Reviews On The Bab

This is my favourite local Korean restaurant. The fried chicken (do the half’n’half) is worth waiting in the line for! My favourite dish is the prawn and octopus salad. If you don’t want to wait I suggest coming when they open as it will be quieter. It is normal to wait 45min to 90mins in a line outside as this is a very small and popular spot. I wouldn’t come here in a large group as it will be a long wait. They don’t take bookings.

Now this is a double review!

I have eaten at On the Bab many times in the past but for some reason have never gotten round to reviewing them. But on this occasion, I indulged from the comfort of my bed 🛏! Courtesy of Deliveroo, the food delivery company. I used the app which is very easy to manoeuvre and ordered the food.

The app keeps track of timing so you can see when the food is being prepared and then finally out for delivery. It took roughly 30mins from the time I ordered until delivery. My favourite part of ordering food is watching the food coming towards my home (it is so comforting, trust me).

Anyway, the food is well packaged so arrives in one piece. The packages however were not labelled and this was my first time getting it delivered, I have never encountered this issue. I ordered a mushroom fritter on the bab and fried chicken on the bab. My sister and I had to really analyse the two packages for identification and then finally decided that she will take the fist bite out of one of them to confirm.

I however, being an advocate for the masses, called On the Bab to let them know that the boxes were not labelled and what confusion is caused to be told that they don’t usually label the boxes as they have too many orders to process (a simple ‘M’ would suffice). On explaining I was a vegetarian, he then lets me know the mushroom fritter is fried in the same oil as the chicken......

Luckily I am not strict with my dietary choices, but for those who are, it needs to be made more clear. Altogether a great service and I do like On the Bab and it was my sister’s first time trying it and she thoroughly enjoyed it.

If you’re going to eat in store, be mindful it is a small store so expect queues outside! Highly recommended however! ..and remember, lots of people means it’s good!

The place was quite busy. Had a line outside a few moments after I arrived. Had the bibimbab. It was good. Had some nice flavours but I've had this dish many times and it wasn't quite as good as some others. Overall a nice meal but I think the had my expectations too high.

Świetne miejsce na rozpoczęcie wieczoru, szybką przekąskę lub posiłek dzielony z partnerem lub przyjaciółmi.

Specjalność lokalu to On the Buns. Dwie bułki wypełnione wybranym nadzieniem z mięsa. Taka koreańska wersja burgerów. Bułki są mięciutkie i aż lepkie, a mięso z warzywami w środku smakuje doskonale. Zachęcam do kupienia dwóch zestawów i podzielenie się nimi tak, żeby spróbować mięsa w kilku wersjach.

Drugie danie jakie jedliśmy to kawałki kurczaka Yangyum Chicken na sposób koreański. Wzięłam 5 kawałków i przy pozostałych daniach to była porcja w sam raz.

Pyszne Kun Mandu koreańskie dumplings krewetkami. Porcja to trzy sztuki. Mniam.

Makaron sojowy z warzywami był pyszny, ale mniej wyrazisty w smaku, ale hitem była sałatka z seaweed. Koniecznie!

Podsumowując polecam. Jeśli ktoś będzie odwiedzać Londyn to doskonałe miejsce na spróbowanie koreańskiej kuchni. Do tego w samym sercu Shorditch

Since the hype around Bao London little did we know that On the Bab have been dishing out delicious buns too and I just had to try them. On the Bab translates as “on the rice” which is a Korean Cuisine serving dishes to share with alcohol – the first “anju restaurant” in East London. On the Bab has 3 locations – Shoreditch (Old Street), Marylebone and Covent Garden.

