Going for lunch in this clean, white, angular space will appeal to your inner shopaholic. That’s because, in addition to a small counter for hot food, there’s plenty of stuff to buy. Split across two tiny floors, you can pick up Korean rice and veg at street level, or pots and beautifully arranged stationery in the basement. It’s both efficient and incredibly brightly lit. Which appeals to the closet OCD-sufferer inside me, but isn’t terribly cosy.
Foodwise, there was a short menu of three Korean rice bowls plus one market ramen. If you’re eating in (most people are taking away), you order at the counter then head downstairs. The best dish by miles was the BBQ bowl (£8.90) – a great mound of soft white rice topped with thin slices of kimchi-laced pork and crunchy slaw. And though the noodles in the market ramen (£6.95) are of the instant kind (packet noodles are a big thing in Korea) it came layered with plenty of fresh veg. But stay away from the katsu-esque curry: it wasn’t just mild, it was bland and boring.
Still, the staff are sweet and portions are huge. You could actually share that BBQ bowl between two and have yourself a light lunch for less than a fiver. Plus you get to eat it listening to a non-stop playlist of Korean pop. And what’s better than that?