Speedy service and delicious Korean fare are held with the utmost importance here at Hana Korean Kitchen, which is why the high rating for this restaurant in Cologne is not a surprise at all!
Although my friend and I consider ourselves to be culinarily adventurous, we somehow always seem to end up eating at a Korean restaurant every time we go on our trips (such as Korea House and Gogi Matcha, which I misspelled as “Gogo” on my post…), and this time was no different as we found ourselves dashing towards Hana Korean Kitchen!
We were fortunate enough to find ourselves a table as the restaurant was not really the biggest one around, and on top of that, we had also arrived during the lunch hour, so we were extremely relieved!
The decor was on the trendy side, and I found the contrast between the wooden furniture and the dark walls and lighting to be quite appealing (and while I was writing this, I realized that I forgot to take pictures of the restaurant inside… …Well, more the reason for you to go there in person, right?).
As for the service, the staff were accommodating and quick, and just within the few minutes that we arrived, they were all ready to take our orders!
I started off with the sweet, jelly-like delight which was the Aloe Vera Juice (€5.50), and with great restraint I managed to make the drink last for the entire meal (I usually get multiple beverages when having a meal but this is what inflation does to you, people!!).
Our side dishes came in shortly after our drinks arrived, and boy, they were all so great! The homely and savory potatoes, the cool and delicious cucumbers, the lovely green beans with sesame oil, the mushroom-like eggplants, the sweet and savory tofu, and the simple yet tasty bean sprouts… We finished them all within a couple of minutes!
The Mandu with Chicken (€7.50) was the first appetizer to grace our table, and it was fried and crispy, which worked very well with the surprisingly deep savory flavor. Next was the Kimbab with Vegetables & Egg (€7.50), which unfortunately was a little too bland, but I did note that the vegetables had a very fresh taste to them.
We also ordered the Kimchi Jeon (€8.50), which was quite thick compared to the thin, Italian pizza-like pancakes I’ve had in most places. It was a little crisp outside and very soft inside, like a croquette. It was pretty filling and tasty!
The Dolsot Bibimbap with Chicken (€13.90) was my choice of main dish for the meal, which was delicious and hearty, and the simplicity of the dish was, in a way, comforting and was just what my hungry heart needed! I also added loads and loads of the accompanying spicy sauce (gochujang paste, I believe?…) to add more flavor, making the already great dish even more tasty!
We certainly had a delicious and filling meal at Hana Korean Kitchen, and food aside, our overall experience was great as well, thanks to the service and hospitality provided by the staff. I definitely recommend eating here if you’re in Cologne and are in the mood for Korean, but just make sure you get there before the tables get all filled up!
(This article was originally written on the 2nd of September, 2023)
LLAMASODA 
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