I popped in (by myself after a hard work out session in Shoreditch) and ordered their bulgogi beef on the buns which serves 2 pieces for £7. The portion is pretty big so I was glad to tuck into both although I wish I had someone to share it with so I could try a different flavoured/meat bun. The bun itself is incomparable to Bao so unfortunately I had that expectation; but nevertheless it was tasty but difficult to eat as the filling keeps spilling out of the bun so don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty. After finishing up the two buns and asked for the bill; I was left mortified that…I didn’t have my debit card or carried any cash on me but a 20 Euro note which was my only hope to pay. I told the manager what happened ( I was very embarrassed) and we were in the sticky situation where I didn’t want to come across that I tried to dine without paying. Unfortunately it was a Sunday which means no banks were opened and no where to find a currency exchange shop in the area. I told them I can only give them my word that I will come back and pay so I left them with my 20 Euro note. They were so lovely about it and said that the note was too much and just come back when I can to pay the £7 so I went home asap and came back the same evening with cash in hand!! Hands down, the best customer service I ever received in a situation like that (Shoreditch branch) and never again would I ever want to be in that situation. Besides from that; can’t wait to go again with my friends and try their whole menu. May x

Always good food and great value. Good selection on the menu and friendly staff. Very small inside so expect to wait for a table if it's a Friday/ Saturday night.

Continuing the Korean trend around Shoreditch, On The Bab brings Korean inspired street food to the area. Situated on Old Street it is only a couple of minutes from Jubo on Rivington Street. I visited last week on the first night of its soft launch where 50% was offered off the food bill.  Occupying a small space tables are packed tightly together with a small wall facing bar table to make the best use of the space. An open kitchen provides diners full a view of the theatrics of the dishes being prepared. Sticking to the small dishes section of the menu I had to order my favourite Korean dish, Yangyum chicken. Served with crush peanut and a sweet spicy sticky sauce this is one of my guilty pleasures. The chicken was nice and moist and the sauce was perfectly balanced between sweet and spicy. Coupled with ice cold Hite this is one of lifes simple pleasures. Being a fan of beef bulgogi I ordered it from the On The Buns section of the menu, not fancying a filling rice dish.  The fluffy bu

Onthebab is a tiny restaurant located on Old Street, yet they've managed to fit in as many tables (and a bar) as possible, without it feeling uncomfortable. The interior matches the exterior, making sure the minimal feel of the restaurant stays in touch with it's Shoreditch roots. We were greeted by a very welcoming waitress, and an empty restaurant. I gave a sigh of relief that we had made it before the lunchtime rush. We had a hard time choosing which dishes to have, not because there were too many, but because they all sounded delicious. We finally decided on the Spicy Pork Buns (to share) and a Bulgogi Bibimbap (each). I started my meal with a refreshing Cinnamon Punch - a Korean soft drink that I don't see often. I was a little worried when the pork buns arrived, with their almost glowing red innards. No matter how much I try, my tolerance for spice is extremely low. They were spicy, but just under my barrier, and boy were they delicious. The flavour inside one of those tiny little buns is immense! I imagine this was partly due to the cut of pork and as it had been cooked to perfection. I found myself fearful at the impending last bite. Unfortunately it came, but I was eager to try my Bulgogi Bibimbap so I recovered pretty quickly. We chose the bulgogi beef as it's a favourite of ours. The dish was large and came with plenty of meat, egg, fresh vegetables and rice. It didn't taste spicy, so I added a little more gochujang to mine, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Towards the end of our meals the lunchtime rush had hit and the restaurant was almost full. Still, the service was fast and impeccable. I left satisfied, and impressed with the food and the lovely people running the establishment. 

It's not often that I crave a particular dish, but I can honestly say that I will be back to Onthebab for the Spicy Pork Buns alone .The price is slightly higher than some restaurants in the area, but not for Korean food in London. If you're going with a couple of friends it's even better because you can order bits and pieces and split the bill - that's my recommendation anyway. Of course I'd also love to try out more of their delicious dishes too. This is one restaurant you can not overlook! 

ETA: In the few months since I wrote this review, I have revisited 5 times (and I've had the spicy pork buns each time)! This is how much I love the food at OTB. I have since tried the Budae JJigae and the Soy & Garlic Yangyum Chicken, the latter being my personal favourite. 
The crispy coating on the fried chicken is crunchy and flavoursome. whilst the chicken itself is juicy and tender. The peanut coating adds an extra texture hit to the chicken which any nut lovers will enjoy. 
The Budae Jjigae was smaller than expected. It had an overpowering spice to it, and I'm not sure it was worth the price. It is the only item I've tried at OTB that I wouldn't order again.

Cool restaurant, with no reservations.

Food is really great, especially anything you get in a bun, particularly the spicy pork. Quick service and the food looks as good as it tastes. As long as you don't mind being in close quarters with those around you, its a vibrant place to eat.

