Topokki in Birmingham

This is the 2nd year I was visiting Birmingham, and Topokki. I absolutely loved their homemade food and ambiance, but this year I was highly disappointed by the staff. The waiter literally bullied a friend of mine when entering the restaurant to book a table and eat. We were so looking forward to it when the waiter just unwelcomed my veiled friend. "Are you aware all our meat is not Halal?" I will eat vegetarian. "All our food is cooked with alcohol!!!" 😳 Really?! All of it?! Edamame, gyozas and the rest of it! Come on! I still insisted to be seated because we are not to be bullied when walking into a restaurant but my friend felt unwelcome and left to find the Vietnamese round the corner welcoming us and being very friendly!

The food (my first time) was amazing!!! So tasty, so nice, everything was perfect! The atmosphere was so nice, and the staff was so kind! I will definitely come back.

Amazing Korean restaurant, it has become a favourite of ours through the years. I recommend every dish on the menu, the food is cooked with care and always tasty. The waiters are always amicable and helpful and the overall bill is good value for the food received. Highly recommend.

Honestly, this food was absolutely amazing. Very hot and fresh and tasted delicious. The service was so good. Staff were really attentive and polite and made for a good experience. And the food was reasonably priced. Will definitely be coming back here again as I can’t wait to try more things off the menu!!

Food was tasty and enjoyed it. Service was poor, had to go to the bar to ask for my order to be taken when it wasnt so busy (6 tables of 2 for 2 staff in the place). Meals ordered together were served separately and was just placed on the table without asking who it was for. Not asked during eating how the food was, staff would rather play with their phones behind the counter. Also had to ask to pay dat the bar. Noted all the other guests got the same standard of service. Glad they didnt have the nerve to charge the service charge.

Good service and good food! Korean Spicy chicken thigh 👌🏼

I ordered the sea food noodles,the prawns tasted like mouldy fish. At that point I walked out!

I have been to Topokki many times. Food excellent and the staff are friendly and efficient. However, PLEASE fix the front door - it does not close leaving a number of the tables experiencing an icy stream of cold air. I got up 5 times during my meal to close the door. Other tables did similar. 2 star rating for atmosphere based on the cold air. If the door closed it would be 5 star!

I love the squid stirfry here 😍. I order it every single time with a side dish. I'm a fussy eater but I've never been disappointed with the quality here. The staff are also very friendly. If you pay with cash instead of card, it's actually cheaper as well 🥰 I would definitely recommend here to more of my family and friends.

Really flavourful, good value. I went for spicy and it was just awful, but I know it was well made and every other dish was beautifully balanced and amazing. Just a bit let down by the spice. Although I don’t want to be treated like a typical white personal palate. Plus 20% off with cash.

Top-class service. I wish I asked the name of the staff who served us. Even though we were the last ones there, still there was no rush from them. A variety of food options to choose from.

One of my favourite establishments in Birmingham, great value, varied menu and always a warm atmosphere inside

Fantastic food and service real quick with great menu

Lovely little spot for traditional Korean food. Definitely will be going back there again 😀

Korean deep fried chicken thigh and cheese rice cake are my favourite. Friendly staff and reasonable price. Big variety of food choice. 10% discount applied to cash payment.

Been to few Korean restaurants but this one by far the best one food always same same quality and standards staff are friendly and welcoming

There must be new owners. The food was not up to par and it was terrible service.

Horrendous service… I would not recommend.

Me and my boyfriend love coming to Toppoki! Very nice and relaxed place and we love Korean food!!. So it’s deffo a little gem we like to go to. We have tried the Korean bbq and some other side dishes which were delicious. Even though portions sizes can sometimes be little small depending what you get ( so order more ).

First time in this restaurant and the food was great. Can't fault it. Well spiced and tasty. We both enjoyed the kimchi noodles and some spicy beef dish. I can't wait to go again.

