Simya Pan Asian - London

Lovely food and atmosphere! Will be going back for sure!

My dining experience was quite disappointing, particularly with the homemade kimchi, which I think they should highlight when promoting the restaurant, as it doesn't hold up well. The menu featured a confusing blend of cuisines that lacked authenticity; for instance, the spicy pork, typically served thinly in a spicy oil on bibimbap, was instead more akin to a mediocre char siu. Additionally, many of the ingredients were subpar. The cocktails were just average. While the two servers were attentive and did a great job, they were unfortunately overshadowed by the head server, who was slow and unhelpful. The ambiance was pleasant, but the large, shared benches made it quite challenging to maneuver in and out of the tables.

I loved the food and service; it’s definitely a great addition to Hoxton. I’ll be back soon!

The food was rather disappointing, with the exception of the homemade kimchi, which I believe they should consider commercializing if the restaurant doesn’t succeed. The menu offered a strange mix of cuisines that lacked proper representation; for instance, the spicy pork, which is typically thinly sliced and served in a spicy oil on bibimbap, was presented as a slightly peppery char siu instead. Many of the ingredients used were of subpar quality. The cocktails were just average as well. While the service provided by the two servers was excellent, they were overshadowed by the head server, who was slow, strange, and generally ineffective—perhaps the restaurant is understaffed. The ambience was quite pleasant, but the large shared benches made it difficult to navigate getting in and out of tables.

We made a same-day reservation through OpenTable and arranged for a babysitter for our two children. We traveled to North London, only to find that the restaurant was closed with its roller shutters down! It was an especially busy night for restaurants, as London had implemented tier 3 restrictions, making it challenging to find a decent table. Ultimately, we ended up dining somewhere else, but it felt like a waste of £130.