Want to sample some seriously good Korean dishes without leaving the comfort of Berlin? Look no further. From sizzling, spicy barbecue joints to cosy, no-frills eateries, and even a few vegetarian and vegan options (which are a bit rarer in Korean cuisine!), we’re taking you on a culinary journey through Berlin’s diverse Korean dining scene.
Pum
Hera Hwang is a chef and researcher who’s dedicated her life to studying and perfecting her home country’s cuisine – whether at the canteen of the Korean Embassy, or her solo venture in Charlottenburg. Get the yangnyeom gejang: an entire blue crab hacked into pieces, marinated in a chilli-garlic-ginger blend and eaten completely raw. If you forget to order it in advance, there’s always crisp-skinned samgyeopsal, pork belly squares drizzled in a nutty soybean sauce or any number of other mains and off-menu specials. All are served with soup and a veritable galaxy of banchan (side dishes), which vary near-daily depending on season and the chef’s whim.
- Pum, Knobelsdorffstr. 27, Charlottenburg, details.
Dal Tokki
With a single daily set menu made of 100% vegan Korean classics, Dal Tokki is all about simplicity and doing the basics right. Start your meal off with a savoury brothy soup, followed by a hearty main like crispy mung bean pancakes served with rice and kimchi. This isn’t your typical hyped up, trendy Korean fried chicken spot. Instead, Dal Tokki is serving up unpretentious, home-style vegan Korean comfort food, all for a pretty affordable price.
- Dal Tokki, Prinzenallee 83, Wedding, details.
Dotori
Looking for a cosy new spot for a bite and a beverage? Consider travelling out to Weißensee for a table at Dotori, Berlin’s first Korean anju bar. Be warned, though, this isn’t your average Kneipe. Here, the food holds an importance that equals – if not surpasses – that of the drinks.
- Dotori, Gustav-Adolf-Str. 159, Weißensee, details.
NaNum
Right across the road from the Jewish Museum, NaNum feels like an art installation where the atmosphere – along with the food and the plates you eat it from – is crafted by Jinok Kim. The former classical singer approaches both fermentation and ceramics with a playful sense of experimentation; her fresh, effervescent cabbage kimchi, for example, contains fermented apple juice from her Brandenburg Kleingarten. Try it with bibimbap or stir-fried sweet potato noodles at lunch, or spend a few hours for a multi-course dinner made with local ingredients and Korean techniques, optionally paired with natural wine.
- NaNum, Lindenstr. 90, Kreuzberg, details.
Crazy Kims
Hea-Yung Kim has overhauled the menu of her Kreuzberg restaurant a few times since opening in 2018, but a few things have remained constant: that beautifully patinated copper bar, for one, and food that’s just as gorgeous as the interior. The set menu – which must be booked in advance – includes a main like bibimbap or kimchi stew as well as a rainbow of homemade banchan, from fried tofu to egg omelettes to the traditional cabbage kimchi.
- Crazy Kims, Muskauer Str. 13, Kreuzberg, details.
Choi
Sooyeon “Sue” Choi wields expertise (and recipes) passed down from her mother, once a professional chef back in Busan. She also has a keen instinct for wine pairing. Both are apparent at her intimate subterranean restaurant, where just a dozen or so diners gather around for refined six-course meals centred around meat, veggies or fish. Who knew the beef stew galbi jim went so well with Argentinian Malbec, or that kohlrabi “water kimchi” could be chased with a sparkling Kerner from Thuringia?
- Choi, Fehrbelliner Str. 4, Mitte, details.
Hodori
When it comes to classic, Schöneberg’s Hodori tops any list as the go-to restaurant for any Korean in town. But be aware: you don’t go there for top-quality ingredients, inventive cooking or chic ambience; you go with 10 or so pals (or Korean family members) to absolutely house a huge portion of tabletop bulgogi and ketchup-smothered fried chicken, and stagger out smelling like grilled meat, garlic and booze.
- Hodori, Goebenstr. 16, Schöneberg, details.
DaBangg
Never had Hadong green tea? There’s no better place to sip this traditional royal delicacy than in the warm wooden interior of the Friedenau hidden gem DaBangg, surrounded by delicate ceramics, tchotchkes and the strains of (occasionally live) classical music. Hye-Soon Park’s food is as homey as the atmosphere and includes a very decent stone-pot bibimbap, fresh (and free) banchan, and homemade rice cakes for dessert.
- DaBangg, Hedwigstr. 18, Friedenau, details.
Ogam
Neukölln hot spot Ogam may not look like much – or even have a liquor license – but if Preis-Leistungs-Verhältnis (value for money) is what you’re after, look no further than the humble yet delicious dishes served within its bare white walls. The chilled naengmyeon noodle soup alone rescued us from an August heatwave. For the colder weather, there are stews served on personal hotplates. Here’s your chance to have the American GI-inspired budae jjigae, a don’t-knock-it-till-you-try-it mix of instant noodles, kimchi, canned beans and Spam.
- Ogam, Emser Str. 40, Neukölln, details.
Kokio
Craving fried chicken, Korean-style? At the vibe-y gastropub of Prenzlauer Berg’s Kulturbrauerei, you’ll be promptly served huge platters to share (XXL portions are for two minimum, including fries, pickled radish and shredded cabbage). For the vegetarians there’s fried tofu, and for the brave at heart – golbaengi (sea snail) salad. The latter is appreciated by Kokio’s many Korean hipster patrons, who wash it down with Hite bier or a shot of the many soju and other rice alcohols on offer.
- Kokio, Hagenauer Str. 9, Prenzlauer Berg, details.
Gokan
This Schöneberg spot serves excellent BBQ made from quality ingredients. Be it Iberico pork, traditional bulgogi (cooked yuksu-style with broth, scallions, and glass noodles), here it’s the meat, not the seasoning, that’s given the spotlight – though you might need some home-mixed gochujang-garlic dip to punch up the glutamate-free feast. This is also the place to try makchang, a pungent dish of pig intestines that are marinated for five days, then chopped and sautéed with scallions and rice alcohol… at the table.
- Gokan, Leberstr. 9, Schöneberg, details.
Fräulein Kimchi
Remember Korean tacos? Lauren Lee of Fräulein Kimchi still does. Though her Prenzlauer Berg restaurant was short-lived, you can still find the occasionally dirndl-clad Korean-American fermented cabbage enthusiast serving corn tortillas full of gochujang-marinated pulled pork and braised bulgogi-style beef now and then at street food fairs and special events.
Lucky for us, she now has a permanent stall in KERB Market Hall, located in the former Sony Centre. Try the kimchi biscuits and thank us later.
- Fräulein Kimchi (KERB Food Hall), Potsdamer Str. 2, Mitte, details.
Lia Ppang
Owner Lia Hong used to supply homesick Koreans with traditional walnut cookies, called hodugwaja, at the Kulturbrauerei food market. Now, sweet-toothed locals of all ages swing by her café for a soybean dacquoise, her take on the classic macaroon, or a large slice of the cakes du jour. Our favourite: the matcha roll cake, a fluffy, swirled affair filled with whole red beans and matcha cream. As the sign on her door cheekily explains, it’s not vegan, gluten-free or lactose free, but it’s certainly very good.
- Lia Ppang, Choriner Str. 45 (ground floor left unit), Prenzlauer Berg, details.
YamYam
Opened more than a decade ago, the Mitte lunch stalwart Yam Yam turned bibimbap into a household name among the artsy crowd. Its signature mung bean kimchi pancakes and the yukgaejang beef soup are still among our favourites.
- YamYam, Alte Schönhauser Str. 6, Mitte, details.
Aigo Korean Street Food
When we first visited Aigo a few years ago, we were surprised to discover such fantastic food at this low-key street food spot. Their bibimbap is easily one of the best we’ve had in Berlin, with expertly balanced flavours and thoughtful presentation, particularly the egg. The bulgogi version is very tasty, and if you’re in a plant-based mood, opt for the delicious popcorn cauliflower version. With generous portion sizes and most dishes going for less than €10, Aigo offers solid value. If you have room for a starter try the sweet and sour chicken or the mandu. Their playful branding (check out their Instagram) and friendly staff make the experience even better. Do note that they offer outdoor seating only.
- Aigo, Kottbusser Damm 1, Kreuzberg, details.
