Where to get a taste of authentic Korean culture in London

Hallyu, meaning ‘Korean wave’, has become one of the world’s biggest cultural phenomena. Referring to the ever-increasing global popularity of South Korean culture – spanning music, beauty, film, fashion and more – the capital is naturally no stranger to this global craze. Spurred the incredible success of TV shows such as Squid Game – which returns to screens for its final season this week – London has become a go-to for those seeking an authentic taste of Korean culture without the 13-hour flight. Not sure where to start in the city? Allow us to help. Here are London’s top Korean hotspots, ranging from the restaurants of Koreatown, to K-beauty shops and exhibitions. 

Head to Koreatown

Unlike Chinatown, which is situated in the heart of London, a trip to Koreatown requires a longer journey – but we’d say it’s worth it. In the borough of Kingston-upon-Thames, you’ll find an abundance of Korean shops and restaurants in New Malden, which is known to have the highest Korean population in the UK – if not Europe. 

Here, you’ll find a smorgasbord of culinary outlets ranging from classic Korean barbecue to fried chicken joints. We love Cake and Bingsoo, specialising in its namesake dessert of finely-shaved ice cream, as well as the all-you-can-eat K-Town which has been barbecuing here for two decades. Don’t miss Treestone Restaurant and Kitchen where you can select cuts of meat from the butchers next door before hand-grilling them at your table. Fancy picking up some goods to take home? Look no further than Seoul Plaza, the largest store from Korea Foods where you can shop a wide range of Asian delicacies. 

Shop the best K-Beauty boutiques in London

You probably don’t need us to tell you that K-beauty has been having a bit of a moment. Famed for its gentle, natural ingredients that promise scientifically-backed results, big brands that have broken into the UK’s beauty industry include Dr.Jart+, Cosrx, Laneige (which even hosted a pop-up in London earlier this year) and Erborian. 

However, if you prefer the in-store experience, Soho is the place to be. Glam Touch, which also has an outpost in Bloomsbury, opened on Greek Street in 2017 as the UK’s leading K-beauty destination, offering more than 100 products (think Banobagi, Skinfood and BB Lab) for you to puruse and try. Pureseoul, another beauty shop dedicated to Korean products, can be found on Carnaby Street while Moida K-Beauty in Leicester Square and K-Miso Beauty in Greenwich are also well worth a visit. 

Where to find authentic Korean food

When you think of Korean food, what springs to mind? We’re willing to bet its corndogs, fried chicken, bibimbap and barbecue – but there is a lot more to it than that. Be-oom Tea Shop and Garden in Exmouth Market is London’s first Korean teahouse, and offers a number of teas sourced directly from farms in Korea. For authentic cuisine, look to Chungdam in Soho – complete with its own karaoke room – and Fitzrovia’s Koba, which has served the full barbecue experience since 2005. 

For fine dining fare, look to Michelin-starred chefs Akira Back and Woongchul Park who were both born in South Korea. Back has taken on four dining outlets at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair, which are all tinged with Korean flair, and are overseen by Korean native and executive chef Jihun Maxime Kim. Meanwhile, Sollip is the brainchild of Park and his wife and fellow chef, Bomee Ki, and can be found in Southwark. Sourcing a number of handpicked ingredients from South Korea, the £150 tasting menu features dishes of myeon (noodles) with nurungji (scorched rice) and chestnut, and ssuk pain perdu. 

Take in Korean art and exhibitions

Not sure where to start? Your best bet is to head to the Korean Cultural Centre (KCC), just off Trafalgar Square, to hear all about the happenings in the capital. A hub for all things K-culture, the KCC hosts talks, panel events, film screenings, live music, cooking classes and more throughout the year. One to have on your radar is the K-Music Festival, running from 1 October – 10 November 2025, boasting a lineup including Korean string trio Hilgeum, composer Dong-hoon Shin and cellist Okkyung Lee. 

Also on at the KCC this summer is Endless Bonds: AI and Korean Heritage, running from 17 July – 22 August 2025 and organised in collaboration with the National Museum of Korea. Coinciding with the 80^th anniversary of Korea’s liberation, an array of visual media invites guests to connect with native art and artefacts. Elsewhere, the Tate Modern invites visitors to step inside the captivating world of South Korean contemporary artist Do Ho Suh at Walk The House, on until 19 October 2025. 

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