4 stars. Recommended.
Is there anything more promising when walking into a Korean restaurant than hearing the majority of the patrons speaking Korean? Nope. And the majority of patrons were speaking Korean. So I was hopeful.
Shilla must be very new, because everything is immaculate: floors, tables, built-in grills, the wait staff's uniforms. You name it, it's sparkling. Although the weather was too hot to sit outside when we were there, the patio looked inviting, and props all around on the decor. It avoided kitsch without outright minimalism.
The service was efficient and thorough. Appetizers consisted of a couple of dishes we'd never tried before: pickled eggs with roasted garlic, and pickled onion slices in a sweetish soy sauce. Both were good, especially the pickled eggs halves. My husband thought the kimchi was a bit on the mild side, but I found it spicy without being hair-raising. Appetizer refills were included, which is nice.
Shilla's menu (available online) features several good vegetarian options, including veggie dolsot, veggie noodle soup, veggie mandu, and tofu salad. They also offer kimchi-chigae, but -- alas! -- not in a veggie version. My husband liked his bulgogi, although if you're looking for the "sticky sauce" bulgogi, make sure you specify that in your order. Hubby's was marinated in a soy liquid, and while delicious, he said it wasn't the "usual" bulgogi that eventually sticks to the grill like it was glued on. The flavor was milder, and it was served with rice, not leaf lettuce.
As we were settling the bill, the waitress brought us a lovely drink made of pumpkin and rice. It was refreshingly cold and perfect for the hot Zurich weather. read more