One of the cuisines I have always been on the hunt for in Riyadh is Korean BBQ.
There is nothing like a cooking experience with friends while enjoying the delicious flavors of Korean food. I recently got lucky when I was recommended a spot in downtown Riyadh — Seoul.
Located on Tahlia Street in Riyadh’s Sulaymaniyah district, Seoul combines Korean street food, soul food and barbeque, offering a comprehensive dining experience.
On entering, the space offers a dim and sleek atmosphere with simple colors and soft lighting.
The restaurant itself is vast, with a bar area, normal seating and tables reserved for on-table barbeque. Each choice is a distinctive experience, with the bar’s high seating offering a glimpse into the bar and the barbeque option offering the customizable experience of cooking your choice of meat.
For starters, I recommend the beef bulgogi mandu, priced at SR62 ($17), which was strong in flavor but soft in texture; it was the perfect opener for the meal ahead.
Excited to try something new for the main meal, I opted for the barbeque experience. I decided to order the BBQ combo (SR195), a combination of beef, sliced chicken and plain shrimp — to try one of everything.
You can also customize the sides and sauces. I decided to go for the classic soya sauce and some bulgogi sauce for the beef. For the side, I chose kimchi.
Before getting started on the grilling experience, I wanted to add some mains from the non-BBQ menu. As a big noodle fan, I went for japchae, a sweet potato glass noodle stir-fry dish. I chose the dish for its vegetable assortment of carrots and mushrooms.
On receiving the raw ingredients, I got started by grilling the slices of beef, shrimp and chicken using my chopsticks.
The experience was thrilling and offered an interactive experience for the table rather than an average dinner.
The option to grill your own meal is great for those with older children who are keen to have an activity, as well as those who enjoy customizing their food’s cooking temperature, sauces and sides — or simply for those who want to try something new.
The meal was delicious. The noodles complemented the strongly flavored meat options well, and the kimchi was a great source of fermented vegetables.
For dessert, I went for the chocolate gateau (SR98) — a layered dark-chocolate cake coated with chocolate ganache.
Overall, Seoul was a great and new dining experience that was interactive and fun for those looking to switch gears from their normal lunches and dinners.
The pricing is on the higher end, so I would make an experience out of this rather than considering the spot an everyday option.
