Overlooking Walpole Park and sandwiched between pizza places and Starbucks’ shiny green signage, Park’s Kitchen is a casual Korean spot that we’d visit any midweek lunchtime for a solid solo meal. Grab a window seat downstairs, between pushchairs tucked behind chairs and people making really good lunch decisions, and take mouthfuls of stir-fried kimchi and pork rice, while staring at the K-pop videos that stream endlessly on the TVs. The bibimbap bowls are a hit every time, with oozy eggs and soy-coated beef soaking into the well-seasoned vegetables below. A bowl of kanpoongi (deep-fried chicken in a sweet chilli sauce) for the table is also a good idea, even if the table is just you.

photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch