I wasn’t familiar with Korean street food until I spotted Korean corn dogs at the Greenwich food market earlier this year. But as these things tend to go, it was something I then started seeing more and more of – culminating with an invitation to visit Bunsik, London’s number one Korean street food joint, to celebrate their new Earl’s Court location.
I’ll be fully transparent – I did not enjoy the Korean corn dog I tried at the Greenwich market. It felt cheap, lacked flavour, and didn’t have that same comfort feel I’m familiar with from American corn dogs. That said, it’s been eons since I’ve had American corn dogs, and I was probably young and naive at the time.
Did the Bunsik London Korean corn dog impress me more? Find out further down.
But given my limited exposure to Korean street food, I was ecstatic to visit Bunsik, and dragged along my good friend Elisa, who’s a pro in all things Asian food.
Introducing Bunsik London
Bunsik, as you may be well aware, is a Korean street food chain that’s becoming increasingly popular in London, notably due to its authentic taste and a general growing interest in Korean cuisine and culture.
I haven’t been to Korea and won’t pretend that I can accurately identify authentic Korean taste, but the chain’s popularity and Bunsik’s increasing presence across the city certainly prove its mass appeal.
The term “bunsik” translates to “food made from flour” but is now popularly used to describe inexpensive Korean dishes or snacks – very fitting for a fast-food chain focusing on Korean street food.
Bunsik London Dining Experience
If you’re looking for a leisurely sit-down meal and an all-authentic Korean feel, you’ll be out of luck at Bunsik.
The Earl’s Court Bunsik London stands out with its bright, yellow sign.
The locations are fun and convenient, like your standard fast food chains, and the only difference between Bunsik and other quick-stops is the type of food on offer.
The restaurants offer sit-down and take-out experiences, and the atmosphere is warm and inviting, with vibrant decor and bright, yellow colouring.
The Bunsik Menu & Prices
When I looked at the Bunsik menu for the first time, I was delighted to see some familiar favourites – like Korean fried chicken – and some new and exciting items that I hadn’t yet been able to categorise, like ddukbokki.
Elisa proved invaluable here, as she was able to browse through the menu quickly and select all the dishes we had to try.
Some bubble tea and exotic soft drinks paired well with the Korean street food dishes.
But what really stood out for me were the phenomenal prices.
Most items on the menu are under £10 (averaging £5 – £7), which is a phenomenal treat to see in a city where you have to sell your soul for most things.
True, Bunsik is still a fast food joint, and the prices match what you’ll find elsewhere, but you’ll also be able to try some unusual items that make it seem like you’re not in your standard quick-and-easy burger joint.
The I Love Foodies Bunsik Review
To give you an accurate I Love Foodies review, we tried a bit of everything.
- Chicken Corn Dog (£4)
- Potato Mozzarella Corn Dog (£5.90)
- Original Dbukbokki (£5.90)
- Original Wings (£5.40)
- Honey Garlic Wings (£5.90)
- Dakgangjeong Bap (£8.40)
- Veg Kimbap (£5.40)
- Kimari (£4.10)
- Mandu (£4.10)
- Original Classic Milk Tea (£3.90)
- Mango Green Tea (£3.90)
- Cocopalm soft drink (£2.90)
For the review, we ordered directly at the counter, and unfortunately, some of our orders were messed up. We received the Dakgangjeong Chicken instead of the Dakgangjeong Bap, and the Mandu dish was forgotten. But this is unlikely to happen if you visit and order through their software.
Let’s take a closer look at all the delectable dishes.
The Corn Dogs
The Chicken Corn Dog didn’t impress me much, but not because it was particularly bad. Everything else was just much better. If you’re a massive fan of basic corn dogs, you’ll probably enjoy this, but it wouldn’t be my go-to.
The Potato Mozzarella Corn Dog is a must-try.
The Potato Mozzarella Corn Dog, however, was amazing. I would not have ordered this, but Elisa insisted. It’s also one of Bunsik’s most popular items – and with good reason. This was absolutely moreish. A healthy, balanced meal? No. But delicious? Abso-freakin-lutely! This was also Elisa’s favourite of the day.
The Korean Fried Chicken
All of the chicken dishes were fantastic – and the portions very generous to boot.
Of the three types we had, the Dakgangjeong Chicken was the most flavourful, and I’d go back for it in a heartbeat. Okay, let me rephrase that. This dish is the reason I’m looking forward to returning to Bunsik!
The Original and Honey Garlic Wings (left) were great, but the Dakgangjeong Chicken (right) was the winning dish.
The Original and Honey Garlic Wings were also delicious if you prefer slightly gentler flavours.
Dbukbokki
You’re probably wondering about the Original Dbukbokki, which is the most unusual dish of them all. Dbukbokki is a dish comprised of cylindrical rice cakes cooked in a spicy sauce. The rice cakes look like thick noodles but taste like savoury mochi, with that same gelatinous consistency.
Over the past year, this is a flavour and consistency I’ve grown quite accustomed to – and one I really like.
The Dbukbokki sauce is quite spicy, though, and a tad too spicy for my liking. I’m sure if you’re ordering this dish, you’d already know that it’s spicy, but as a Western newbie to Korean street food, I was a tad surprised that there wasn’t a spice-level warning given with the dish.
Dbukbokki is an interesting dish that’s worth trying if you like spicy foods.
The Snacks
The last two more snack-like items to write home about are the Veg Kimbap and the Kimari.
The Veg Kimbap dish is fresh and tasty.
Kimbap is often described as Korean sushi, but while it’s also a rice-in-seaweed roll, it’s quite different in terms of taste. It lacks raw fish, for one, and the rice doesn’t have the sushi vinegar flavour. You also eat it with pickled vegetables and kimchi instead of soy and wasabi.
If I were to describe it in simple terms, I’d say it’s a fresher, more natural type of seaweed rice roll.
Kimari (or gimmari) refers to deep-fried seaweed rolls filled with hearty vegetables and glass noodles. I’ve seen some pictures of this online, and it never looks particularly appetising, but the Bunsik kimari rolls are divine.
These make for a quick and easy snack, are great to munch on the go, and are absolutely moreish.
It was my first time trying kimari – but it won’t be the last!
Is Bunsik Worth A Visit?
Hands-down, yes.
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect before my visit and was a little underwhelmed when walking into the venue itself, but the food was thoroughly impressive.
Is it authentic and the best Korean food you’ll ever have?
I can’t accurately answer that, though I’d lean towards a no.
But is it delicious and will leave you coming back for more?
Absolutely!
Visit Bunsik London
We visited the Earl’s Court Bunsik branch, but you can head to any of their locations across London for a delicious Korean street food feast.
You’ll find the Bunsik contact details and the best way to find your nearest one below.
Bunsik London Contact Details
Website: www.bunsik.co.uk
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Written by Benike Palfi
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Article Date: June 2024
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