chunghae Soosan. This authentic Korean restaurant serves a generous serving of banchan with selections like stir fried mushroom, grilled mackarel, steamed egg, oden, fresh oyster, octopus, baked clams, fish cake soup, tempura, and many more. Remember not to fill up, because that’s just the beginning. Spare some space for the main highlight, their signature Chunghae Sashimi Course, which offers a variety of raw fish and comes in three different sizes.
Happy munch-ing, Honeys!
Love this list of the best Korean restaurants in Jakarta? Add these awesome Japanese restaurants to complete your foodie tour of Asia!
