I work once or sometimes twice a week in Nottingham and find myself out and about there pretty frequently but for some reason, despite its central location, I had never noticed Miss Korea (the same people behind the one in Birmingham), right there on Long Row West, just a stones throw from Market Square. 

Cooking at table with Korean BBQ

The restaurant itself is long and thin with tables down the two sides – each one with a rather frightening looking BBQ grill built into the surface. This could be quite intimidating to someone who isn’t sure what to do…someone like… me. Fortunately, I found myself there as part of my ongoing education into Korean food with someone who knows what he’s on about so phew.. all was good.

Although there is plenty to choose on the menu which doesn’t require live action BBQ, we went for it (why the hell not!) and ordered galbi (갈비). Essentially this is grilled beef ribs with accompaniments, in this case, lettuce, garlic and chillies, ssamjang (쌈장) a beancurd paste and gochujang (고추장) which is a hot chilli sauce. 

We also ordered sticky rice and my new favourite thing – kimchi (김치), which is spicy fermented cabbage and tastes way better than it sounds!

Beef Bul Gogi for the Korean BBQ
Steamed rice and kimchi
Kimchi
There is something quite exciting about cooking your own meal – even if it seems at odds with the concept of paying for a meal in a restaurant. Korean BBQ strikes me as a very social eating experience and although we had a lot of fun with two of us, a group would have been even better. Who doesn’t enjoy poking at food over a grill with tongs? 
 
Cooking on the Korean BBQ at Miss Korea restaurant
 
The best bit for me was filling our lettuce cups (fajita style). Starting with a crisp lettuce leaf, we added a spoon of sticky rice, some kimchi, both sauces and topping with the garlic and chillies. We then toasted each time with the soju (소주)a kind of rice vodka and proceeded to stuff the delicious galbi parcels down our necks in a not so graceful fashion!
  
Chami Sal Soju
Bul Gogi at Korean BBQ
I’ve read a couple of mixed reviews online about Miss Korea about the food and service but for me, it was a great experience. The beef was tender and tasty and the kimchi was awesome. I was pleased that the service and food quality were equal to the enjoyment of a relatively novel eating experience. 
 
Miss Korea,
70 Long Row West, 
Nottingham,
NG1 6JE
0115 950 9608

0 Comments

  1. Waaay back in the day we had what looked a smart Korean restaurant in Leicester, I think where Kayal now is. It was only short-lived (before its time maybe) and I was on the dole at the time so I never went there. I'd be very keen to try it if it was there now.

  2. Before my time sadly! I'd love it if another opened up Tim! I spied a new Korean supermarket underneath the City Block student halls yesterday so will have to take a wander when I'm next in town!

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