Myung Ga

If you’re into smelling like a BBQ and eating some excellently chewy tteokbokki, then Myung Ga in Soho should be on your radar. The bustling Korean spot doubles up as a safety blanket when you’re overwhelmed by Carnaby Street and coming here in a group is a must. Whether that’s to demolish some ramyun or work your way through their meaty set menus is up to you.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Barbecue grills are built into each table so you’ll feel the warmth as soon as you step in. Friendly staff, who will repeatedly warn you to wait 15 minutes before even thinking about touching the tempting ramyun that’s bubbling away in front of you, are undoubtedly part of the reason why it’s almost always packed out. Meats are placed, flipped, and served for you, so you can focus on that long-awaited catch up instead of overcooking the beef. Taking a seat in this casual dining room means momentarily forgetting what a clock is and committing to at least one uninterrupted hour of eating more than you were planning to.

If you’re doing it right, none of the wooden table will be visible because it’ll be covered in plates of sizzling bibimbap, spicy japche, and refreshing banchan. Plenty of places in Soho do KBBQ, but one of our favourite things about this corner spot is the rest of the menu. Things like a sweet and sour deep-fried prawn tangsuyuk or the crimson-red gganpoongi. Whatever you do, order the tteokbokki. 

Food Rundown

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Tteokbokki

This is one of our favourite places for tteokbokki in the city. Cooked in a big pan in front of you, it bubbles away until the creamy red sauce is soaked up by the ramyun and the rice cakes become chewy and tender. Getting cheese on top just makes it even better.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

K.F.C.

While this is perfectly nice fried chicken, it’s nothing special so we’d skip.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Gganpoongi

These fried chicken bites are a spicy, sticky dish you need on your table. The sauce is a deep red and the gganpoongi is just as excellent on its own as it is paired with some noodles.

Pajeon

We’re not fans of this fried seafood pancake. It’s a little tough on the outside and lacks the nice crisp that every pajeon should have.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Tangsuyuk

These perfectly fried prawns are covered in a light, sweet and sour sauce, and are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Japche

When you order the japche (which you should), you’ll be asked: “Spicy?”. The answer to that question is yes. The fiery noodle dish is best eaten as soon as it lands on your table.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch

Dolsot Bibimbap

This is our go-to lunch order at Myung Ga. A wholesome, vegetable-heavy rice dish, full of flavour thanks to the gochujang sauce.