If there is one thing the Korean and Filipino culture share in common, it is our huge love for food that brings us all together. With the strong influence and rising popularity of K-entertainment scene in the Philippines, it is no surprise that many are more than willing to tickle their taste buds with some Korean food!
The establishment of Korean restaurants has been increasing over the years offering various delicacies for the locals. As such, we have decided to highlight top five Korean food joints in Manila for a delicious daebak experience! 🙂
Sodam Korean Buffet
When it comes to Korean buffet, Sodam is definitely at the top of our list! With its immense popularity proven by their never-ending patrons, Sodam offers a variety of mouthwatering meat slices. With its plentiful juicy and tender choices, every bite is filled with satisfaction that leaves you craving for more!
Its value-added service is another plus point as the friendly staffs at the restaurant will assist you with the grilling; ensuring everything is done to perfection for an unforgettable experience. Aside from the meat slices, the banchan (side dishes) are unlimited which means you can help yourselves to endless servings of top-ups!
And the best part of it all, Sodam Korean Buffet will not break your bank while leaving you feeling fully contented after a buffet at the restaurant!
Average Cost for Two: PHP 700
Location: Little Baguio, San Juan City
BonChon Chicken
It is NOT a Korean meal without some succulent fried chickens to complete your soul. BonChon which means ‘My Hometown’ is a South Korean based international fried chicken restaurant franchise.
When it comes to Korean chickens, we cannot miss out on the usual sweet and spicy flavors to complete our bites. Not only that, various options such as soy garlic, crunchy garlic, and honey citrus are also available for you to choose from! To give that extra oomph, be sure to complete your meals with the special dips such as black pepper bbq, maple chipotle and curry honey mustard for a burst of flavor. Personally, we super recommend the spicy mayo dip as it is our favorite!
Additionally, if you’re looking for something a little different, BonChon Chicken offers other choices such as noodles, seafood and even Bibimbap (mixed rice with meat & assorted vegetables) bowls in their menu.
Average Cost for Two: PHP 450
Location: For the full list of branches, click here.
Café Seolhwa
When we visited Café Seolhwa back in 2016, we knew we had to come back. Bingsu which is Korea’s version of finely shaved milk ice topped with a variety of delicious sweets and fruits is probably one of the most popular desserts among Koreans. Now, a variety of flavors have been invented and introduced to the current contemporary and modern society for a unique twist to the dessert.
The hot picks from Café Seolhwa in the Philippines are the Brownie Chocolate Bingsu, Mango Cheesecake Bingsu, and Injeolmi Bingsu. With its fresh, rich, savory and sweet ingredients, we find it extremely difficult to put our spoons down as it just gets more addictive with every bite!
What’s great about Café Seolhwa is the inclusion of local Korean foods aside from their Bingsu choices. Korean ddeokbokki (rice cakes), ramyeon and odeng (fish cakes) allow greater selections to satisfy your cravings. Toasts, pancakes, sandwiches, and a wide assortment of coffee and tea are also available to complete the list.
Average Cost for Two: PHP 700
Location: The Forum (BGC), Filinvest Mall (Muntinlupa), and BF Homes (Paranaque)
Kko Kko
Derived from the sound a chicken makes, Kko Kko combines two things Koreans are obsessed with – chicken and cheese. Famous for their chicken and cheese fondue, this combination gets two thumbs up from us!
What’s not to like when you get a plethora of onion rings, fries and chicken chunks that can be dipped in a mouth-watering bread bowl of melted cheese?! It is everything we could ask for. If THAT does not call out to you, Kko Kko also offers their best-seller Dosirak, also known as the Korean counterpart of Japanese bento served in its traditional lunchbox. The fun part about this dish is that you have to shake the closed box with all the ingredients inside (your choice of meat, sweet anchovies, kimchi, and sunny side egg) in order for it to be perfectly mixed! Fret not because if you’re a beginner, you won’t feel lost in the process as an instructional video is shown.
Average Cost for Two: PHP 850
Location: Sapphire Bloc (Ortigas), Paseo Center (Makati), Market! Market!, UP Town Center, Kapitolyo (Pasig).
Samgyupsalamat
Last but not the least, Samgyupsalamat is a Korean BBQ restaurant that we cannot miss out! Samgyup, or the short-term for Samgyupsal (grilled fresh pork belly) and Salamat (thank you in Tagalog) are combined to perfectly define the restaurant. Its first branch in Taft, Manila has been a huge hit especially to university students around the area and has now been able to expand with as many as 13 branches in Metro Manila alone.
Its popularity speaks for itself just how crazy addicted the locals here are for its pork slices. You can also enjoy unlimited servings of meat as much as you want! With a variety of meat options such as Daepae (plain pork belly), seasoned pork belly (Buljib, Gochujang, and Yangnyum), and premium beef slices imported all the way from America, you surely are in for a great feast.
Although usually packed with patrons, customer service is still top notch as the staff members are approachable and fast in managing every request. The positive vibes and hearty meals keep us coming back for more!
Average Cost for Two: PHP 1000
Location: For the full list of branches, click here.
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With many more upcoming Korean food places, we will continuously be on the lookout to explore in the future! What are some of YOUR favorite Korean restaurants in the Philippines? Be sure to share & leave your comments down below 😀
*This article is not a paid post and is strictly based on the writer’s personal preferences.
Written by: Lisa & Kia Hernandez
Photo Credit: Official photos from the restaurants
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