The Korean Spoon

Introduction

Nestled in the heart of Sunderland city centre, The Korean Spoon brings authentic Korean cuisine to the area for the first time. Located at 3 Fawcett Street, Sunderland SR1 1SJ, the restaurant occupies a unit next door to its sister venue, Bar Shu Impression, and is described as “Sunderland’s first Korean restaurant”.

The Concept & Ownership

The Korean Spoon is the result of a collaboration between business partners Rachel Meng and Guangcheng Shi, who already operate Bar Shu Impression, and a Korean business partner. According to media coverage, they observed that while Sunderland had a growing population of Korean students and increasing interest in Korean culture, there was no restaurant dedicated exclusively to Korean cuisine in the city. They felt this presented a gap in the market and decided to take it on.

The venue itself has given new life to a space that had previously stood empty for some time (the old “Food Weighhouse” unit) on Fawcett Street, and features fresh décor including hand-drawn murals and playful cartoon characters to reflect a fun, approachable vibe.

Menu Highlights & Food Style

The Korean Spoon offers a wide range of dishes—ranging from Korean street-food classics to hot sizzling plates, bowls, and soups. Below are some of the highlights:

Starters / Korean Bites

• Cheese Corn Dog (classic Korean street-food style)
• Fried Tofu with Kimchi (crisp tofu served with fermented kimchi)
• Kimchi Pancake, Spring Onion Pancake – comfort Korean pancake dishes.

Bowls, Gimbap & Rice Dishes

• Bibimbap: A signature Korean rice bowl, offered with different proteins (meat, seafood, cheese) and spice levels.
• Gimbap: Korean-style sushi rolls with fillings like BBQ chicken, tofu & kimchi, crab stick & avocado.
• Kimchi Fried Rice with Fried Egg on Top.

Noodles, Sizzling Plates & Hot Pots

• Fried noodles: options using udon or flat rice noodles, e.g., kimchi & tofu, mixed veg, chicken.
• Sizzling plates: e.g., cheese dakgalbi, squid & pork belly, Korean pork belly, spicy chicken, hot marinated beef.

Drinks & Extras

While the focus is on the food, the restaurant also mentions plans to introduce Korean-style barbecue (table-cooking) in the future.

Atmosphere & Location

The Korean Spoon occupies a very central location in Sunderland’s city centre, on Fawcett Street. That street is undergoing a bit of revival, with other food and drink openings nearby, showing that the area is evolving.

Inside, the décor appears modern and fun, with visual cues referencing Korean culture (murals, cartoon character art, bright accents) to set the tone. According to one article, the façade and interior have been purposefully designed to feel fresh, lively and inviting.

Why It’s Significant for Sunderland

1. First of its kind: As noted in media coverage, this is the first restaurant in the city centre of Sunderland dedicated entirely to Korean cuisine.
2. Expanding culinary diversity: Sunderland’s food & drink scene is becoming more varied, and the Korean Spoon contributes to that by bringing Korean flavours, styles and street-food culture to the city.
3. Cultural connection: With the increased presence of Asian (including Korean) students in the city, the restaurant provides a familiar comfort spot for them and also introduces local residents to Korean cuisine and culture. The owners explicitly noted they saw a gap in the market.

Practical Information & Takeaway Option

• The address: 3 Fawcett Street, Sunderland, UK.
• They are listed on delivery platforms (e.g., Uber Eats) with takeaway/delivery options; for instance, items like the bibimbap, gimbap, corn dogs are available.
• According to a menu listing, they open for lunch and operate daily (e.g., from about 11:45 for delivery).

Things to Know & Insider Tips

• Spice levels & flexibility: Korean cuisine can pack heat—however the menu explicitly mentions you can tailor your spice level in bowls like bibimbap. Good for both novices and those seeking more heat.
• Street-food starters: If you want to sample something fun, the cheese corn dog and kimchi pancake are recommended starters.
• Vegetarian-friendly options: There are vegetarian marks (🌱) on the menu listing (e.g., classic bibimbap vegetarian option).
• Early evening crowd: Being new and centrally located, it may get busy in the evenings after about 6pm—arriving early for dinner will improve your chances of a quieter table.
• Parking/Access: As it’s in the city centre zone, if you’re driving it may be worth checking nearby car-parks or plan for walking from a public transport stop for ease.

For Bloggers, Foodies & Photographers

Given your interest in walking, outdoor adventures, photography and involving visits to interesting venues, The Korean Spoon could be a fine stop for a food-photography outing. The bright Korean street-food aesthetic offers opportunities—e.g., colourful bowls, sizzling plates, vibrant interiors. If you time it earlier in the day, you might avoid crowds and capture the décor with less disruption.

Final Thoughts

The Korean Spoon is a welcome addition to Sunderland’s culinary landscape, combining the comfort and authenticity of Korean food with accessibility for a UK audience. Whether you’re familiar with Korean cuisine or curious to explore it for the first time, it offers a range of dishes—from the approachable (fried rice, noodles) to the more adventurous (kimchi pancakes, sizzling hot plates). Its central location and fun décor make it well suited for a casual lunch or evening outing.

If you like, I can check the latest menu with full pricing, or recent customer reviews (2025) to get a sense of what people are saying after the opening. Would you like me to do that?