Sollip’s Michelin-starred chef launches Korean fried chicken counter Papa Dak in Southwark

Woongchul Park, the chef-owner of Sollip in London Bridge, has opened a Korean fried chicken concept called Papa Dak at Flat Iron Square, developed in partnership with the buzzing food and drink venue. The team are now offering double-fried chicken finished in Korean-style glazes at prices considerably below those of the chef’s fine dining operation.

Papa Dak is a new way of working for Park, whose established restaurant holds a Michelin star. The new venture draws on his Korean heritage and is built around a compact menu of sharing plates and quick dishes, rather than the high-end tasting-menu format for which he is known. The selection centres on two fried chicken dishes, both topped with rice crisps: Korean Red, priced at £12, follows the yangnyeom style, with a sticky sweet and spicy glaze; and Guinness Black, at £13, is coated in a savoury glaze made with Guinness, a reference to the stout’s popularity in the capital. Other options include So-Tok So-Tok skewers at £5, which combine grilled smoked sausages with Korean rice cakes, and for sides there’s a Kole-Slaw made with carrot, aekjeot fish sauce, Korean chilli and sesame, and Pickled Kohlrabi with garlic and ginger. A sharing option called The Korean Feast, priced at £36, serves four people and includes both chicken dishes, the skewers and both sides.

The eatery is run by Park alongside his wife and business partner, Bomee. The name combines “Papa” – as in father – with “dak”, the Korean word for chicken, and the crowned chicken in the brand’s logo was drawn by the couple’s children. Commenting on the opening, Woongchul Park said: “The menu at Papa Dak is all about big flavour in every bite – saucy, delicious and exactly what one wants when those indulgent cravings hit.”

Multi-operator food and drink venue Flat Iron Square in Borough houses a number of independent traders and street food vendors under the railway arches, and Papa Dak joins the line-up. The counter operates from 4pm to 10pm on Mondays, from midday to 11pm on Tuesdays, from midday to midnight from Wednesday to Saturday, and from midday to 8pm on Sundays. Tables can be booked in advance.

Food Desk

Papa Dak is now open at Flat Iron Square, 45 Southwark Street, London SE1 9HP. For further information or to book a table, visit here.