Korean Grill
223 Old Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH1 1JZ
It was a Monday night, with little in the fridge and for some reason I have been toying with the idea of going to a Korean restaurant in Bournemouth this past week. I know there is one in Charminster at the main crossroads near the Richmond Arms pub and there is one virtually opposite Staples by the railway station.
My brother Ken said there was one down by Lansdowne on Old Christchurch Road. I was skeptical but he was right. It must have only been opened a matter of weeks.
Called the Korean Grill, it replaces the curry house that was there before and is just up from the Fruit Bar.
There was a sign saying that they only took cash at the minute so after a few minutes detour to the bank we were sat down at the table. It was one of those with a central electric grill embedded into the table.
We ordered the pot sticker dumplings, chicken in a peanut sauce, pickled radish and they gave us some pickled beansprouts on the house, which was nice of them. Quite full after the dumplings and chicken actually.
For our mains I had the beef and rice in a hot stone pot, and Ken had raw salmon on rice.
My bibimbap came in a hot stone bowl that was already sizzling the rice. There was raw beef, sliced vegetables and a raw egg cracked into the centre. The waitress came round and I gave her the look that I didn't know what I was doing. She check on how spicy I like stuff. We only put a bit in and she began to stir it all around quite vigorously until the beef and egg was cooked gently. After tasting it I added more spicy sauce in there. Tasted very much like a cross between chilli sauce and hoi sin sauce. Can't be too careful to begin with just in case you spoil it by being too spicy for your tastes.
Ken had a slightly different sauce in his and he enjoyed his as well. Although he said some of the fish was still a bit frozen.
I had a bit of a sweat on towards finishing the bowl and they kindly blasted the aircon out into the room for me. Glad to have multiple refills of their free barley tea. Could be a hot place if all the tables are doing the grills instead.
We really enjoyed it there. They were very helpful in their service and apologetic that some of the menu items were not available. I feel the urge to try more and the other places around Bournemouth as well, Maru in Charminster is one for sure.
All the above and one green tea, the bill came to £30 for both of us.
