BITE CLUB REVIEW: Seoul Sarang, Ashford, Kent
The Korean tradition is a social affair
At the top end of Ashford’s high street, Seoul Sarang (@official_seoulsarang) is offering a dining option that’s pretty rare in Kent.
With each table incorporating its own grill, the Korean BBQ (GogiGo) experience is great fun and a really good meal. The cynics will ask ‘Why go to a restaurant and cook yourself?’, but the Korean tradition is a social affair.
There are set menus you can opt for, giving you a choice of two meat dishes, plus a choice of sides, but it’s just as easy to create your own. We had a couple of Terra Korean beers, the waiting staff turned on the grill and handed us a card on how to use it… and away you go.
Our chosen meat dishes were a mountain of spicy mok-sal pork shoulder marinated in chilli paste (£12) and the beautiful sogogi - thinly sliced, marbled steak (£12.50) - cooked to our own taste (though there is guidance on the pamphlet).
We also had a generous portion of wangsaeu king prawns (£12.50) and intriguing fried tofu (£4.50) for variation. For sides we had the sweet and spicy radish, cucumber and cabbage kimchi in a set (£4.50) alongside a stunning spring-onion salad (£1.50).
Once items are cooked, you wrap them in a green lettuce leaf (Ssam style), top with sesame oil or soy sauce and devour. Beautiful. We didn’t need it, but on the side we also ordered a classic bibimbap (£12.250), a rice dish served in a scorching hot stone bowl (dolsot), creating a crispy golden rice bottom and then topped with assorted seasoned vegetables, fried egg and sesame seeds. It was fantastic food and perfect for couples and groups. Hot.
