I once went out with some friends for some “authentic Korean BBQ,” but there was nothing authentic about it.

The kimchi tasted like supermarket coleslaw, and the bulgogi was so sweet it could have doubled as dessert. The banchan? Let’s just say I’m still not convinced those pickles weren’t straight out of a jar labelled “Dill” in English.

Any fan of Korean cuisine knows there’s a world of difference between a menu that borrows the names and one that honours the flavours, traditions, and hospitality that make Korean dining unforgettable. 

So, I hunted down the Korean restaurants in Wellington that are actually authentic. Here are all the best spots for Korean food, so you’ll never have to settle for coleslaw kimchi.

1. MISS KANGSTA – Korean Gluten Free Restaurant

Miss Kangsta is where you go if you’re after gluten-free or dairy-free Korean food. 

The first thing I tried was the Popcorn Chicken Bowl. The serving was generous, with a big pile of crispy chicken on top of black rice and a fresh salad. 

The chicken itself was tasty, but a couple of pieces were a bit overcooked and dry, which was a letdown. 

But at least the sauces were good—my favourite was the honey soy, which was sweet and salty and went really well with the chicken. 

My friend ordered the Spicy Jeyuk. This is marinated BBQ pork belly with veggies over black rice or noodles. He appreciated how the pork belly was spicy and a little bit sweet, and the veggies (especially the broccoli and spring onion) added a nice crunch. 

We also tried the Garlic Soy Bulgogi, and the beef was mouthwatering. I loved how I could taste the sauteed garlic in every bite of the bulgogi, and the veggies were thoroughly cooked too.

Korean dishes are incredibly delicious!

“Wellington Restaurant Recommendation!

The gluten-free options are so light and comforting, and the Korean dishes are incredibly delicious!

The stir-fried spicy pork (jeyuk bokkeum) is absolutely the best.

The owner is super friendly, and I always leave with great energy.

Thank you so much!

And this is a hidden gem for coffee lovers!

Make sure to try their coffee as well!”

• jeyne Google Review 

Definitely coming back

“okay guys this is it. how was this the first time i had been here. definitely coming back as a miracle had happened. first off, the service is super duper friendly. second, i ordered a spicy jeyuk (pork) stirfry bowl with rice noodles. im usually super picky and dislike veggies such as cabbage, onions, blah blah blah you name it but I didn’t wanna seem fussy and remove ingredients so I mentally  muscled my way through my order. they did give it to me with rice instead but i don’t care. that may have been a smart decision. this was the first time in my life i think I’ve eaten red cabbage. shut up i know im a picky little kid but Miss Kangsta has changed that for me, fr. i ate the whole lot because it was super tasty and no textures threw me off and it seemed like a small portion but it was SUPER filling. fair price. love ❤️”

• Peony Yang Google Review 

2. Koko

Koko is a small spot with limited seating, but the menu is packed with all the Korean street food classics. 

When I come with friends, the kimbap is a go-to. It’s basically the Korean version of sushi rolls, stuffed with veggies and sometimes a bit of meat. 

We like how fresh and light it tastes, and it’s easy to eat with your hands. I always grab an extra roll to take home for later.

Their tteokbokki is also good. I like how chewy the rice cakes are, and they come swimming in that spicy, sweet sauce. Although I sometimes wish the portion was a bit bigger because it disappears fast when you’re sharing.

We also tried the jjajang, which is noodles in a rich black bean sauce. The sauce is savoury and a little sweet, and the noodles are thick and satisfying. 

For dessert, we always go for the bungeo-ppang. You can pick from chocolate, custard, or red bean filling. They’re shaped like little fish, which is fun and makes for great photos. My personal favourite is the custard—it’s warm, creamy, and not too sweet. 

Love how they set it up like street food stalls

“Went after 6pm everything still look really good! Got the vege kimbap 👍 a pinch of spice with the crunchy vege. The place was clean there was also people sitting there eating looking like they were enjoying themselves.

Love how they set it up like street food stalls! If only we had the night market again.”

• Alice Google Review 

The Rose tteokbokki is a must 

“First let me start by saying the Mother and daughter who work here are the best! they are attentive, kind and have amazing service skills! The staff proved a warm and friendly environment and a bonus to eating here.

The cutlery is well stocked and the place is tidy, clean and the hygiene is top notch, one of the cleanest places I’ve dined in. The food was so well priced for the quality, don’t be confused this is some of the best restaurant quality korean food I’ve had!! The Rose tteokbokki is a must ! so creamy and perfect chew!, the Gimbap is amazing and crunchy, the fried chicken was amazing the spicy and cheese were the fan favourites and the japchae was amazing and had a wonderful sesame flavour. The crispy fried dumplings were so good and the best was the gimmari! So delicious in the tteokbokki sauce. Do not forget to get drinks here also, their cookies and cream shake is amazing and the mango smoothie is out of this world. 10/10 the best Korean food in town hands down!Congrats team on a wonderful restaurant!”

• Kallum Best Google Review 

3. Seoul House Restaurant

Seoul House’s menu is packed with all the Korean classics. Seeing what other people were eating gave me some serious food envy as dishes kept coming out of the kitchen.

