Went to the Korean restaurant Ban Di Bul the other week for some Korean BBQ. Until relatively recently, I had never had Korean BBQ - first time was about 3 years ago. Since then I have had it about 3 times and its always good. Tasty food and lots of it. I had walked passed Ban di Bul many times and always been on my list to check out but its taken until now finally to try it. Since we were generally new to Korean BBQ, I think I was the only one who had had it before, we went for one of the set menus - Set 2. Was easier and ensured we can a variety of things. The only decision to make was the type of soup you wanted - the seaweed soup or the spicy one. I went for the seaweed one. The mushroom and veg dish was really tasty - lots of garlic. Maybe a bit too much garlic? I personally not the biggest fan of kimchi but did try each dish. Not really my cup of tea. The sweet and sour spring onions were nice and the mashed potato dish was OK - was quite sweet. (Also really liked the dipping sauces! Asked waitress what they were and she said one was Korean sauce and one was "Korean BBQ" - bit generic!). On to the "main course" and the beef, belly pork and spicy chicken. My fav and the fav of the table was the beef. Full of flavour, tender, yummy! The belly pork was also good. By the time we got to the spicy chicken I was really full. It was pretty good, sort of a medium spicy-ness but after you eat several pieces of the chicken, the heat builds! Previously when I have had Korean BBQ, its up to you to cook the meat yourself - although they sometimes provide some assistance. This time, maybe because we all looked like newbies, they started cooking the meats for us and kept coming back to turn the meat etc. Towards the end, I decided to "take over" and started turning the meat. So overall, I really enjoyed the Korean BBQ at Ban di Bul. I have to be honest and had heard some mixed things about it but I would recommend going. read more

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I have eaten Korean food all over the world, and this is very close to authentic. I usually order Champong if they serve it, but they don't serve it at Ban Di Bul, so I ordered what I considered the next closest thing, Spicy Seafood Ramen, and it was excellent. Noodles were perfectly al dente, the seafood was a little sparse, but there were mussels, shrimp, and calmari. I always take in the locale and give some leeway. However, this was excellent. I wish that they would've included banchan (side dishes) like they do in many countries. read more

Ban Di Bul - Spicy Seafood Ramen - Korean Near Me - Manchester, MAN

I really wanted soon tofu and came across this place as the other place I was going to was a bit too far of a walk. I had to wait about twenty minutes to be seated since I was alone and there wasn't a lot of tables for small groups. I ordered fairly quickly and the staff asked if I wanted anything to drink to which I said just water (not sure if they charge extra for it). The soon tofu was quite small (I guess I'm used to BCD size) and was just okay. There were also no side dishes that came with it but the food came by fast. I also didn't end up getting my water but just left. I didn't realize that the restaurant has service charge (not sure if it was posted anywhere). Overall, I found the price that I paid not worth the food that I ate. I'd try to look for another Korean place to compare it to. read more

Ban Di Bul - Soon tofu. - Korean Near Me - Manchester, MAN

Not good. Terrible service. Didn't provide water, no hello. Spoke not a word to me. Food: very small potions. No depth of flavour. No garnishes. No banchan. Not good would not recommend. I can't emphasize how inhospitable the service was here. Would def not return or recommend. Would have been better off with a sandwich to go from a convenience store. read more

Ban Di Bul - Wall with tv. - Korean Near Me - Manchester, MAN

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Overpriced food, overly busy, very loud ambiance, and the food was just ok. I would try other venues, plenty around. read more

Seriously tasty food at an affordable price, left the place absolutely stuffed & my heart was full too. Have nicely proportioned set meals also if you are uncultured (like myself). Didn't even feel judged when I had to ask for a fork after struggling with chopsticks for around 5 minutes. The waitress changed our pan every time it got too burnt & was very on top of the service here. Would recommend to anyone who wants an authentic kbbq experience read more

