01/04/26

Review: Korean BBQ and Bold Flavours Take Centre Stage at SOOM

SOOM, the latest restaurant from the team behind 3KOBROS in Canary Wharf, offers a refined take on Korean BBQ with a menu that focuses on quality ingredients, balanced flavours and the sociable ritual of cooking at the table.

The meal began with a thoughtful gesture from the kitchen, a small serving of pumpkin soup sent out as a welcome from the chef. Light, warming and gently sweet, it was a comforting way to open the appetite before the starters arrived.

Among the first dishes to land on the table was Yukjeon, a Korean beef pancake made from lightly battered, pan fried slices of beef. The texture was delicate and crisp around the edges while remaining tender inside. Paired with a bright sweet and spicy shredded spring onion salad, the dish delivered a pleasing contrast between richness and freshness.

Another standout starter was the Ojingeo Dari Twigim, a generous portion of crispy squid tentacles deep fried until golden and served with fried basil. The light soy dipping sauce added just enough saltiness without overpowering the natural sweetness of the seafood.

From the chef’s specials, the Yukhoe offered a beautifully balanced take on beef tartare. Freshly hand cut beef was finely seasoned and topped with Korean pear, egg yolk and a subtle drizzle of sesame oil. The pear added a delicate sweetness that lifted the dish, while the egg yolk brought a silky richness.

The highlight of the meal came with the assorted beef BBQ platter, featuring premium ribeye, fillet and boneless short rib. Served alongside seasoned spring onion salad, crisp lettuce and three varieties of Korean pickles, the platter encouraged diners to build their own bites. Each cut cooked quickly on the grill, revealing tender meat with deep flavour, enhanced by a trio of Korean sauces that ranged from savoury to gently spicy.

To accompany the meal, the Dal Hang-ari cocktail offered a playful twist on traditional flavours, combining chestnut makgeolli with cream for a smooth, slightly nutty drink. With its focus firmly on quality meats, balanced starters and thoughtful flavour pairings, SOOM delivers a satisfying Korean BBQ experience where the food remains the clear highlight.

Address: 99 St Martin's Ln, London WC2N 4AZ

For more info. and to book, click here. https://soomkorean.com

Written by Enytha Peer

Photography courtesy of SOOM

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The Avocado Show – Review

Dec 12, 2021
2 min read

Updated: May 23, 2024

The Avocado Show recently opened their first UK branch near Oxford Circus and with their Instagram page boasting photos of beautifully presented dishes, it was our duty to see if the food tastes as good as it looks. With three restaurants in Amsterdam, one in Brussels and another in Madrid, it was inevitable that to broaden their fan base further, the latest establishment would be London. Located just a few minutes from Oxford Circus on Princes Street, it’s hard to miss the illustrated avocado clad windows accompanied by a pink wooden bench, it’s certainly eye-catching from the outside.

The pink continues inside on the tiled walls and plush seating, and a botanical wall with a big white neon sign which reads ‘The Avocado Show’ brings the “totally instagrammable” feature to the space. The menu boasts an impressive list of creative and daring dishes featuring our favourite superfood (yep you’ve guessed it) the Avocado, along with eggs, salads, poke bowls, toast, tacos, naughty fluffy pancakes and much more!

The Sinner Stack came on a recommendation by our waitress and I didn’t need much persuading. Having lusted after Spiralina pancakes since first trying them in Bali, and these didn’t disappoint! Each heavenly mouthful of the large pancakes were like fluffy clouds of sweetness which included banana, avocado and bacon with a generous slather of maple syrup. They were sweet and naughty and that’s exactly the way I like it!

I shared the Avo Garden with my dining partner, it looked exactly as the name suggests, a floral bed of half an avocado, filled with hummus, seeds and edible flowers, served with pita sticks. I recommend mashing up the avocado and using it as a dip for the pita sticks. This healthy dish is not only pleasing to the eye but also to the tastebuds, it was an absolute delight!

I highly recommend the Avo Fries, scrummy pieces of avocado coated in panko breadcrumbs and served with truffle mayo. A beautiful pairing and seriously moorish. For the sweet tooth lovers, there are two desserts on the menu, the Oreo Cheesecake and the Peanut Butter AVO Ice Cream.

The Avocado Show was founded by friends Ron Simpson and Julien Zaal whose mission was to bring joy to avocado lovers. They are both committed to providing avocados that are grown sustainably and responsibly. Check out ‘The Future is Green’ on their website to hear the full supply chain story.

I look forward to visiting again, and yep I may indeed order the pancakes again (and again and again).

Address: 6 Princes Street, London, W1B 2LG

Website: https://www.theavocadoshow.com

Written by Nyla S.

#brunch #theavocadoshow #avocado #Oxfordstreet #centrallondon