Bokman

Forget London! For some of the best Korean food in the UK, stay in Bristol and visit Kyu Jeon and Duncan Robertson’s modest but wholly authentic restaurant – a quirky, cramped space in Stokes Croft (known for its Banksy-esque street art, independent shops and lively nightlife). The best seats are on the ground floor; otherwise, descend to the basement dining room, where rough stone walls, chalkboard menus and the clattering of chopsticks give the place an air of friendly, authentic bustle. The menu changes regularly, but there’s always banchan – those little plates of pickles, vegetables and other morsels that are the backbone of a Korean meal. With their range of flavours and textures, these little marvels of perfection are quite unique. Other not-to-be-missed delights range from a salad of Korean cabbage with toasted seaweed and pine nuts to a combo of spicy braised tofu with king oyster mushroom and Chinese greens, while fish might include Porthilly oysters with 'kimchi ice' or spicy monkfish with mussels and chrysanthemum leaves. But there's one dish that has captured everyone's imagination – tongdak (crisp-skinned wood-roasted chicken stuffed with sticky rice and served with tangy pickled mooli and dipping sauces). As for dessert, variously flavoured Jersey milk soft-serve vie with a light matcha and chestnut tiramisu. Korean beer, exotic cocktails and soju (Korea's classic fermented spirit) are available alongside a brief list of around a dozen wines that will take you to places you wouldn’t expect to visit in a Korean restaurant.