Taste test at Preston’s new Korean restaurant Kim Ji

Kim Ji is the first dedicated Korean restaurant to open in Preston. We went down at lunchtime to try it out.

It’s 12 o’clock when I arrive at Kim Ji in Winckley Street. The little Korean restaurant has only been open a week, but word has clearly got out. The place is bustling.

I’m lead upstairs and offered a table by the window and wait for my friend. The decor is fresh and although we haven’t booked, there are tables available.

As I wait, I eye up the other diners’ meals as they arrive. There are sizzling bowls of rice based dishes, cute little teapots and lush looking sides.

She arrives a short time later and the waitress brings us the menus. There’s a choice of two – the main menu or the lunchtime set menu. We opt for the latter.

At £7.50 for two courses it offers excellent value and a choice of dishes. There’s also a selection of wines, beer and soft drinks on offer.

I’m tempted by the Hite – a Korean beer – but as it’s lunchtime, I opt for green tea which comes served in a traditional teapot and cup. My friend orders honey citron tea – which is exactly what you’d expect it to be.

Our starters arrive – crispy vegetable pancakes and Kim Ji fried chicken (KFC) served with a soy dipping sauce and sweet chilli dip. The chicken is my favourite – and with toasted sesame seeds and spring onion garnish, it is a world away from the Colonel’s offerings.

Crispy pancakes and Kim Ji fried chicken

These are followed up by our mains. I ordered chicken stir fried udon noodles and my friend chose beef bibimbap (which the waitress helpfully told us is pronounced bi-bim-bap).

My noodles are fat and the chicken deliciously tender, with the distinct soy and sesame flavours I had hoped for.

The bibimbap arrives in a hot stone dish, which is used to cook the egg and rice to form a crisp rice layer, beneath the beef and vegetables. It is sizzling as it arrives at the table, but unfortunately is a little burnt.