I have heard quite a bit about On the Bab from friends, and when we finally visited last week we weren’t disappointed. The restaurant is relatively small, with a really great atmosphere and k-pop tunes in the background. The staff are very friendly and greeted us with big smiles in their cute striped t-shirts. The food was great fun. We had a few dishes to share, my favourites being the buns with spicy chicken and beef. The “korean fried chicken” and topoki (not sure about the spelling!) were also excellent. The soju cocktails also went down a treat. This is a fun, social kind of place - which is right up my street. We will be back often!

Walked in for a table, at around 6.30pm, which is a plan I recommend...as this place gets fairly filled up fairly fast. Smart cocktail menu, with a succinct selection of wine, beers, soju and soju based cocktails, you can even get a drinking set menu - think it was a combination of beer and soju. We went for the 'never drunk' - tasted like a cucumber g&t, fantastic and the soju breeze which was sweet and refreshing. Lovely. For our food, two of us picked chicken and kimchee dumplings to start - excellent, tart, and a perfect crisp casing. For mains - bibimbap with spicy chicken, and the kimchee paella. Bibimbap was excellent, really filling, an enormous portion that I couldn't finish. The house spicy sauce is a MUST. Overall a very enjoyable experience, need to get back there to try their anju selection...comfort food, drinking food, great cocktails, pared down shoreditch ambience....and the meal (w 2 drinks each) under 30 quid a head.

There's a new Korean joint in Shoreditch and it comes only a few months after the opening of Jubo's residency at Bedroom Bar. It would therefore seem that Korean Drinking Food (Anju) is here to stay and I don't mind one bit! I'm talking about On The Bab and it's fast becoming one of my favourite new openings!

On The Bab is nestled in the heart of Shoreditch at 305 Old Street, just off of Hoxton Square, a few doors down from one of my favourite drinking holes, Common. Their mission is to create the best Anju in East London, whilst pairing it with a delicious lineup of drinks. I was lucky enough to join the press table after work one night but loved it so much that I have been back a number of times already!

The interior is typically Shoreditch, with exposed brickwork and the textbook crazy filament lighting with the dimmer turned low. It's a relatively small place but it works. Built more for a catch up with friends and a lively drinking session rather than a private one to one. It is Korean Drinking Food after all!

When I arrived, there was already a great atmosphere inside, as diners were chatting over the menu, sipping cocktails and looking on as the open kitchen cooked up a storm. I was welcomed by owner Linda Lee, who has got to be one of the most friendly restauranteurs I have met to date. She was keen to get us sorted with cocktails, so I took my host's advice and headed for the list of Soju mixes. Soju is a clear spirit that is predominantly made in South Korea. The two major Soju distillers, Jinro and Lotte are the first and third top selling alcohol brands in the world, so it had to be good right? I ordered the Soju Breeze, a mix of Soju, Cranberry Juice, Grapefruit Juice & Lime. It was smooth, sweet and fruity and went down far too easily. I knew instantly that I'd be ordering a fair few more of these!

The menu was extensive with so much choice that I had no idea where to start. Luckily the plan for the night was to sample some of their best dishes, so I didn't have to choose. We started with the Small Dishes and some Anju staples, Pa Jeon, a Spring Onion & Seafood Pancake and also both the Chicken & Kimchi variations of Kun Mandu (Pan Fried Dumplings). All washed down with a So Maek, a great little Korean creation of Soju and Beer served in some quirky little chilled metal flasks.

My eyes then lit up when I saw the next dishes arriving. As soon as they hit the table, everyone's attention was immediately drawn to the pillow'esque steamed buns and the contents within them. I first tried these via the fabulous Yum Bun located just outside Old Street Station and have been in love with them ever since. The buns have a soft texture like no other and are the perfect housing for a delicious filling such as Bulgogi Beef, Spicy Pork, Spicy Chicken or even Vegetable Fritters as I found out at On The Bab! You see, I was only able to get my hands on a veggie option at the press night, which, mind you, was far better tasting than I had imagined mind. However, on my return, I had my way with a Bulgogi Beef and it was incredible and slightly addictive!

