Kochu Karu

High expectations about this place after knowing about its Spanish Korean cuisine, what sounds really interesting. Unfortunately although the food is good and there a couple of dishes that were tasty, overall didn’t match our prior ideas. Atmosphere didn’t feel as cozy as I had in mind. However, the service is so nice and the wine expert is a top notch, recommending the right beverage according to our preferences.

I had high expectations for this place - the menu looked amazing, and the price on par with great places. Although everything was quite good, nothing was really mind-blowing or special. None of the dishes were memorable, and it didn’t feel like a cohesive cuisine or fusion. The atmosphere also didn’t feel particularly special. On the plus side, the entire staff was very nice.

We sampled the four-course meal and found everything to be excellent. Each dish was exquisitely prepared and delicious. However, given that it was a fine dining experience, the portions were quite small, and I wished there was more to eat. Overall, it was a very enjoyable experience!

Absolute yum! The Korean tart flambee was delicious, like a kimchi flammkuchen—definitely a must-try. The homemade kimchi, though a bit pricey on paper, was well worth it; I’m glad we ordered it. The bulgogi buns were out of this world, with the perfect texture and a savory-sweet balance that was just right. The bibimbap was good, though probably my least favorite in an otherwise outstanding meal. If you order it, be sure to ask for the bottom to be crispy—the heater they provide just doesn’t quite do the trick. The service was attentive without being obtrusive, making for an overall fantastic dining experience.

The food was nice, but it wasn't particularly exciting. The asparagus was super flavourful and the sesame dessert felt special, but the chicken and rice and the ceviche felt less tasty and exciting than foods I've eaten in more low-priced restaurants. Not much atmosphere - it was rather empty. Overall a nice night, but probably wouldn't go back.

We spent a Tuesday night at Kochu Karu and had their 5 course tasting menu. Very interesting flavours and well composed dishes. Service impeccable. Great value. We did not have the wine paring but got to try a nature wine recommended by staff which was an excellent adjunct to the food. Seemed popular with locals and a reservation in advance is probably a good idea. Highly recommended.

great dinner experience. Feels like a Michelin experience without being overly pretentious. The food is amazing. I do not eat spicy and they accommodated my request easily. Very nice vibe, it is not a massive place which made it even better, great atmosphere. Congrats to the chef(s) and overall, wonderful service.

As I am writing travel guides for and about Berlin, I am always looking for hidden gems. And I can tell you this restaurant is one ❤️. Here you find a unique dinner. The Cocktails and wines are also well selected. Kochu Karu is an exceptional restaurant, blending the best of Korean and Spanish culinary traditions. Bini and José offer a superb four-course vegan menu, including, for example, a vegan Flammkuchen with a delicious creamy cheese-like topping. Every course is thoughtfully prepared, highlighting unique combinations that surprise and delight. The buckwheat tea and kombucha are both delightful beverages that complement the meal perfectly, showcasing their dedication to quality and taste. The warm ambiance and friendly staff make this restaurant a must-visit for anyone seeking innovative, flavorful cuisine. I highly recommend the four-course menu, but they also offer tapas à la carte. More hidden gems can be found in my BertaBerlin maps 😉

We were delighted with Kochu Karu. The service and food were on point. I recently made the reservation for my GF's birthday and heard about the restaurant from word of mouth, and I was super intrigued by the Spanish and Korean combined fusion. We were greeted with a warm welcome. I met Bini at her Deli. She knows how to run the restaurant I worked in, The Capital Grille in DC, so I can tell from experience that you will be well cared for. They had a non-vegan tasting menu because I wanted to try all the different variations of food they provided. They start us with sourdough bread, olives, and Manteca lard. The fat just melted in the bread, and the olives were sauteed. We had the Chicoree Romesco. It was bitter, but the sauce complimented and canceled out the bitterness. The Tofu Kimchi was tasteful. The complex texture of Kimchi and the soft texture of Tofu. The Salmon Tartar was smooth and delicious, but you might not like it if you are not a fan of raw food. The Gallway beef was cooked at the right temperature. The meat melts in the mouth the sauce complements each other. For dessert, they served Sorbet with Cheesecake which was balanced, sweet, and delicious. I had a great experience. I will be returning soon with my friends and family. Thank you