Ban Di Bul - The good food - Korean Near Me - Manchester, MAN

Wow it's certainly been a week full of Korean food for me... Entering the Ambre glowed placed we were seated at one of those cool built in grill tables..each table mirrored one another bearing a low hanging lantern.. It was quite a nice atmosphere apart from our light constantly sounded like there was a trapped rat running inside of it. What I will say is the service is VERY attentive..perhaps too attentive where they were almost snatching the fork out of your mouth.. To begin I chose a Korean beer out of the decent selection and turned to the starters..these were not the cheapest or most varied..we settled on the these beef dumplings to share which were average. Like previous Korean restaurants this place offers various bbq food, earthernware bowls of tasty rice dishes and sharing platters and soups..not being very adventurous I chose my favourite once again. .spicy broth with udon noodles and seafood.. The mains were whipped out lightning quick, it's like they knew we were coming. My portion actually looked its £10 worth until I dug in.. the spicy broth and noodles hit the spot..but I think I would have found more fish in my old fish tank. I counted three pieces of squid, one prawn and two mussels...very disappointing. My companion stated their meat was a little tough in their addition. Before I got chance to decide whether I could I consume any more, the decision was made for me. A passing waiter whipped up the soup from under my nose. So what do I think?.overpriced for what you get and waiters who divebomb your table like greedy seagulls. I would have understood this if the restaurant had been booming..but it wasn't and I felt rushed ..Will I be back?.No unfortunately not read more

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Ban Di Bul has a lunch menu with I think all dishes under £7 including rice and a small side salad (involving apple and a peanut dressing, which was nice). I got the squid which I've never had before in a Korean restaurant which was fairly good although the sauce tasted a little synthetic. Nice rice tea in cute mugs. Unfortunately they don't take cards for less than £15, which was annoying - there's a cash machine quite nearby. Service was relatively efficient and friendly. As another reviewer pointed out, the banchan doesn't involve kimchi which was disappointing. Overall it's not the best Korean food you'll find - I'm not sure there is much better in the city centre though, given that almost all the customers were Korean. read more

I'm not very familiar with Korean food so felt a little at the mercy of what felt like rapidly evolving events. Service is fast and at times a little bewildering. We went for perhaps the easiest choice of the mixed meat BBQ. Slices of ox tongue, marbled beef, belly pork, steak and marinated chicken and pork cooked on a circular hot plate at the table. There is clearly an order in which they are cooked and staff both assist and change hot plates between meats. On a first visit it felt best to just let all that happen. The food, sauces and kimchi (slightly sweet and sour fermented vegetable side dish) were excellent and you felt at the heart of a busy 'street' experience. It reminded me a little of the Mongolian BBQ's that were popular at one time, though I remember they always lacked a sense of authenticity. Here, I felt like I had just landed in Seoul and enjoyed the trip! read more

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My partner and I went here to eat Korean BBQ when we were on a trip in Manchester. We had KBBQ set 1 and it was £27.90 each person. It was extremely expensive but we couldn't even get the side dishes refilled. The staff didn't inform us that the lettuce was charged £1.90 each ( the staff brought out two). A set for two but we had 1 bowl of rice, 5 leaves of lettuce, and the kimchi was just a little bit. I thought £27.90 each would fill me up to the fullest but it was not. If it was £27.90 for two then it would be quite reasonable. In the end, the staff also raised her voice to us when we refused to pay the service charged lawfully because it was an overpriced meal. They let us sit at the table for 20 minutes when we asked one the staff's name and to see the supervisor/manager. The staff refused to do so without any further explanation. If I ever come to Manchester again, I will never come back here. I know eating out is expensive but at least if it satisfies me. I don't recommend people to come here to have KBBQ, it was overpriced and the staffs are unprofessional. We sent an email to the manager but it has not been solved yet. Throughout my whole trip around the UK, I'd say this is the worst restaurant I've ever been. And it can't be compared to any other kbbq that I've been to in California, USA and Wellington, NZ. read more

Ban Di Bul - This is what it came out - Korean Near Me - Manchester, MAN

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I love Korean food and have eaten in many korean restaurants, and I found Ban Di Bul to be pretty decent. It wouldn't be my favourite korean restaurant as it didn't have beef bulgogi which is my favourite, but they do have BBQ that you can do on the table. I had Korean Kimchi pancake, kimchi and banchan, all of which tasted great. I loved the Korean kimchi pancake, it was crispy and succulent, I wish I could make it like that at home. The waiter was friendly and the prices were moderate. The downside is that the restaurant is a bit small. Overall good Korean food. read more