Nice clean establishment ...nice location ...the food was nice but not overly outstanding although enjoyable....the only issue was the waitimg staff standing at the bar watching over you....each time i looked they were watching which i found uncomfortable....apart from that its alright and reasonably priced

The staff doesnt seem interested in selling their food. They are very staunch to little requests like throwing in some veggies or even tofu (even if they stock it) and not for free, but in place of the fish cake or chicken breast we asked them to remove as one of us was vegetarian. Upon wanting to provide feedback, the staff seemed least interested and was happy to lose a lunch table of four. Many other authentic oriental places in Birmingham that would depart you with a much better experience. Owner, if youre reading this - please act. The staff doenst seem to value business at your restaurant. Thanks

I love the food and the service as well the owner of the restaurant is very friendly and understanding I already been there more than 12th time but I still love it 😍 and I’m gonna love it in the future and I’ll will there as well I hope the atmosphere will never change as this is so amazing 😻

Great place, great food, and friendly service.

Good food. Reasonable prices. Friendly staff. No frills eatery. Good, honest catering.

Lovely food with 10% discount for cash payment. Average seating and atmosphere.

We were in Birmingham for a gig, so we were looking for somewhere to eat that wasn't fast food. Topokki was one of the top 5 nearby that offered food that everyone in our group would enjoy. I had their King Prawn Ramen which was incredible, very tasty and filling! The service was a little slow for taking orders, but once ordered, the delivery was quick. Food is brought out as it's ready, so some will get theirs before others, but there wasn't a huge wait. Would definitely return to try more of the menu.

Enjoyed the food , pleasant staff, vibrant atmosphere, everything good until I went to the toilet. Not a good experience, black greasy dirt on top of the tile edge , not been cleaned for months , rest of the toilet was shabby at best. Spoilt what was a nice occasion.

My partner and I came here for a late lunch. Place was busy and it took around 15 minutes to seat us- the space might be better used with more 2-seater tables as there seemed to be larger tables being used up by small groups. We had the Takoyaki curry and the vegetable bibimbap respectively. Food was nice but I found that the curry seemed more expensive for what it was. I would have liked more vegetarian options, but the ones which were offered seemed pretty good. We appreciated the 10% cash discount and the photos of the food on the menu. Service left something to be desired. The lady who served us slammed our cutlery onto the table, seemed reluctant to serve us, and we had to try to catch their attention a few times before we received the bill. It would have been nice for the staff to have more standardised outfits- even just a plain black top and trousers- but this is a personal preference. Atmosphere was relaxed, I cant find any faults with it (but I cant really find any benefits).

A Real gem. Wonderful staff and lovely food. The location is great and wonderful atmosphere. Just need to clean the toilets properly and you'll get 5 stars. Customer toilet needs a daily through clean.

The restaurant is simply laid out but has a great atmosphere. The menu is well laid out and there is plenty of choice for all pallets. The service and food was excellent.

This place offers some of the freshest ingredients I’ve had at a Korean BBQ. The portions are generous, and the food is packed with authentic flavors. The meats are perfectly marinated, and the sides are just as good. If you’re looking for a solid Korean BBQ spot, this is definitely worth a visit!

Fab service & everything very clean. The food was really nice but not the best Korean I've ever had.

Amazing food and lovely friendly service. If you like it hot, the spicy chicken noodles are definitely worth a try!

one of my favourite restaurants in Birmingham. Would highly recommend the Korean barbecue, the bibimbap, the kimchi fried rice. Amazing food & atmosphere

The place and toilets are clean and there are many food choices. The cheese rice cake is delicious, but the udon is a little too sweet. Food portions are normal, tasty, and served quickly

We wet in town to celebrate our daughters birthday and decided try an alternative tour usual Wagamama’s option. Amazing authentic food, very much like actual Korean food. Great atmosphere and friendly and efficient service. Would highly recommend

Great atmosphere, amazing food! Authentic flavors and all the dishes were cooked so well! Would definitely recommend!

Wonderful food, very good quality.

The service is fantastic, very accommodating. I went for the soup which was delicious, but not a fan of the metal chopsticks though - slippery. Will 100% recommend for good food.

Personally I love korean food a lot, so it's really happy that my short stay in Birmingham was treated with such delicious food. The tteokbokki(spicy rice cake with cheese) is tangy spice but not excessively, the seaweed roll is a must have because of it's crispy texture and the savory filling is so delicious. The beef bibimbap has the option to serve the chili paste separately so you can adjust the hotness yourself, which is so thoughtful. Not to mention the Korean beer which is quite different from British beer/ale. Last thing is that remember to pay in cash because they are offering 10% off if you are paying cash.