In a word - a fusion of Spanish and Korean food, not only sounds interesting but also tastes good! Longer version (for the brave) - so I got here a while ago with a friend who always wanted to try it out, we even reserved a table just to make sure we won't miss it. As we got there we did get a pretty good table but then turned out wrong as they moved us due to a mistake, I was a bit upset because the new seat was right in the middle of the restaurant (which is small, meaning everything and everyone passing next to you) - so we received a glass of sparkling wine as compensation without even asking, overall, despite the seat - it was a very pleasant experience. The staff is very nice, English speaking and professional, they indeed contributed a lot to make the evening better than expected. So there are the obligatory tapas with a Korean twist, so we took a starter that combined the two - with manchego cheese (my personal fav) and kimchi, sort of a quesadilla (you'll have to forgive my poor memory) - which tasted absolutely fantastic. Then for the main dish I have ordered bibimbap and my friend ordered a salad with prawns and seaweed, my friend really liked his dish, and mine was pretty good - Decent size, great flavors and all the little extras on the size (a.i - kimchi, sauce etc.) They also have beef dishes that looked pretty amazing and even made me somewhat regretful I haven't ordered that steak! Next time maybe ;) To sum it up - it's not a place I would go to daily, but every now and then, when you feel like trying something a little different and enjoy a fine evening - this is it, they definitely have a lot to offer! Reserve yourself a table, the place is pretty small.

Korean-Tapas and by that they are not talking about the traditional banchans, no Kochu Karu serves Asian fusion kitchen and it's bomb. Fans of the netflix series "Chef's table" might know the name Jeong Kwan, the inspiring Buddhist nun from season 3. Well guess what: Kochu Karu owners did learn from this very lady and have a small but delicate selection of vegan dishes on their menu. Not only are they vegan but they also follow the concept of korean temple food. Me and my friend didn't have trouble of decided what to order since we simply ordered all the vegan tapas dishes. Each plate was a poetic composition of flavours, textures and colours. I have expected not only a good meal but an experience and Kochu Karu definitely delivered. If you are a lover of well arranged plates and well composed flavours you will enjoy this restuarant a lot.

Amazzzzing!!! This place is my new favorite spot in Berlin. Insanely delicious fusion korean food with beautiful presentation and service. Will definitely be back so soon!

Excellent and dedicated service. Took the time to present and discuss a wide variety of wines befitting the dishes we had chosen. The food was absolutely splendid, especially the Korean bbq was worth a mention. Will happily return on my next visit in Berlin.

My general understanding of the origins of Korean tacos is that they started with a truck in LA that announces where it will appear on Twitter. Berlin doesn't seem have anything like food trucks---there's no shortage of restaurant space and petrol is quite a bit more costly than back in the ancestral homeland---but Korean tacos are available in Berlin at Kochu Karu. They are, after all, destined to take over the world. If you're interested in non-traditional Korean, definitely go check out this place. The space is great, and food's really well executed. We had Bibimbap along with the tacos, but will be back to try out the Korean tapas. I would definitely rate it above Kimchi Princess, which is the only competition I know about in this particular category. (But if you want a chigae, just go to Madang in Xberg, since they don't have them here.)

Dinner based on a recommendation. Unusual mix of korean and spanish food...kimchi tapas... the starters were quite good while the mains had mixed reviews from the group. Esp the vegetarian main, a salad, disnt get much praise. The service was ok but nit great amd the waiting time for the main by far too long. Popular place so a reservation is highly recommended !

The lunch special was better than I expected, which included beet soup, rice cakes (authentic) and dessert, overall it was good value for 8 euros. I would come back to try the "Korean tapas." I found it interesting to find no Koreans working in the restaurant and some of the service was a bit spotty, but overall I enjoyed the meal and would come back.

During this trip, we were on a mission to try more Korean restaurants that we didn't get around to last year, and I was surprised to find that there were quite a few nearby where we were staying in P'berg. We went to Kochu Karu (which is red pepper powder used in Korean dishes) on Sun evening. There weren't a lot customers, and the service was prompt and courteous. I thought it was nice that the waitress took the time to meticulously explain every dish to us as if it was our first time having Korean food. I didn't have the heart to tell her that kimchee to me was like sauerkraut to her. However, considering that Korean cuisine is relatively new in Germany or Europe for that matter, I assumed such lengthy explanation was necessary for most of their patrons. We ordered Korean tacos, bi bim bop, and so bulgogi. Bi bim bop was as good as I'd expected with nicely marinated veggies and meats. The marination of so bulgogi was disappointing, and the quality of the meat was subpar, no better than grilling chopped beef on a hot plate. Korean tacos, however, was great. It didn't have a lot of veggies in it, but you get a side of nicely grilled tomatoes and guacamole to put on it if you want, and the meat in the tacos was better marinated than bulgogi. I saw the banchan menu or tapas, as they call it ... ingenious! Most of the items looked good; however, having spinach and kimchi as tapas is like making sauerkraut a special dish ... a little contrived, I think. All in all, we really enjoyed the meal, and the atmosphere of the restaurant was absolutely charming. I would definitely go back to Kochu Karu when we're in Berlin again.

We weren't sure what to expect with a fusion place. Was it going to be a cacophony of flavors? Was it going to be overpriced and undersized. Instead - it was lovely. Perfectly located between Eberswalder UBahn & Mauerpark, it's outside tables offered a comfortable place to watch the bustle of those passing by as we enjoyed our food. It was my first try of Bibimbap and though I was sucked in by the name, I loved the flavors. Simple, comforting, delicious. Also - bonus points for good service! Are we still in Berlin? The waitress took the time to explain the menu & concept and the best way to eat our dishes without being pushy or looking bored. Basically a first in this city.