Lunch time and it was crowded, so I had to share a table. That is very unusual. But the young boyish looking Korean did not mind. He was actually so good about it that I felt ashamed of having thought of leaving. I had chicken stomach - spicy and lots of garlic. That was a disappointment: not long enough cooked and almost too hard to bite. But I liked the sauce And Bulgogi - was very soft and that's great for beef (if you know what I mean). But it was rather blend. The service was quick and helpful - students with a side job if you asked me. read more

Ban Di Bul - Korean Near Me - Manchester, MAN

This small-ish place on the edge of Chinatown on Princess St is yet another new Korean in Manchester. From a single visit I'd say it was the best yet. We immediately knew we'd be opting for the BBQ option. Having previously had a great experience in a Korean BBQ place in the US (where, unlike here, the table comes with burners, and you cook it yourself) was looking forward to it. And I wasn't disappointed (though it wasn't quite /that/ good). Each ordering a BBQ option and sharing them between the four of us, we also ordered 4 portions of boiled rice (not on the menu, somewhat oddly), a side that appeared to just be lettuce, and some spicy sliced spring onion, all washed down with brown tea. This was plenty of food for us. The BBQ arrived sizzling (read: very, very hot) on metal plates. We had two beef and onion dishes, both of which were tasty, though a little difficult to eat given the weapons: chopsticks and a spoon. The highlight though was unquestionably the two seafood options: a deliciously soft squid, and a sweet caramel-like dish of scallops - the nicest thing I've eaten for some time. Price seemed very reasonable, coming in at 15 quid total each. The staff were friendly and accommodating of western confusion, although I should point out they forgot the scallops at first, and had a tendency to attempt to remove dishes before we were quite done. Also, they really need to fix their door! read more

TL;DR Authentic sam gyup sal. Big a$$ bowl of stew for 20 pounds. This place was so good my GF (capital letters man!) and I came here 3 times in 1 week. This is by far the best Korean place we've ate at in Manchester. I think this is the 4th korean restaurant we've been to here. The sam gyup sal (pork belly for those who have no effing idea what i'm talking about) korean bbq experience was authentic. They brought it out raw and they cooked it for us in front of us. I believe if we had asked we could've cooked it ourselves. The main reason to come here though would be the fact that they have the big freakity bowl of stew. I'm talkin big enough for Paul Bunyan (American folklore) to be satisfied after chopping down an entire forrest or wrestling with his blue cow. They have several options but really you won't be able to tell the difference in the end, but it really doesn't matter. It tastes as it should with varying spiciness levels, just be sure to tell them. This stew is perfect for 300 of the 365 days of UK weather. it'll warm you right up, and is the equivalent of feeling like drinking hot cocoa in front of a fireplace. All this for 20 pounds. Keep in mind that this can feed 4 people easily...but me and my GF are gluttons for food so it's a different bar. read more

Ban Di Bul looks from the outside like an Eastern restaurant with little to distinguish it from the Chinese and Japanese restaurants which abound in Manchester. But stand out it does, largely because Korean BBQ is a really good cuisine. The restaurant itself is a pretty decent operation in terms of decor (uninspired but not distracting, though the square tables makes large groups much less communal than circular ones would) and pricing (£8 a BBQ dish, which is a decent but not massive portion for an individual). But where it shines is it's food and cuisine. You see, Korean BBQ is brought to your table raw but marinaded and you cook it yourself with tongs on a hotplate in the middle of your table. This is not only great fun, but also ensures that everything is eaten right when it is done and the sights and sounds of the meal are incredible. The sauces are exquisite and for my money use more effective combinations of spices than the Chinese food available nearby so everything just tastes so so nice. I'd also recommend a casserole if you go with many others, as though they cost £20 each or so they can easily serve a portion or two to a table of ten and come in iron pots which bubble enticingly on the hotplate. To cut a long story short, this meal is a really refreshing change from eating spring rolls and black bean sauce again, no matter how much I like them too. The prices are reasonable though the portions are good enough but not impressive and after buying a BBQ dish each and one casserole our table of ten felt full but not uncomfortably so. Most of the strengths of this restaurant derive from the cuisine it uses, but that doesn't detract from how much we enjoyed the cooking and eating of the food. Well worth a visit, especially if you want a group meal with a difference. read more