Good location. But the takoyaki seems like undercooked. The food tasted great though. Keep it up!

absolutely not an authentic Korean restaurant, the menu mix the Japanese, Korean food and the taste was not good as I expected.

I know the chief in this restaurant. He’s name is microwave. As an Asian restaurant, they don’t even know how the cook rice. I can’t even taste any umami from the food, only salty, spicy and sweetness.

When I crave korean food this place is always my number 1 spot! The food is always hot and fresh.The restaurant is cosy and the staff are always so sweet.

First time I went there with my best friend, we had the chicken ramen and the chicken katsu curry. It was lovely, so we visited again and I spent my birthday there with my best friend. Absolutely amazing food once again, exceptional service, the food didn't take long and it was all piping hot and delicious. Will definitely be trying again...

Great find. Good food and very reasonable price

A Nice, cosy Korean just outside of City Centre. The main food is nice, a variety of Korean dishes ranging from £12-£18 for mains, however the sides are around £8-£15 and drinks are expensive. My favourites are the chicken bimbimbap (chicken stone pot with rice and veg) and the kimchi jeon (vegetable cabbage lightly fried pancake) But You can get 10% off if you pay in cash. Atmosphere is quiet, definitely don’t go for good service as the staff don’t look too happy, but the food is good.

The atmosphere & decoration was brilliant, and the staff were friendly, but the food was sadly a bit bland. I had the tofu bibimbap and was disappointed that it was just unseasoned tofu on top. Even when I mixed it all up there wasn't much flavour. Tip to future customers: take cash because then you'll get 10% off.

The tteokbokki wasn't sweet at all, so I asked if they could give me a little sugar. They said it would be okay if it was salt, but not sugar. Sugar seems to be expensive these days.

Tasty, no-frills, relaxed Korean restaurant with a good range of options and affordable drinks. 10% discount for paying cash.

Good were delicious 🤗 Stuff are friendly and helpful. They asked our order and help us out to choose our meal🤩 Thanks guys

First visit. Tried the meat grill menu and seafood noodles. Absolutely brilliant, lots of flavour and enjoyed the experience. Will return.

Great price. Fantastic Korean food. 10% discount paying cash

Food was fine, but the service was terrible: 1. If you want people to wait to be seated. Put a little sign near the door for people to wait, otherwise they will think they need to seat themselves. 2. If you are too busy to seat people as you are cleaning or serving others, please at least acknowledge people as they come in. 3. Don't throw menus and napkins down on the table. 4. As you seat people, you should say you will be back to take their order in a minute, otherwise they will try to go up and order. 5. If people need to come up to the till, tell them that when you bring their food out. 6. Divide up rolls, the person who is meant to be seating people shouldn't be putting oil in pans in the kitchen.

Nice Korean restaurant in good location - items ordered came quickly . Seating is clean , K pop music in the background. However the portion size isn’t sufficient really and yes authentic Korean food but not quite there. Therefore this is the reason for the middle of the run type rating which is generous.

We came here after a recommendation and much contemplating I'm so glad we did!! The food was Amazing!! The Chicken Terriyaki was so tasty and the portion sizes were generous so next time will share the Noodles and add more sides. Also there's a 10% discount for cash. We will definatly be returning even if its just for the Chicken Terriyaki 😋

We had a fab lunch here. I love bibimbap and it was very tasty but you have to order the fried egg separately, which I've never had to do before! I didn't realise until my food arrived, which was a little disappointing. The Korean chicken breast was delicious and we got a good sized portion of kimchi. We were over charged but luckily I spotted an extra dish had been added to our bill. When this was pointed out it was quickly rectified by the helpful staff. All in all a good experience and we will definitely be back.

Delicious food! When we asked for spicy, they truly delivered 🔥🌶️

It was my fourth time eating in at Topokki in the space of a year, the atmosphere is usually quite calm and most of the staff are extremely welcoming and Friendly. If there’s anything to take away from this comment it’s the food is so delicious such that I’m writing my first review.

We came here over Easter and we both had the beef bibimbap. (A rice dish that come in a steel/iron bowl. Was very tasty and reasonably priced at £12 . Nice Korean beer too. Definitely come back.

