As a long-time fan of The Kimchi, I was more than happy to follow an Instagram tip-off from East Anglian Foodie and headed over to Seoul Born on Orford Place in Norwich for lunch.
Nestled on London Street, The Kimchi is best known for its Korean Fried Chicken – or KFC – served up with lashings of spicy, sticky sauce.
But at Seoul Born, I was after something meat-free. I opted for the small Born Identity rice bowl with aubergine. Small, it turns out, is a generous term – this was a bowl packed to the brim with colour, texture and flavour.
Inside was a rainbow of goodness: crunchy raw cauliflower, crisp red cabbage, glass noodles, rice, edamame, green beans, spring onion, sesame seeds and two spring rolls for good measure.
The battered aubergine was tender with a satisfyingly crispy coating, and the spicy sauce had real punch – balanced beautifully by the sweet tang of pineapple mayo.
At just after 1pm, I only had to wait around five minutes for my food, which was a pleasant surprise given how busy it was. Because the kitchen is open, I stood and watched the team hard at work behind the counter and it absolutely made my mouth water while I waited. Bowls of Korean Fried Chicken were flying out the door, and from the looks of things, the portions are just as generous across the board. If you’re after a meat-free option, there’s jackfruit on the Seoul Born menu too.
There is also a good selection of drinks available in the chiller, including Korean options for an authentic accompaniment.
I’ll definitely be heading back – whether for another veggie bowl or to finally try the famous fried chicken. Either way, I’m pleased to report that Seoul Born has firmly earned its place on my Norwich lunch-spot list.