TL;DR - Slightly chaotic service doesn't detract from great food. We'd been meaning to come here for quite a while because it always looks busy when we go past. When we arrived there was a short queue, but we were able to jump it because we were willing to sit at a table with other people (there's a "bench" in the centre of the restaurant). I wasn't hugely familiar with Korean food, so we ordered a few different things to see what we got. Clearly the Korean BBQ is a big deal here and lots of people were going for that but the dishes we went for were more run of the mill. I ordered a spicy chicken dish which was utterly delicious. The various sides we got like kimchi were delicious too. The strange thing we experienced was the service though. We were brought a number of dishes which we hadn't ordered, and then these were collected and taken back into the kitchen. We also noticed that every time the staff collected a dish to deliver, there seemed to be a huge amount of uncertainty over where they were supposed to be taking it. There was also quite a lot of checking by staff that we'd been served the right dishes and everything we expected was there. Long story short - the food is really, really good here... but make sure you remember what you've ordered in case there are any queries down the line! read more

Good place for korean food such as BBQ and hotpot. Be aware you will get pretty smelly after u finished your meal. Btw they do use a lot oil to cook their dishes. Good thing is the flavour is on the point. read more

Ban Di Bul - Kimchi fried rice top with egg - Korean Near Me - Manchester, MAN

I have been eyeballing this place for a while now. I haven't had the opportunity to enjoy Korean bbq since moving here and most places I've been to are not quite up to my expectations here. But I gotta say this is definitely a decent Korean barbeque place in Mancunian standards. We ordered a mixed meat platter worth £37 that consist of beef ribs, marinated beef, marinated chicken, pork and ox tongue. The portion size is definitely worth every pound. Service was fast and the servers were efficient with changing our hot plate. We didn't even need to prompt them and they were on to it. They offered to cook it for us but we preferred doing it ourselves to enjoy the full fun of it! We are giving this place a thumbs up and will be returning with more friends to enjoy the wonderful kbbq soonest read more

Ban Di Bul - The meat platter and a bottle of chamisul.... - Korean Near Me - Manchester, MAN

I felt that the food here was pretty expensive for what it was. I say that so much it's becoming meaningless and I probably just need to grow up and accept that eating out is a luxury and will never be as cheap as I want it to be. But the bill came to £40+ for what I felt was not a lot of food. Beef dumplings and deep fried vegetables from the appetiser menu were both delicious. The portion of the veg was generous and it looked quite impressive. For mains we didn't feel like being very adventurous so I had bibimbap and he had bulgogi. (I'm open to any and all suggestions on how to branch out with Korean food!) Both pretty tasty, and I quite enjoyed that the waitress added sauce to my bibimbap and stirred it at the table while I watched. The portion was enormous and I unfortunately left some of it. With the bill they brought some sliced oranges which was a nice touch. To drink I had a bottle of Hite which tasted like most other lagers. read more

Banchan? What's that? If you're expecting the regular Korean restaurant experience, better come with a bank roll. Don't even think about 12 dishes in the Banchan. Lightly pickled bean sprouts and some potato salad that's it. No kimchi. If you drop another £4 the two of you can each get a potion of kimchi. One could buy a large jar of kimchi for that price. The Bi Bim Bab comes without kimchi, you have to pay extra for that! Sort of like serving Bubble and Squeak without the squeak. Unheard of... All the food seems to be carefully and authentically prepared, but really, it's proviciale fare at continental pricing. Pay to play. read more

Bandibul is a Korean restaurant just off Albert Square. The service is friendly and efficient and the place has an authentic feel about it. You can order off the ala carte or try the BBQ which you cook yourself at the table. I tried bandibul with a group of friends. We ordered a range of stuff from Kimchi ( spicy pickled cabbage) to noodle soups. The food came out in super quick time and was piping hot. However it was a little disappointing. The veg egg roll was more like an omelette smothered in tomato ketchup in the guise of Korean special sauce and my ramen soup was a bit tasteless. The Kimchi was good though. Think there are better Korean places in Manchester. read more