Love love love the food here Had the Tteokmanduguk soup, side of kimchi which I like to stir into the soup which had lovely meat dumplings; also shared fried chicken thigh portion with my husband, it was so succulent and fresh, excellent crunch. Also ordered the topokki, which had lovely flavour and a gorgeous bite. Definitely will be going back to try more dishes!

One of my top korean places. Their korean fried chicken is always a good choice along with some kimchi pajeon. Also recently tried their kimchi ramen which was really good.

Always happy and satisfied with the food. My husband and I like to order the bbq set with other side dishes and we’re never disappointed. I visited with my friend one dinner where she had topokki and I had doenjang-jigae and we also ordered cheese spicy chicken we were in heaven. Topokki is my favourite asian restaurant in China town and the staff are much better than the other nearby korean restaurant.

I came here for my birthday and I must say the atmosphere was so calm and the food was soooo delicious. Litterally yesterday I had a sudden strong craving for some authentic korean food and when Toppoki came to mind, I knew I wasn’t going to be disappointed. We ordered so much and you can tell each dish had a lot of effort put into it, considering the authenticity and delicious flavor. Since I am learning Korean, I decided to order in that language and the waiter who was serving us was so kind. Jimmy, thank you so so much for the comfort and compliments I received when speaking to you and for how patient you were with me too. Thank you also for the time you spent with us. I will most definitely be dining here again soon.😊😊😊

The only restaurant in Birmingham's Chinatown where I didn't feel like I was in the country. This is the only Korean restaurant I have visited that does not offer the side marinated vegetables.

The shop looks pretty new or well maintained. I would say the taste of the food was good (I am Korean though) in general but the amount of the food was all BIG portion. Strongly recommend if you are hungry 🤗 I think this is what a restaurant needs to be to satisfy their customers.

Been here after a catching up with a friends, but the place & food are nothing much special, & down side is they only accept cash..

Very tasteful restaurant in Chinatown Birmingham, I read some other reviews from people who expect Michelin star dishes 😩 The flavors you get here, the quality of the meat and the service are just good. If you eat here, you MUST use the BBQ. I really enjoyed the food and the spices that made it taste.

The food here is top notch. We had a veggie bibimbap (sizzling, flavourful and a really generous serving), pork cutlet ramen ("absolutely delish and would order again") and veg dumplings (crispy outside, soft inside, full of flavour, banging dipping sauce). Despite the staff being run off their feet, they were attentive, polite and did their absolute best for everyone. Highly recommend, great prices for the excellent quality food. We will definitely be back 😊

Love their BBQ self-BBQ chicken that been marinated!

Best Korean Restaurant in Birmingham and certainly one of the best restaurants in general

Amazing food and ambience. Our waiter was super friendly and helpful as my friend was a bit unsure what to get. We visited last June and will definitely be going back. We’ve had some of the side dishes such as the king prawn salad and the sweet and sour seaweed salad and they were both packed with flavour! For my main I opted for the ramen with extra cheese and egg and I couldn’t be happier with my choice! It was absolutely delicious! My friend chose one of their rice bowls with a chicken cutlet and it looked unreal! She was very pleased with her dish as well. We of course couldn’t leave without trying some traditional Korean dessert so we decide to get 2 different flavours of mochi (mango and chocolate) and they were incredible. So smooth and creamy with genuine flavours. (I preferred the mango flavoured one) Overall it was an amazing experience and we had a great time, would definitely recommend and visit again so if you are ever in Birmingham and are unsure where to go for food, may as well try Topokki, you will not regret it!

My favourite restaurant in Birmingham, delicious food and good portions. I recommend the spicy squid dupbap, it is very moreish

Good Korean food, tasty and good portions. Interior could be renewed/refreshed.

My favourite Korean restaurant in Chinatown. Such a beautiful place with such amazing food. I had a great time every time I went there. The food can be a bit spicy so be careful.

The staff and the service were amazing the food was so delicious there are dishes for vegetarians and vegans. Hope you guys find this post helpful💙🥰

Bibimbap and Sweet and Spicy Chicken were great tasting, lovely food. Nice building, friendly service, price was as you'd epect in the middle of the city, but.... Found ourselves with a bout of food poisoning. Only thing we both had was the water, which was free. cvan't recommend visiting at all until you see a certified food hygiene standards certificate in the window.

