Korea House is a popular restaurant in Medellín with very good and authentic Korean food including some spicy food. And this restaurant is owned by a Korean.
After you’ve been in Colombia for a while and had your fill of rice, frijoles, patacones and chicharrón and looking for Asian food for a change of pace, Korea House is a good option.
The dishes and flavors at this restaurant are authentic Korean and quite different than any typical Colombian dishes. I have eaten at this Korean restaurant many times, as I love spicy food and there are several very good spicy dishes on the menu.
Note the above photos are courtesy of Korea House.
Korea House in Laureles
The dak-galbi – spicy stir-fried chicken with cabbage, carrot and onion
The Food Menu
The menu at Korea House has many typical Korean dishes. The menu includes:
- Six pork and beef dishes for 23,900 to 32,900 pesos. For example, the jeyuk-bokkeum is a spicy stir-fried pork with carrot, onion and spicy sauce for 23,900 pesos.
- Five chicken dishes for 17,900 to 38,900 pesos. And three of the chicken dishes come in multiple sizes for different prices. My favorite is the dak-galbi, which is spicy stir-fried chicken with cabbage, carrot, onion and a side of rice for 24,900 pesos. If you like spicy food the dak-galbi is recommended. Also, the sweet and sour chicken is very good in my experience.
- Six rice dishes with beef, chicken, pork, or tuna for 18,900 to 19,900 pesos. For example, the tuna kimbap includes rice, tuna, carrot, spinach, chayote, celery and egg for 18,900 pesos.
- Four stew and soup dishes with pork, beef or chicken for 20,900 to 26,500 pesos. In example, the kimchi-jigae includes kimchi, pork ribs and onion for 25,900 pesos.
- Four vegetarian dishes for 17,900 to 23,900. For example, the vegetable bibimbap includes rice, carrot, cabbage, zucchini, spinach and egg or potato for 18,900 pesos.
Each of the main dishes comes with four small sides and a small soup of the day.
The kimchi addition
Also, there are two additions: rice and kimchi for 3,000 and 5,500 pesos. Kimchi is fermented and spicy cabbage, which is to Koreans what beans and rice is to Colombians.
Finally, there are three appetizers on the menu for 11,900 to 16,900 pesos. The kimchijeon appetizer is popular, which is a kimchi pancake with green onion and cheese for 16,900 pesos. Several on the Internet have mistakenly called this a kimchi pizza but this is actually is a variety of buchimgae, or Korean pancake.
The egg roll appetizer
The Drink Menu
Korea House has a very small drink menu. There are four beers available for 4,500 to 5,000 pesos. Also, they have Soju, a Korean liquor, for 35,000 pesos.
In addition, there are two teas on the menu for 5,000 pesos. Furthermore, there are several juices available for 6,500 to 8,500 pesos. And there are sodas and water on the menu for 3,500 to 3,800 pesos.
Korea House is about a 20-minute walk from the Estadio metro station on Line B
How to Get to Korea House
Korea House is located in Laureles about four blocks from the second park of Laureles (Segunda Parque de Laureles). And the nearest Medellín Metro station is the Estadio station on the B Line. Also, this restaurant is located about a 20-minute walk from the Estadio metro station.
In addition, taxis are another option to get to this restaurant, just provide the address below.
Website: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaHouseMedellin/
Address: Transversal 39B #77-56, Laureles, Medellín
Phone: +57 4 412 1874
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday: Noon to 8:30 pm; Friday and Saturday: Noon to 9:30 pm; Sunday: Noon to 7:30 pm; Monday: Closed.
Payment accepted: Credit and debit cards and cash.
The Best Asian Restaurants in Medellín
On the Medellin Guru website, we have looked at eight of the best Asian restaurants and we plan to look at one or two more.
- Halong Vietnamita – a popular Vietnamese restaurant in El Poblado with very good Vietnamese food.
- Cuon – a popular Asian restaurant in El Pobaldo with a fusion of dishes from different countries in Asia.
- Lemoncillo – a hidden gem Vietnamese restaurant in Envigado with very good Vietnamese food.
- Korea House – a popular Korean restaurant in Laureles with authentic Korean food.
- Eden Bistro – a popular Korean restaurant in El Poblado with authentic Korean food.
- BaoBar – a restaurant in El Retiro with very good and authentic Singaporean food.
- District 1 – a restaurant in El Poblado with authentic Vietnamese food.
- Oppa Asado Coreano and Oppa Rolo Coreano – two small Korean restaurants in Laureles and El Poblado with authentic Korean food.
I like Asian food having lived in Asia for five years when I was younger. And I am aware of at least one other good Asian restaurant we plan to cover.
However, so far in over eight years living in Medellín I haven’t found a really good Chinese restaurant, even though there are many Chinese restaurants in the Medellín area.
Also, I really like Thai food. And there are some Thai restaurants in Medellín. But I haven’t yet found a Thai restaurant in Medellín that I consider good. So, we don’t plan to cover any of the Chinese or Thai restaurants in Medellín unless we discover one that is good.
Inside Korea House
The Bottom Line: Korea House – Authentic Korean Food in Medellín
Korea House has some good Korean food and it has been discovered by some foreigners who like Asian food. While I have experienced some better Korean food in California, Korea House has the best Korean food I have found so far in Medellín.
Also, if you love spicy food and never had Korean food, I definitely recommend this restaurant, as it has some very good spicy dishes.
Readers, what is your favorite Asian restaurant in Medellín?
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7 thoughts on “Korea House: An Authentic Korean Restaurant in Medellín”
Discovered Korea House two years ago while staying in Laureles. Ate there once and them my wife and I invited a Medellín friend to join us there for a second meal. We all enjoyed it. Especially our friend who had never experience Korean food…and he really like the spicy spicy offerings.
Nice article, I have been several times to Korea House with my Korean friend. The food is very good and I really like the kimchi pancake and the spicy dishes. My Korean friend says the taste is similar to in Korea but not exactly the same due to using local ingredients that don’t match the ingredients found in Korea.
We tried it and felt it was the worst meal in Medellin. We are foodies and have eaten in many restaurants around the world. Normally would give a place a second chance but it was so bad the first try.
I have been to Korea House several times and the food has always been good. I normally go for dinner and order one of the spicy dishes.
Might help if you provided some details like what you ordered that was so bad. Not all Korean food agrees with everyone. Some people I know don’t really like kimchi for example.
Numerous times I have gone there for a spot of lunch and enjoyed it but the Korean staff was not on duty. I have often wondered if it was just a coincidence and came to the conclusion that the local employees do lunch and the Korean lady I’ve seen there prepares the dinners. I don’t know if it makes any difference at all in the taste and flavor but for example, when I go to a Mexican restaurant I feel better if I see Mexicans working there.
Thanks, looks like some good food that I need to try out.
I went and tried the spicy stir-fried chicken in your photo and it was excellent. It was very spicy that I like. Thanks for the recommendation.