Bristol's best-known Korean restaurant, Bokman on Stokes Croft, is currently closed following a kitchen fire in December 2025, with no reopening date confirmed as of this writing. Its sister restaurant Dongnae on Chandos Road remains open and is the strongest pick in the city, alongside Dangun in Old City, Per & Kor in Bishopston, and Pocha on Whiteladies Road.
The current lay of the land
Bristol's Korean food scene is smaller and more concentrated than its Thai, Japanese or Indian scenes, but what's here is genuinely good, anchored by a husband-and-wife team whose cooking has picked up national recognition. Kyu Jeon and Duncan Robertson, who previously ran a Michelin-starred restaurant in France before spending nine years in Korea, opened Bokman in Stokes Croft and then Dongnae on Chandos Road in September 2024. In October 2025, Time Out named Bokman the second-best restaurant in the UK overall and the best Korean restaurant in the country. Two months later, an electrical fault caused a fire in Bokman's kitchen; the restaurant has been closed since, with the team directing visitors to Dongnae in the meantime.
Dongnae, Chandos Road
Dongnae (5-7 Chandos Road, BS6 6PG) is the safest recommendation in the city right now: it's from the same team as Bokman, has its own Michelin Guide listing, and has built a strong following since opening. It's open for lunch and dinner Tuesday to Saturday. Expect the same fermentation-led approach that made Bokman's reputation - house-made kimchi, gochujang and soy sauce - applied to a menu of Korean sharing plates. Book ahead, especially at weekends; a restaurant with a Michelin Guide entry and a displaced fanbase from a closed sister site fills up fast.
Dangun, Old City
Dangun (39-41 St Nicholas Street, BS1 1TP) sits right in the Old City/St Nicholas Market area and takes a more casual, counter-service approach: order at the till, and your food comes out for dine-in, takeaway or delivery. It's open seven days a week (Sunday to Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am-10pm), which makes it the most flexible option on this list if you want Korean food outside a typical dinner slot. The menu covers the crowd-pleasers - Korean fried chicken, bibimbap, kimchi fries - rather than Dongnae's more chef-driven approach.
Per & Kor, Bishopston
Per & Kor (362 Gloucester Road, BS7 8TP) is a genuinely unusual find: a small, family-run restaurant serving Korean and Persian dishes side by side, run by a Persian-Korean couple. It only opens in the evenings (from around 6:30pm), so it's a dinner-only stop rather than a lunch option, and its Gloucester Road location makes it an easy add-on if you're already exploring that part of the city.
Pocha, Whiteladies Road
Pocha (81 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2NT) rounds out the list with a more bar-and-small-plates format, open through the day into the evening. It's a useful option if you're already in the Whiteladies Road/Clifton area and want Korean food without crossing the city.
Comparing your options
| Restaurant | Area | Status | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bokman | Stokes Croft | Currently closed (fire damage) | N/A - check for reopening updates |
| Dongnae | Chandos Road, Redland | Open, Tue-Sat | Chef-led, Michelin-listed, book ahead |
| Dangun | Old City | Open daily | Casual, flexible hours, takeaway |
| Per & Kor | Gloucester Road | Open evenings | Korean-Persian fusion, dinner only |
| Pocha | Whiteladies Road | Open | Bar-style small plates near Clifton |
What about Bokman?
If you've come to Bristol specifically hoping to eat at Bokman, it's worth checking the restaurant's own website or social channels before your trip, since the team has said they'll post updates as they know more about the timeline for reopening. In the meantime, Dongnae is run by the same owners and shares the same culinary approach, so it's the closest thing to the Bokman experience currently available.
For other Asian cuisine in the city, see our guides to Bristol's best Japanese and sushi restaurants and Bristol's best Thai restaurants.
FAQs
Is Bokman in Bristol still open? No. Bokman has been closed since a kitchen fire in December 2025, caused by an electrical fault, and no reopening date had been announced as of this writing. Check the restaurant's own site or social media for updates before visiting.
What's the best Korean restaurant in Bristol right now? With Bokman closed, Dongnae on Chandos Road is the strongest current option - it's from the same team, has a Michelin Guide listing, and keeps the same fermentation-focused approach to Korean cooking.
Where can I get Korean food for lunch in Bristol? Dangun in Old City is open daily from 11am and takes a casual, counter-service approach, making it the most reliable lunch option among Bristol's Korean restaurants.
Is there a Korean restaurant near Clifton or Whiteladies Road? Pocha, on Whiteladies Road, is the closest option to Clifton, offering a more bar-and-small-plates style menu.
Do I need to book ahead for Korean restaurants in Bristol? It's worth booking for Dongnae, particularly at weekends, given its Michelin Guide listing and the extra demand from Bokman's closure. Dangun's counter-service format generally doesn't need a booking.
Is Per & Kor only Korean food? No - it's a Korean-Persian fusion restaurant run by a Persian-Korean couple, serving dishes from both cuisines side by side, and it only opens in the evening.