We had dinner here last night. We enjoyed the food and the warm service. It was a quiet night in the restaurant, which we loved. We had the kimchee, an aubergine dish, and croquettes filled with curried sweet potato to start. Every dish was flavorful and delicious. We enjoyed vegetarian bibimbap for our main, followed by a dark chocolate mousse with pear gelato and fresh quince for dessert. The Rioja by the glass is excellent value for money. If you are in Berlin, we definitely recommend dining at this restaurant.

The "BEST" service The attitude of the Korean boss there was really bad. She was not nice and even a bit rude to my friends. Food was fine but not the best. And they are a bit too overpriced. There are a lot of other nice Korean places here in Berlin so definitely won't go there again.

Stingy on the Kimchi!! How dare they! Especially when the prices are already higher than other local Korean restaurants.

The restaurant has an interesting concept, it actually tries to create a fusion of Spanish and Korean cusisine. The decor is very nice and feels intimiate. We got a reservation for the same day, the restaurant can be busy, so reserve in advance. When we arrived it was still quite empty and we where shown a table. We asked if we could change the table as this one was just next to the heating. The waitress denied this saying that the other table was reserved for 1 1/2 hour later. To our surprise a couple that showed up 10 later was given our table of choice and they stayed almost as long as we did, well beyond the mentioned 1 1/2 hour, not very good practice... On to the most important thing, the food. Unfortunately this has been a let down. I am not sure how they made into the Guide Michelin. They offer tapas style Koren food, which I think is an amazing concept (Transit, a restaurant not far, is doing this amazingly since a while now). At Kochu Karu it felt off though. The majority of the dishes are plain Korean, with some offering a Spanish twist. We didn't feel this was successful though. For the octupus chevice the chorizo overpowered the whole dish. The meat skewers were not seasoned enough and the veggies where just plain steamed. The corn pancake was just flavourless and the Gogi dumplings which were served with a Spanish dip were dry. The Japchae salad was the best dish of the night, but also not real must have. In the end the sweet Korean pancakes were overall dry and raw in the middle. With wine we spend 100 EUR for two. I won't go back there.

Spanish Korean cuisine. Food was good and different but not quite what I would have expected. Octopus salad was very fresh and the dumplings were well seasoned but overall it was missing this special something that makes you wanna come back all the time. A bit pricy too for Berlin standards.

It is a fusion restaurant though so it has the unavoidable lounge music and kind of thought after decoration. I love Bossa Nova but I wish asian restaurants could use something else without fearing to lose western people. As for Korean food, it is decent though noting to dream about either. You do not get metalic chopsticks but the disposable wooden ones; felt a bit weird to me Especially given that the prices are the same as in Korean restaurants (the really good ones) you find in Paris. To wrap it up : Very kind service, decent though not memorable food, fusion cliché ambiance, rather high prices for the area IMO. 30% Quality, 70% Hype. Berlin usual ratio.

Friendly waitress, delicious food ! I decided to eat bibimbab there but at that day it's not possible. Because the menu is fixed. They have only one main course :-( everyday they change the main course so I had no luck that day:-(. But I had noodle and it's very good. I liked it :)

After Louis T's brief but convincing discourse on Korean tacos, I headed over to Kochu Karu to try. The place is pretty charming, with a nice exposed ceiling. I think those tacos are really pretty good -- well stuffed with pulled pork and beans , with sides of kimchi, light guacamole, soya sprouts and good blanched tomatos. Just good. Next time I am going to try one of their specials, which I totally ignored. They're also serving "Korean Tapas" - smaller plates at EU 3.50. I'll be back to try those, too.

Excellent food, a cute restaurant, and reasonably priced booze made this place by far our favorite foodie place we tried in Berlin.

We tried it on a Saturday evening having a reservation. It's a small restaurant with just few tables but has a nice atmosphere. The service team was really helpful to make our choice for dishes. We tried some starters and main dishes which all have been really yummy. The best starter was the grilled spinach, but also the kimchi and the squid were tasty. As main dish we had udon noodles with pumpkin and grilled pork. We enjoyed both. The service was really attentive and cheerful with some good recommendations. Wine was pleasant. We had a nice evening and the price was adequate for that quality in Berlin. We will come back to try more. We tried it a second time for a 5 course menu and enjoyed a very happy evening with surprisingly gorgeous dishes and singing. We've been really satisfied even given the higher costs for that kind of menu. Quality was even better than the last time, the dessert was fantastic.

one might not expect it but this is a splendid combo of Spanish and Korean modern cuisine! the owner gives explanations and recommendations before ordering and everything is fresh and tasty. thumbs up!!