I started with the spicy squid, which came out sizzling and covered in a glossy, bright red sauce. The squid itself was tender and not rubbery. The vegetables—cabbage, onion, carrot, and spring onion—were cooked just right, still with a bit of crunch. 

The Army Soup had a rich, beefy broth with a hint of spice from the kimchi. It came in a big bubbling pot filled with noodles, ham, and sausage. It was also stuffed with beef, chewy rice cakes, tofu, and loads of vegetables. 

I liked how every spoonful was a little different—sometimes I’d get a bite of sausage, sometimes a chunk of tofu, or a slurp of noodle. It’s definitely meant for sharing, so I had to take home my leftovers.

For drinks, I grabbed a Bongbong Peach. It’s a canned peach juice with actual peach pulp floating in it, and it was super refreshing. 

However, as much as I enjoyed the food, I did feel like the prices were a bit expensive. 

It was all delicious and very generous proportions

“Amazing service, food came out almost instantly. It was all delicious and very generous proportions. We just stopped in randomly on our way back down cuba Street and couldn’t have been happier.”

• Regan Dodd Google Review 

The portions were large and incredibly delicious

”I had Bulgogi Jeongol and half-and-half chicken, and the portions were large and incredibly delicious. Other menu items also look tasty, so I’ll definitely try them next time. Truly amazing Korean food!”

• jennie Google Review 

4. The Garden

After eating at The Garden with a friend, I have to say it lived up to the hype of delicious, classy Korean dining.

While the service was friendly, the wait time for our dishes was over 30 minutes. The place wasn’t even busy when we went, so I felt the waiters were slacking off a bit and could have sat us down earlier.

But at least the food was good. I had the bulgogi beef bibimbap and appreciated that they generously filled the bowl with tender bulgogi beef and tonnes of crisp vegetables and soft rice. 

For my friend’s Smoked Salmon Bibimbap, the gochujang sauce brought everything together with its spicy kick. However, the salmon was a bit too smoky for his taste.

To wash it all down, we ordered the Honey Jujube Tea. This drink was a hit among us. It was sweet and soothing—the chewy jujube chunks were my favourite. I could see why it was recommended for digestion and fatigue relief—I felt my bloating go down a bit.

The kimpa was also excellent

“My wife and I stumbled upon this restaurant while searching for a lunch spot near my hotel on a Monday. Located in a corner of the food court, up the escalator next to Countdown, it immediately caught my eye. Seeing others confidently head there reassured me of my choice.

A friendly staff member introduced us to the menu, and we opted for kimpa and a standard-size bibimbap. The bibimbap, though a short wait, was beautifully presented and delicious—wishing we had ordered the larger size. The kimpa was also excellent. We’ll definitely return next time we’re in Wellington.

• M Andy Google Review”

Real and fresh authentic Korean food

“Quite difficult to find real and fresh authentic Korean food in Wellington. The sundubu and bibimbap I had today was super delicious especially given that it was a super cold day, made it even more delicious. The owners were super lovely and welcoming, definitely got good vibes.

Definitely will be back!

• Timothy Chai Google Review”

5. ZZAN Wellington

ZZan is a great spot if you want to try a bunch of Korean dishes with friends, especially if you’re up for some spice. 

When I went with a group, we had to stand around for a while (about 40 minutes) before getting seated, even though there were a few empty tables. It kind of sets a slow tone for the start of the meal, so if you’re starving, it’s not ideal. 

We tried the Gochujang Sundae—Korean blood sausage stir-fried with veggies and glass noodles in a spicy sauce. Some of my friends really liked the chewy texture of the sausage and the way the noodles soaked up the sauce.

As for the Spicy Chicken Feet with Steamed Egg, the chicken feet were super spicy. They really lived up to the “crazy spicy” description the menu promised. However, not everyone at the table was into the rubbery texture of it.

For drinks, the soju highball was light and fizzy, which was a nice balance to all the spicy food. But I liked how the Melody Melon was sweet and tasted just like those classic Korean melon ice lollies—super refreshing.

Food was wonderful

“Very nice restaurant, amazing staff always smiling and happy to help. Great games at the arcade to wait for food to come. Although some games were run down or didn’t work entirely. Food was wonderful just beware that 1 on the spice level does still give a bit of a kick. Very cool lucky dip at the end where you can get a voucher for something, In our case we each got a free ice cream for our family. All in all lovely atmosphere, great staff and tasty food, would totally recommend coming if you have the time!”

• pippa Google Reviews 

Zzan beer suited the fried chicken perfectly

“Been meaning to try out ZZAN since moving into the city. With so many fried chicken choices around Courtney you need to stand out. Zzan chicken is great but where they stand our in my opinion is the service and the atmosphere. A much nicer place to sit and enjoy your food then the likes of a KCB or similar. Cool games at the back and karaoke booths. Also great drink deals and the Zzan beer suited the fried chicken perfectly.

We will be back to try the hotpots and jam some karaoke 😄👍”

• Danny Bedingfield Google Review 

---