Dongnae

Some of the best Korean food I’ve had is at Dongnae in Bristol, run by British chef Duncan Robertson and his Korean wife and business partner Kyu Jeong Jeon. The two met while working at L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Paris, before spending close to a decade in Seoul and eventually settling in Bristol.

Robertson is classically French trained, but the cooking at Dongnae is firmly rooted in Korean tradition, using excellent British ingredients. The menu moves from charcoal grilled meats and small plates to dishes such as Eonyang bulgogi, jamón ibérico gimbap and tuna belly with sea urchin. Fermentation is an important part of the kitchen, including their own doenjang, used in a deeply savoury stew. Serious, precise cooking in a relaxed setting, and well worth the journey from London.