Seemingly endless varieties of kimchi, other spicy pickled vegetables and savory bbq.
Beihai Dao
Hip foreign students and yummy pots of lemon soju. Daily 24 hours. 2/F Xijiao Hotel Health Club, Wudaokou, Haidian District. (6233 5776) 北海道, 海淀区五道口西郊宾馆康乐中心二层
Charcoal Bar
What sets Charcoal Bar apart from the dozen or so Korean restaurants inside the Jingyu Hotel complex? It could be the sleek combination of black furnishings, stone tiled floors and retractable bamboo partitions. But the real distinction and main attraction is the top-grade meat grilled over an open flame. Daily 4pm-2am. Inside the Jingyu Hotel courtyard, 1 Tsinghua Donglu, Wudaokou, Haidian District. (6234 9997) 炭吧, 海淀区五道口1清华东路京裕宾馆
Gaon Korean Restaurant
Gaon is the first Chinese mainland venture of this Seoul-based chain, which serves high-end classic Korean cuisine. The Beijing branch might lack the resources to exclusively use organic ingredients, something for which the chain is well known. But it’s still a notch above most other Korean restaurants in town, thanks to superior quality meat and cooking techniques. Daily 11am-2.30pm, 5.30-9pm. 5/F, East Tower, Twin Towers, B-12 Jianguomenwai, Chaoyang District. (5120 8899, 5828 7099) 高恩, 朝阳区建国门外大街乙12号双子座大厦东塔5层
Guxiang Shanchuan
Fresh fatty pork and cast iron skillet to cook it on. Daily 9.30am-midnight. 1/F, 423 Wangjing Xincheng (beside KFC), Chaoyang District. (6470 9292) 故乡山川, 朝阳区望京新城423楼1层 (肯德基旁边)
Haitanghua Pyongyang Cold Noodle Restaurant
Cold War holdover serving North Korean-style eats and atmosphere. Daily 11am-2.30pm, 5.30-9.30pm. 8 Xinyuanxili Zhongjie, Chaoyang District. (6461 6295/6298) 海棠花平壤冷面馆, 朝阳区新源西里中街8号
Hanli Shuidao
Whole fish sashimi well worth the RMB 350. Bring friends. Daily 8am-10pm. 1/F 21st Century Hotel, Liangmaqiao Donglu, Chaoyang District. (6466 1312) 北京韩丽水岛, 朝阳区亮马桥东路21世纪饭店1层
Oh Jook Hun
With an entrance discreet enough to be overlooked if not for the doorman attired in full warrior gear, Oh Jook Hun serves imperial Korean cuisine featuring raw fish, organic farm vegetables and a bewildering assortment of kimchi dishes that go down well with bamboo-cooked rice. Set menus or a la carte are available. Daily 11am-9.30pm. 1 Haoyun Jie, 29 Zaoying Lu, Chaoyang District. (5867 0230) 乌竹轩, 朝阳区 枣营路29号好运街第一家
Red Station
Red Station offers Korean classics like bi bim bop side-by-side with Western salads and pizzas. Daily 11.30am-late. 22 Zhongguancun Shangye Pedestrian Street (south side of Carrefour Shopping Center), Haidian District. (5172 1612) 红草火辣栈, 海淀区中关村商业步行街 (家乐福南门)
Sa Lang Bang
With ethnic decor and a pictorial menu, it features classic Korean food at a moderate price. There is the option of sitting cross-legged on straw mats, the traditional Korean way, or in cozy private rooms. Daily 9.30am-5am. 3/F, Dongyuan Plaza, 35 Chengfu Lu, Haidian District. (8261 8201) 舍廊房, 海淀区成府路35号东源大厦3层
Saveurs de Corée
Relax on a rooftop seat at this sophisticated Korean bistro where the set menus are reasonably priced (from RMB 38 for 4 courses, to RMB 78 for 6 courses) and the dishes are delicate, health-conscious, and intelligently proportioned. 29 Nanluoguxiang, Dongcheng District. (131 4603 2163) 韩香馆, 东城区南锣鼓巷29号
Shanggu City Korea Village BBQ
Your usual Korean BBQ staples - beef, lamb, pork, vegetables - served by waitresses in ethnic dresses who speak limited English but do have a picture menu. Daily 10am-9.30pm. Adjoining the Jenny Lou’s near Lane Bridge, 5 Laiguangying Donglu, Chaoyang District. (8470 3016) 尚古城韩国烧烤, 朝阳区来广营东路5号
Sorabol
High-priced chain of Korean restaurants serves standards like bulgolgi, banfan and delicious raw beef. Daily 9am-10pm. 1) Basement, Lufthansa Centre, Chaoyang District. (6465 3388 ext 5720); 2) 2/F Landmark Towers, 8 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District. (6590 6688 ext 5119) 萨拉伯尔, 1) 朝阳区燕莎地下一层; 2) 朝阳区东三环北路8号亮马河大厦二层
Suboksung
The two larger-than-life wooden dolls that greet guests as they arrive are the only distinguishing features of this standard Korean BBQ joint. The main dining room is clean and spacious with a wooden maze of cubicle sections typical of many Korean establishments. But the food, while solid, is not extraordinary and the staff is over-attentive. Daily 10am-2.30pm, 5pm-10pm. B1 Millennium Plaza, Xiaoyun Lu, Chaoyang District. (8453 9999) 朝阳区霄云路现代汽车大厦B1层