The main event though and my personal favourite of the night, was the Yangyum Chicken (Korean Fried Chicken)! Rustled up with Crushed Peanuts and a choice of either Soy Garlic or Sweet Spicy Sauce and served with Radish Pickle. This stuff is so good that you can not possibly pay On The Bab a visit without ordering a tray of this. I recently went back again and had to buy a large portion, just to satisfy my craving.

When discussing the difference between On The Bab's Yangyum and that of Jubo, Wilkes888 and I both agreed that each are deserving of high praise but it is the texture that defines them. Jubo produce a really crispy skin, whereas On The Bab's is covered in a glaze that makes the skin soft and sticky. Both are extremely moreish though!

So with only the space for a final Soju Breeze left in me, I conceded to the feast and let the others finish the final few dishes. It was an excellent evening of incredible Korean comfort food and as I said before, I have already been back since the press night and plan to make a great deal more stops very soon. If you frequent the streets of Shoreditch often then you definitely need to have On The Bab on your list of great new openings to sample. Don't forget that this is Korean Drinking Food too though, so make sure you hit up some Soju Breezes and a 6 pack of So Maeks!

Enjoy!

We The Food Snobs x

We ordered the fried chicken in two flavours: garlic mayo and sweet spicy - we all like garlic mayo more. Additionally, we also ordered beef bibimbab and kimchi jeon, both dishes are in good portion and authentically captured the flavours of Korean cuisine.

On the bab is literally one of my top and favourite restaurants to come to. Every single dish is amazing and packed with flavour + colour. I also think that their price point is pretty good and definitely worth it for what you are getting. Their team and manager is also always lovely whenever I visit. I am so happy that I discovered this place.

Nice atmosphere and very good and fast service. Tasty food, very good portions and good prices, definitely try the buns and the fried chicken. No reservations, thus on a Friday night we had to wait almost an hour for a table as we were a group of three. Every group of two that came after us got a table faster. We were a bit unlucky I guess but I don’t recommend it for big groups.

If you could, come in during lunch time otherwise always need to wait for dinner. Design is more a modern Japanese than Korean but doesn’t affect my point of view on its food. Overall it’s good Korean food, will come back. Reason only gave it 4-star is because 1) portion is relatively small 2) doesn’t use the traditional clay pot for bimbimbop and tofu soup which the food gets cold fairly quick. I always like Korean clay pot that self-cook even when it’s on the table

We went to On The Bab when we were super hungry and the food came to us almost immediately ! The quick service despite the big crowd in the resto was definitely a highlight. The decorations made the little restaurant look like it was taken from a street in Korea and placed in Shoreditch. The staff were really friendly and attentive which is also a great plus point. The food was really tasty, we had the courgette pancake which was a super light small dish. Followed by some Korean fried chicken - DEFINITELY TRY THE SWEET SPICY FLAVOUR (red in colour) > MUST MUST HAVE. We also had some seafood - pork jjigae, I don't like soup so I won't talk about it much. It was a really lovely experience, if you ever have a random craving for Korean Fried Chicken, I recommend OTB :)

We had to wait outside for 15 minutes to get a table, which isn't bad for a Friday evening, considering the restaurant is quite small. The food came promptly after we ordered, and i must say the food was well worth the wait. The staff were attentive and friendly throughout. I will definitely be coming back.

Delicious, flavoursome fried chicken. Not always a huge fried chicken lover but this was so good. The small chicken portion comes with a side of coleslaw and is enough for a lunch portion. The bowls were absolutely huge! V good sizes. Would recommend getting rice with to soak up the sauce. Shrimp dumplings also good but didn’t really need them. Pics taken halfway through - too hungry to wait!

I came here awhile ago as I lived nearby and used to always order Korean fried chicken from them and it was my favourite!! It always reminded me of the one I had in Korea so it made me so happy. The photos are from the one time I actually went to eat in and it was all good, a bit pricey though but in line with other Korean restaurant prices in London.

Service is amazing. Everyone was so polite and courteous ♡ FOOD IS DOPE! I had seafood toufu soup ♡ mixed vermicelli with veggies ♡ honey lemon soju ♡ Giving them all the stars they deserve !!!

Great food , friendly staff and very popular - definitely worth dropping in for a bite to eat, reasonably priced too.