After lots of brilliant suggestions from my lovely instagram buddies (thank you all!) and a bit of my own digging, I booked myself into Jang, set inside the absolutely beautiful Royal Exchange building not far from Bank station. As someone who adores Korean food and culture, I couldn’t resist — especially since I’d never experienced Korean cuisine in a fine‑dining setting before.
They do also sell Japanese food and the sushi going out looked excellent, but with head chef Dana Choi hailing from Gwangju in the South-West of South Korea, there was really no doubt in my mind about what I’d eat there.
Starting as we mean to go on
I opted for their set lunch menu and ordered the Korean fried chicken to start, which comes with 5 coloured ssam mu and a sweet and sticky gochujang sauce. It was exactly what I hoped for: sticky, glossy, and with the perfect balance of sweet heat you expect from Korean fried chicken.
What I really enjoyed, though, was the ssam mu (very thinly sliced pickled radish) served with it. That sharp crunch cut through the richness beautifully, but I’d have happily taken a little more of it to balance the dish out than 5 wafer thin slices, however pretty they may be.
The main event: Maekjeok Ssam
This doenjang marinated pork collar dish is what sold me on Jang in the first place. I’d spotted it on their menu and knew I had to try it. I’ve only had maekjeok twice – once on my first visit to Seoul in 2018 and once when I recreated it at home. I’ve never seen it on a menu in the UK.
It arrived with apple kimchi and a beetroot ssamjang that was deep, earthy, and properly rich. The pork was tender, flavourful, and just the right level of fatty, and I’m glad I ordered the white rice because the sauce demanded something to soak into. To be honest, not serving rice as standard is pretty criminal but hey, the pork was so good, I’ll let it slide this once.
My only gripe (aside from the rice)? The lettuce leaves were mostly too small to make a proper ssam wrap, and I’d definitely have loved more than one perilla leaf (my absolute fave and not often seen fresh here in the UK). A small thing, but it would have made the ssam experience feel more complete and easier to wrap and eat.
A note on ssam etiquette
Jang’s Instagram does a great job showing people how to eat ssam, but I actually think it would help if the staff explained it again when serving this dish to the table. I clocked several diners eating everything with a knife and fork — which isn’t wrong, but it does miss the joy of the dish.cSsam should be eaten with your hands, wrapped up tight, and enjoyed in unapologetically big, messy bites. Fine dining restaurant or not!
The cost & the vibe
I paid £93 including service and a glass of English sparkling wine. This felt steep for what I ate, but the setting is stunning, the flavours were spot on, and the service was excellent. Despite being a solo diner, they were friendly and attentive. I felt completely relaxed and happy to be there by myself. And whatsmore, when I arrived the hostess had asked about my day and I’d told her it was my birthday. Then, at the end of the meal, they brought me a little pudding to say happy birthday. A lovely gesture but I’m glad they didn’t sing or gather around!
Overall, I feel like this kind of food shines brightest in a more casual, family‑style environment — Korean food is warm, communal, interactive — but it was really fun to try an elevated version of dishes I love.
Would I recommend it? Yes — for the experience, the setting, and the flavours.
Would I go back? Probably not.