Nice BBQ, service efficient, overall good experience&nice choice for new year eve's dinner. Though the place is not big, still give two people a big table read more

Ban Di Bul - BBQ meat plate - Korean Near Me - Manchester, MAN

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The newest Korean place to open up in Manchester and it's a very welcome edition. The place itself is clean and although it doesn't have lots of seats it doesn't feel too much like close quarters. The staff are always friendly and willing to help. They have a large TV that is often playing Korean TV shows, but they are normally a bit fuzzy and unless you know Korean you'll be lost to what's going on. Now, onto the food! this is the only Korean place in Manchester that does real tabletop BBQ! It's not the best Korean BBQ I've had but it is very good, the meat can be a tad fatty, which is a pet hate of mine but it's still very tasty. The rest of the menu is pretty huge. They sell everything from mandu (crispy dumplings a little like gyoza), bulgogi, bibimbap , soups, stews and other traditional Korean fare. The starters are pricey though comapred to the main dishes. They boast home-made Korean cooking and I have to say it does live up to it. They have a wide selection of kimchi and other banchan (small side dishes) and the menu carters for the more experinced to the novice, explaining each dish in detail (all though they do need to update their mistakes as it says Kimchi: cabbage in a 'spooky' sauce lol instead of spicy.) They have a few Korean beers and wines and of course soju as well as a nice fresh selection of soft drinks (mango, lychee etc) and teas. I haven't seen the dessert menu as I've always been too full after eating, but after your meal you are given a free fresh orange that is cut up and ready to eat. My main reason for coming here is the BBQ and although I have tried a few other things on the menu, the BBQ is the draw for me. A great place to introduce yourself to Korean food. read more

Ban Di Bul - Korean Near Me - Manchester, MAN

All around pretty terrible Korean food from my take out experience. The galbi was chewy and tough. Japchae was too salty. The tiger prawns were basically like soggy shrimp tempura. The only decent item was the Galbi Tang, but even then, the meat was just not tender like it should be for Galbi Tang. Maybe this is just how Korean food in the UK is and my expectations are too high. read more

I came here on Sunday with two people who'd never eaten Korean food before, and they're avid meat-lovers. Therefore, I was a bit naughty to have suggested bi bim bap, which traditionally doesn't have a lot of meat in it. This restaurant's version of it definitely follows suit, so order the bulgogi instead if you're an omnivore. I ordered the vegetarian bi bim bap. It was alright, if not particularly memorable; I've also had it many times in Korea. It just doesn't taste the same to me without gosari (bracken fern stems), but I assume that ingredient isn't available in the UK. The brown rice tea was delicious-- I'll have to ask them which brand they buy. The appetizers which appeared of their own accord were soybean sprouts, a potato salad (quite good), and miso soup. If you're new to Korean food, you should know that appetizers (including soup) can be eaten at the same time as the main course. And if you don't like spicy stuff, just use soysauce instead of hot sauce for the bi bim bap. The music was rock, which was a bit odd and didn't fit with the restaurant or the clientele. The volume was kept at a non-intrusive level, though. The website doesn't have a menu on it, but at least there are photos of some of their dishes: www.bandibul.co.uk read more

I walked past this place for a number of years, and not been in! My bad! Turns out it's been open 4 years. I've never really known about Korean food apart from a jar of home-made Kimchi a mate kindly gave me. After watching a band in Albert Square we were definitely hungry and walked up toward Waterhouse for a cheap eat. But then it struck us, neither had tried the Korean restaurant. Often I look for a chicken & rice dish if I'm unsure, and they had one for £9 on the menu outside, so I decided I could afford to try it. Though this soon change to the BBQ option on seeing all the embedded BBQ's on the tables. I picked a beef and veg option as it sounded self-contained and my mate a more shredded beef, with Kimchi on the side, and a couple of different Korean beers. (91 & 92 on the menu if you have it) I knew we'd made the right choice when it was started being cooked at the table. Pretty unique I think. The manager made a suggestion of having it like the Koreans with Lettuce and spring onions to make wraps - my reference being duck pancakes, except you use the lettuce to wrap it. There was an additional slightly spicy sauce that came with this, that was extremely tasty and really made the meal. [We think this was probably Ssamjang sauce; a Korean beanpaste, chilli paste and sesame oil sauce]. Honourable mention for the beansprout accompaniments too. I was slightly worried we'd racked up too much, what with food being cooked at the table, but knew we'd had a very tasty and unique meal in a good, small restaurant. Came to £38 between 2. More than I wanted to spend, but a good experience & food. Great introduction to Korean food :) read more