I would give it 0 star if possible. None of the food really had any flavour. Not only is it far from authentic or even close, it's just very bland and seems like microwaved food. The toppoki had carrots in it and they were soggy not chewy at all. The flavours were of too. The bulgogi didn't have the usual taste either. Would not recommend at all.

Terrible experience, never be back again

The food was so-so. Cold as a kennel. Service ok.

I visit Topokki often because the food is just so delicious! I recommend the curry tteokbokki and bulgogi dupbap!

The chicken was raw which I had to send back. Food mediocre. The next day I had food poisoning which lasted a WEEK. I thought I was going to die. Reporting them to Environmental Health.

Nice minimalistic clean restaurant. We both had the bibimbap which came hot in a cast iron bowl which kept the food sizzling as you ate and let you have crunchy rice at the bottom. Portion sizes of the bibimbap could be larger but taste was good.

Food quality was average and the chicken in the hot pot rice (bibimbap) was tough and dry. The portions were small. Some staff were polite and friendly but not the one who took our order.

CASH ONLY - and they DON'T tell you that upfront. OVERPRICED - sides and mains are very similar price TINY PORTIONS - not a good value for money. Absolutely small portions and even smaller starters. RUDE - waitresses are rude and the waiter is a lier.

Great meeting place for family. Food preparation was great. Will use again when in Birmingham again.

Already know that the food is great, but customer service really amazed me. The staff is very supportful and welcoming, even it's our first time or after that.

The food is very delicious and the customer service here is amazing. I recommend trying bibimbap here.

I really enjoyed my visit there, the food was lovely and not too expensive. I would go again. Just note it is cash only though!

Terrible customer service. Been here before with my husband, and honestly the food was great, no problems. But, yesterday my husband and I decided to go back, when we got there, we were asked if we had any food allergies (understandable), told the waiter I was allergic to shellfish, which isn't that big of a deal because there's quite a few options that doesn't contain shellfish, that I actually enjoyed the last time we were there. The waiter then told my husband we need to pay with cash, directed him to one, sat me down, then sent another waiter to hang me the menus, but right when my husband came back, the first waiter approached me, stating that I have to leave because they can't serve me because of my food allergy. 1. I would have completely understood if we hadn't been there before and there wasn't any problem, and 2. There was clearly other dishes that don't contain shellfish. It's the fact that they send my husband out to go get cash, sat me down, handed menus and then kicked us out!! I been to many other Korean restaurants and that has never happened to me before. It so shameful! Worst experience at any restaurants I've been too!

Wonderful as always. Quick meal before the theatre. Great service and delicious bibambop and kimchi jjigae. One of my favourite places.

Great service. Lively, clean, and great tasting food. Looking forward to further exploring the interesting menu here.

Took the missus here for our first taste of Korean food and everything we ordered tasted great. Booked a table last week for today @5:45 (Sat 7th Oct) for a Korean BBQ between a groom and his two best men, only for them to cancel four hours before. Can't contact them as the phone number is incorrect. Livid as I now have to scramble for somewhere else for us to eat. Absolute shame as this would have otherwise been a good way to introduce them to Korean food, and have a fun afternoon in the process.

I love this place, it’s always really delicious and the waitresses are nice. I love the kimchi jigae, cheese tteokbokki and the veg salad is good - but I wish it was bigger. Will be back

We are going to the Hippodrome theatre and picked this restaurant because it looked fresh and inviting. We were concerned about getting to the theatre on time and explained this as we entered. The waitress pointed out which dishes in the menu could be prepared quickly and which could not. The waiter who took our order also confirmed that our choices were suitable so good communication. The menu had photographs which was a boon to someone like me who did not have a lot of experience of the food. Importantly the food itself was very enjoyable.

Really delicious food and great value. Interesting dishes and quick service. Great option for a pre theatre meal.

Service was very slow, we nearly left and I wish we did as the food was bland and the worst bibimbap I have ever had. I had to go and get my own bill eventually as the service was so slow. Plenty of other better choices like Itaewon nearby

Been here before was delicious fresh and super tasty - has it changed hands? Had a ramen that was like a watered down campbells mushroom soup with super starchy noodles and some slices of spring onion - bland and inedible couldn’t finish it. partner had a chicken dish - couldn’t find the chicken but plenty of salt and sugar. Grieved me to pay for it. Not going back.

Food was nice and staff were friendly