March 2024 - Food

Just across the street from Vauxhall neighbour, Jihwaja, Daebak welcomes all those seeking a kimchi fix without the karaoke distractions. Housed in what was once a humble greasy spoon, this place retains the look and feel of an old caff. ‘Daebak’ means ‘big win’ in Korean, and a big win is what you’re going to get. The prices are low, portions are huge and the flavours are bang-on. Drawing a real mix of locals, business folks and hungry cricket enthusiasts from the Oval stadium, its legendary Korean fried chicken is the star of the show, with options like sweet soy garlic, sweet cheese powder, Korean sweet chilli, and the padak, coated in a luscious honey mustard sauce and adorned with delicate spring onion slices. Chicken at Daebak strikes the perfect balance between moist and crispy. Beyond the chook-extravaganza, there are plenty of other street food classics, including jjigae Korean stews, Korean ramen, bulgogi, dumplings, and bibimbap.