Where to find the best bibimbap in London

K-popping: the English bibim-breakfast at Jinjuu in Soho comes with a spicy ketchup

History is never made on an empty stomach, and Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un ate like little princes at the diplomatic feast laid on by Singapore at this week’s historic summit.

Highlights included oiseon — Korean stuffed cucumber — a traditional dish dating to the Joseon Dynasty which ruled from 1392 to 1897, and daegu jorim — soy-braised cod with radish and Asian vegetables — a popular broth bowl that’s typically one of the small dishes that make up a Korean meal.

Nothing, it seems, is as disarming as Korean cuisine. Mercifully, London boasts its own hotspots. Jinjuu, the Korean restaurant in the heart of Soho headed by US-Korean chef Judy Joo, does a fine trade in cultural diplomacy: its new brunch menu includes La Kimchi Madame, toasted sourdough stuffed with ham, melted cheese and kimchi béchamel sauce, topped with a fried duck egg, and truffle fries. Still hungry? Order Joo’s trademark green tea pancakes, an American-style stack of matcha pancakes with mixed seasonal berries, yuja-infused chantilly cream and maple syrup.

On Great Russell Street, around the corner, one-stop shop Seoul Bakery promises bibimbap, K-pop music, karaoke and Korean memorabilia. Then there’s On the Dak, a new Covent Garden venture from Linda Lee, the restaurateur behind Korean eateries On the Bab and Koba: dak means chicken in Korean, and all its small plates come fried with a variety of spiced sauces — Korean fried chicken, chicken noodles, chicken soup and more, all to eat in or to go.

Chef's special: Jinjuu's indulgent green tea pancakes

Lee is also the brains behind Mee Market on Archer Street, which is home to two floors of Korean and Asian-inspired food to eat in or take away. Korean poke rice, salads, hearty hotpots and side dishes are for sitting down and stewing over, while you can also pick up fresh vegetables or white and brown rices for home cooking.

In Bloomsbury, Wing Wing promises a potent combination of the “coldest beer” and “hottest birds in town”. The Korean fast-food joint delivers in the form of fried chicken burgers, signature drumsticks and wings with your choice of sauce.

New Malden, in south-west London, is home to 10,000 Koreans, including 600 North Koreans. Sorabol is a popular high-street veteran.

With the US President in town next month for a two-day “working meeting” following the Nato summit, it’s good to know that Korean plates could be the key to a peacemaking Donald. Let’s hope someone in his entourage has downloaded Just Eat.

Fay Maschler's 50 favourite restaurants in London

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