Jijimi

Sweet service meets serviceable fare

Despite having walked past this restaurant a million times, I was ignorant to its existence until, on my way to the gym one weekday evening, I was jumped in front of by one of their leaflet-wielding employees.

The leaflet described Jijimi as a fine Korean restaurant specialising in Bibimbab, a traditional dish comprising warm white rice topped with Namuai sautéed vegetables and chilli paste. So it was that on my way back to the station following a particularly lax gym session, I found myself peering in a steamed-up shop window at their hastily produced and laminated menu, which, strangely, did not feature any barbecue dishes.

I had been looking for no more than 30 seconds when a friendly-faced gentleman appeared “Korean, tasty food.” he said, smiling. “Better than Chinese, tastier and healthier too than Thai” and soon after I found myself ushered in and shown to a table featuring a built-in barbecue plate. 

Plainly decorated with while walls and no artwork, this is not a place you choose for the decor, but everything was clean and tidy, and I was eager to get stuck in.

The grub

As I don’t eat red meat, all of the barbecue dishes were off the menu for me but the kind server offered to have the chef make a variation on any other menu to ensure there was still plenty I could eat despite my allergies. I ordered tempura vegetables to start and a variation on the menu’s chicken in soy with mushroom and onions to follow.

The tempura arrived swiftly. Super crunchy, the vegetables were fresh and coated in a batter that was more akin to fish and chip shop batter than my previous experience of tempura, but tasty all the same. I’d neglected to let the waiter know I was allergic to peppers, so left a few pieces and when they noticed, they sweetly offered to reimburse part of my meal.

When my main course arrived, I was surprised to see it was not accompanied by rice and although it certainly wasn’t a dish likely to win Michelin Stars, that was my only real complaint. A perfectly serviceable chicken and mushrooms, comparable to that which you’d get from your local Chinese takeaway. Washed down with a glass of water, it was just what I needed in that moment.

Would we return?

The most endearing thing about Jijiimi is how hard they are trying on the marketing front. As we left, we were handed a promotional pen, asked for our email address, and given a pack of mini promotional sticky notes. A day later we received an email promising a discount on our next visit.

In conclusion, it certainly isn’t a celebration of culinary skill, but with a bill coming to £17, for the area, it was more than reasonable. We’d go back, but only if they expanded their BBQ menu, otherwise, we’d rather just pay a little extra and go to Bincho on Old Compton Street for some Japanese.