Calong

Calong is a 30-seat Korean bistro at 35 Stoke Newington Church Street, awarded the Michelin Bib Gourmand in 2026 less than a year after opening in February 2025. Led by Chef-Owner Joo Won (with front-of-house run by his wife Sujin Won), it is one of the most exciting restaurant openings in North London in recent years. Joo spent seven years as Head Chef at the Michelin-starred Galvin at Windows, where he maintained the restaurant's star, before launching Calong as a series of acclaimed pop-ups -- at Carousel, Bun House and Three Sheets in Dalston -- before finding this permanent home on Church Street. The Michelin Guide describes it as "a great mix of European cuisine with subtle Korean flavours -- Joo's Fried Chicken has understandably been on the menu since Day One, and dishes like Cornish pollock with mooli jorim pack an invigorating punch." The Michelin Bib Gourmand citation notes that "Calong is quietly exceptional, blending nostalgia, precision, and flavour -- the fried chicken alone is worth a visit." The Islington Gazette reported in March 2026 that in less than a year Calong had already won praise from the Financial Times restaurant critic. LondonTheInside reviewed it on opening as "a seriously good little bistro -- once word gets out it's going to be absolutely rammed." CountryAndTownHouse listed it as a buzzy new arrival in Stoke Newington in March 2026.

The menu is entirely blackboard-based and changes with the seasons, always rooted in the finest seasonal British produce treated with Korean sensibility. Signature dishes include Joo's Fried Chicken (crispy, juicy and deeply moreish), kimchi fritters with chilli mayo, pollock croquettes, Cornish pollock with mooli jorim (Korean-style braised radish), grilled Berkshire pork jeyuk with gem lettuce and ssamjang dipping sauce, asparagus with yuzu and tofu sauce, glass noodles with tropea onion and wild garlic, and the cult baked Alaska for dessert. An excellent list of natural and low-intervention wines from small independent producers completes the picture. Open Wednesday to Saturday for dinner and Friday to Sunday for lunch. Own website: calonglondon.com.