I absolutely love Korean food. So much so that I even did a list of my favourite Korean spots in Cambridge. It brings the best of Asian food together but isn’t afraid to add a little spice in the mix while also being quite healthy at the same time. It is the best of both worlds and a cuisine I always welcome in Cambridge.

But after the closure of Little Seoul, I was a little disheartened at the Korean restaurant options in town. Luckily, with the opening of Kimbap82 and Kimchili recently, things were starting to look up. During this two up, one down juggling of Korean restaurant peek-a-boo, unbeknownst to me, there was a fantastic option sat right under my nose the entire time. Naturally, it was on Regent Street – the Cambridge capital of Asian food – hiding in plain sight behind a rather missable brown storefront with a small sign.

I couldn’t believe I had never heard of it. Nobody had mentioned it in the Cambridge Foodies community and I haven’t heard anyone talk about it. Kim’s Bulgogi has two locations, one here and the other in Lakenheath, despite that, I could only find an Instagram page on it, so I decided to visit myself and investigate.

There are two sides to Kim’s: one being more of a takeaway setup with a few stools and a counter, and the other a slightly more formal dining area. It has a big south-facing window that lets in heaps of light, complete with a great bar running along it. It’s an ideal spot to watch the world go by over one of their lunch specials.

The Menu

The menu comes with everything you would generally associate with a Korean spot. Think Korean fried chicken wings, Korean-style corn dogs (or K-dogs), rice bowls, bibimbap, and dumplings.

More interesting, however, was their customisable ‘Kim’s Meal’ which gives you 6 different ways to customise your lunch the way you want it. Start with the size, add your base, pick your meat, add your topping, throw in your sauce and partake in an cheeky add-on for garnish.

There was so much to get excited about on this menu, so in my usually fashion, I decided to order everything. 

Kim’s Meal

Because I am completely off the wagon, I ordered a large bowl made half of rice and half japachae (a type of noodle). For my meat option I picked spicy pork and red cabbage for my topping, then finished off with a rather spicy sounding fire sauce (surprise surprise).

This totalled to around a tenner but I was genuinely surprised as the size of the bloody thing. It was absolutely loaded with the spicy pork and took up half the bowl. The rice and japachae made things interesting with two different carb options but the spicy pork was where it really shined – this stuff was DELICIOUS!

The pork was so tender, the spicy sauce had real flavour and came with a spicy kick and a really juicy texture that I absolutely loved sinking my teeth into. If I worked on Regent Street, I would be coming here constantly for this.

Korean Fried Chicken Wings

The Korean fried chicken wings were also some of the best I have had in the city. Dare I say, even better than the ones I previous said were my favourite in the area at Kor.Deli. They just got everything right with big meaty wings that are slathered in a similar Korean sauce that added so much flavour and juiciness to every bite. If you visit then get on these!

Dumplings

The Korean style chicken dumplings were a decent take, offering nothing that particularly stood out but also nothing that offended. I enjoyed their thin crispy skin and the fact they were deep fried added a flavour kick.

K-dogs

The foodie highlight for me was the Korean style K-dog. I have been utterly spoiled with these at Manna Seoul and I was keen to see how Kim’s would differ. I ordered it thinking it would be a purely savoury option (especially as you can pick between a frankfurter or mozzarella cheese), but it was actually sweet. I opted for the sausage which came out battered and fried with a coating of sugar. I gotta say, I am a big fan. It may not have been as artisan as Manna Seoul but it definitely made for a perfect sign off to my meal.

What a find!

Kim’s Bulgogi is a brilliant addition to Regent Street and easily one of the best hidden secrets currently operating in Cambridge. From the incredible value of their customisable meal bowls to those absolute standout chicken wings that give the city’s top spots a run for their money, it delivers big on authentic, bold flavours without blowing the budget. It may be hiding behind a quiet, modest storefront, but it deserves to be on every local foodie’s radar. I will definitely be back, and if you haven’t been yet, you are missing out.