We went for the banquet and was unable to finish everything but was delicious. Would recommend for those new to Korean food and also those familiar. Friendly service even when very busy. read more

Came here for a late lunch. Service was okay. Food tasted okay. Most cooks were eating and out of the kitchen already. My meal was cold, especially the rice. I'm 95% sure the meat was microwaved. The onions weren't even cooked. read more

Dining experience in Ban di bul is what I imagine dining in hell would be like!!! After a dining experience at Ban di Bul, I am so horribly scared that I dont think I will be dining out for a while! I went out for a meal with my sister and a friend and ordered some Korean BBQ, half way through the meal, me and my friend found hair in our food, we didn't want to make a fuss, so we didn't actually complain. Shortly after, the manageress/proprietor came over and snatch the chopsticks from my sister's hand, then she procceed to telling her how to eat properly- she was both rude and aggressive- this embarrassed my sister greatly. In disbelief and in shock, I had to tell her that my sister would like to eat the way she likes, thank you very much. When the bill arrived, we asked the service charge to be taken off our bill, the manageress told us that we HAVE to pay for sur/charge, and that if we dont have any money, we should not have come out to eat. We point out that forcing people to pay sur charge is illegal, moreover, we thought the service was poor. The manageress told me to shut up and told my sister to sit down. All we wanted to do was to pay the bill, this took almost an hour and a half as the manageress would not accept our payment unless we pay sur/charge, in the end, we nearly walked out without paying. In short, we were disgusted, and we would recommend strongly for self respected human being to never to set foot in that place! read more

Really make me diarrhea when I go back home, the yukhoe is not fresh and it's very expensive! Taste like Chinese not Korean food, and dishes are too small，really don't want to go there anymore read more

So disappointed - it's basically not Korean cooking - and almost no flavours at all.. We came for lunch and ordered bulgogi vegetables and rice, and a kimchi soup. The bulgogi came served on the same plate as the rice ( a bad sign -they'd be in separate bowls in Korea) and tasted of a#some sweet sauce (Maggi?) and MSG. A friendly Korean speaking waitress explained apologetically that the kimchi soup came without kimchi(?) unless you paid extra. The result had no flavour at all - large chunks of raw tofu had been thrown in. There was just no flavouring, no gochujang or any of the right spices. We were given two side dishes, one a bizarre tiny handful of beansprouts, the other some cold potato covered in a nasty green sauce that my Korean wife couldn't identify... From what we tasted , this is not authentic Korean cooking - one to avoid unless you want a basic Chinese style /vaguely Eastern meal. Except for the young Korean waitress who was very pleasant ,the other staff were unfriendly and bored. read more

disappointed! disappointed! disappointed!..... I went to this restaurant on sunday with my family after chrismas shopping in town. I ordered one cassrole food and some started. The food is really pull me off. I have been served with bowl of water with lots of chilli powder and cheap ingrediance inside which not worth the price. the soup is not soup stock. I didn't enjoy the cassrole at all. I don't think this is restuarant level food I can cook at home better than this. when it come to the price, this really small restaurant actually extremely expensive. Starter about 8-9 pound plus service charge. The owner of the restuarant should been put into reality check. Serve cheap ingrediant food and charge people 5* restuarnt price!!!! your resturant does not deserve this !!!! read more

I have been this Korean Restaurant more than 3 times during these two months.The food bandibul provided was nice, but one of the waiter was so mean. Especially this time, when we just finished the meal like less than 1 min and still chat to each other, She came straight away and said "you finished?" and clear all the things on the table. And gave us the bill, it was like she wanted us go away ASAP. But it was 1pm and there is no one queueing at that time. And her face was like I owed her 1billion pounds! read more

Not so good. The pork was full of fat and not fresh, far from what I've tasted in other Korean Restaurants. And their kimchi was also lack of flavour... won't go again. read more