Sword Master Noodle
True masters of their craft, Sword Master Noodle brings the art of Korean hand-pulled noodles to Berlin in a casual, unfussy setting. Their speciality is kalguksu, or “knife-cut noodles,” a street food staple known for its soft, chewy texture and satisfying bite. Start with a side of their hefty kimchi dumplings, and in the warmer months, don’t miss out on the Kaltnudeln. Try it with beef, and despite the bold, red sauce, it’s milder than it looks. But if you like it spicy, just ask!
The standout dish is hands down their galbi kalguksu: a rich and comforting bowl featuring braised beef short rib, caramelised onions, garlic confit, soy sauce and their signature hand-cut noodles. It’s their most indulgent offering at around €21, but worth ordering, at least once.
- Sword Master, Dunckerstr. 30, Prenzlauer Berg, details
Youngheene
Youngheene’s menu is packed with popular street food and convenience store favourites like jjajang-tteokbokki (chewy rice cakes coated in rich black bean sauce) and spicy, indulgent Buldak carbonara ramen. Be sure to add a freshly rolled gimbap to your order, and don’t skip dessert – the red bean gaetteok offers a satisfyingly chewy, glutinous finish. You’ll also find Korean hot dogs and hotteok, a warm, sweet, brown sugar-filled pancake.
- Youngheene, Weinbergsweg 5, Mitte, details.
Seoul Kwan
Established in 1989, Seoul Kwan holds the title of Berlin’s oldest standing Korean restaurant. Upon entering, you can sense its legacy in both the quality of the food and the cosy, welcoming atmosphere. To your left, you’ll see a wall lined with photos of Korean celebrities who’ve dined at the eatery over the years, from Parasite stars to K-pop icons. One of the restaurant’s best dishes (at the hefty price tag of €40, though most mains range from €14 to €17) is the Bossam: tender pork belly served with a sweet kimchi that complements the richness of the meat. The Bossam, along with the hot pot, are both part of the secret Korean menu, which you’ll have to ask your server about to take a look at. Just be sure to have Google Translate on the ready if you don’t read Korean. On the classic menu, you’ll find dishes like the comforting yukgaejang, a hearty beef and vegetable stew with a gentle kick.
- Seoul Kwan, Schmiljanstr. 25, Friedenau, details.
Corndog Ninjas
Berlin isn’t short on trendy food fads, and let’s be honest – there are more than a few lacklustre takes on corndogs and cheesy dogs around the city. However, Corndog Ninjas is not one of them. Originally popularised in Korea in the 1980s, corndogs have seen a global resurgence in recent years, and this spot nails the formula. Choose from halal-grade chicken, mozzarella or a combo of the two for the filling (go full mozzarella if you’re chasing a cheese pull), then pick your coating: potato, spicy, ramen or even honey crunch – for a sweet and salty twist.
- Corndog Ninjas, Hermann-Stöhr-Pl. 9-11, Friedrichshain, details.
Granny’s
If you’re craving Korean comfort food, this is a great choice. Inspired by their grandmother’s legacy, the Granny’s team brought her cherished recipes to life in the form of this cosy, soul-soothing Korean eatery. Don’t miss the bibimmyeon: marinated buckwheat noodles served with egg, crab and your choice of tender marinated ribs or chicken legs. The sweet potato glass noodles with beef strips and kimchi, known as japchae, is another winner. Each main dish comes with moreish sides like house-made kimchi, pickled sesame spinach and zucchini stir-fried egg. And if you’re out late, swing by on Fridays or Saturdays after 10PM to unlock their late-night menu, which supposedly runs until 3AM – and yes, there’s karaoke involved.
- Granny’s, Schulstr. 29, Wedding, details.
Chikogi
This spot delivers a solid Korean barbecue experience alongside comforting dishes like kimchi-jjigae (a tangy, lightly spicy kimchi stew) and crispy mandu dumplings. While the BBQ might not be the most generous or budget-friendly in town, the quality does hold up, with well-seasoned and tender meats. It’s a great pick if you’re in the neighbourhood, though things can get busy on weekend evenings, so it’s usually worth booking a table in advance.
- Chikogi, Oranienstr. 31, Kreuzberg, details.
This guide was written by Jane Silver and Natalie Avila.
