Surakan

Meals at Surakan get off to an appetizing start with banchan, the small side dishes delivered as soon as you sit down. The table quickly fills with little bowls—including homemade kimchi—making the wait for the main courses just as engaging as the feast itself.

A standout offering is the bossam: succulent steamed pork served with wraps such as pickled radish and napa cabbage. During the day, it arrives as a convenient lunch set; by evening, larger platters make it a favourite centrepiece for group tables. For another braised comfort, the kimchi-jjim set simmers pork and kimchi into a deeply savoury stew.

Those craving something warming can turn to the hot soups. Options include a peppery naejang-tang packed with tender offal and vegetables, as well as sundae gukbap featuring Korean blood sausage. The menu also caters nicely to solo diners with lunch options such as a half-portion samgyetang (ginseng chicken soup) and a samgyeopsal lunch set wrapped with crisp vegetables.

At night, beer pairs naturally with shared stir-fried octopus, seafood pancakes, or bubbling hot pots. Set in Higashi-Nippori, Surakan provides a calm, welcoming setting for generous, home-style Korean cooking.