Oh My Kimchi (OMK) Korean Restaurant in Exeter

If you’ve been searching for bold, comforting and deeply satisfying Korean food in Exeter, look no further than Oh My Kimchi. This restaurant brings the fiery, savoury and umami-rich flavours of Korea right to the southwest, offering a beautifully balanced mix of street food favourites, home-style dishes and bubbling soups that feel like a hug in a bowl.

Opened recently, Oh My Kimchi has quickly become a firm favourite for locals and visitors alike. From its thoughtful menu to its warm, family-friendly atmosphere, every element here feels personal and every dish speaks of care, quality and a genuine love for Korean cooking.

Korean Comfort with a Devon Welcome

As its name suggests, Oh My Kimchi doesn’t hold back when it comes to showcasing Korea’s most iconic ingredient. But beyond the kimchi lies a menu full of exciting flavours, from sweet-and-spicy sauces to slow-marinated meats, crunchy dumplings, and slurp-worthy noodles. New to Korean food or a longtime lover, this restaurant makes it easy to fall in love with the cuisine all over again.

Casual, Welcoming and Family-Friendly

Oh My Kimchi is laid-back and inviting, with a clean and cosy interior that’s perfect for both casual catch-ups and family meals. It is also very popular among students given that Exeter is also a university town. There’s a minimalist charm to the space—simple decor, warm lighting, and thoughtful Korean details that don’t overwhelm. It’s the kind of place where you instantly feel relaxed, where the staff greet you like old friends and where the food becomes the centrepiece of the experience.

The vibe is upbeat without being loud, and even on busier evenings, the atmosphere remains calm and welcoming. It’s family-friendly too, with kids happily tucking into fried chicken and rice while adults explore the deeper, spicier notes of the menu.

Service: Friendly, Attentive and Warm

The staff at Oh My Kimchi are wonderful, genuinely warm and always ready with a smile. Needing help with the menu, ordering extras, or just chatting about the dishes, the service is personal and prompt. On our visit, our server made sure everything came out hot and on time, happily explained ingredients, and checked in with us just the right amount. It’s clear the team here cares deeply about the food and the customer experience.

What We Ordered: A Flavour-Filled Feast

We wanted to get a real sense of the menu, so we ordered a spread of both classics and lesser-known dishes. Here’s what we tried—and loved:

Gochujang-jjigae Soup

This robust, spicy Korean stew was absolutely packed with flavour. With chunks of pork, soft potatoes, and courgette simmered in a rich gochujang (red chilli paste) broth, it was the perfect comfort food on a cold day—deeply savoury, spicy but balanced, and full of satisfying textures. This came with a bowl of steamed rice topped with black sesame seeds.

Korean Fried Chicken (KoFC)

Crispy, juicy, and double-fried to perfection, the KoFC wings came coated in a gluten-free batter that stayed wonderfully crunchy even as we devoured them. We opted for Level 1 heat, which gave a gentle kick without overpowering the flavour. The sauces available offer a great range of heat and sweetness, and next time we’ll definitely be braver!

Mandu (Fried Dumplings)

Crisp on the outside and soft within, these Korean dumplings were served with a light soy dipping sauce and quickly disappeared from the plate. A perfect starter or side dish—comforting and addictive. As you can see below, our camera barely captured the first fried dumpling just after it went into the dipping sauce and a large bite take off it.

Pork Jeyuk Bokkeum

This dish might be our new favourite. Tender slices of free-range pork were marinated in a bold ginger and gochujang sauce, then stir-fried to perfection and served over steaming rice. It was rich, smoky, and packed with spicy, umami depth. If you’re a fan of Korean BBQ flavours, this is one to try.

Japchae with Beef

A lighter contrast to the other dishes, Japchae is a stir-fried noodle dish made with sweet potato starch noodles, spring onion, shredded carrots, and spinach. The beef was tender and flavourful, and the noodles had that signature glossy chew. Delicate, slightly sweet, and beautifully balanced.

A Small Side of Kimchi

We also ordered a small side of Kimchi, why didn’t we as the name of the shop suggested “Oh My Kimchi” but alas it was really small and came in a small plastic sauce pot which was a little disappointing.

Value: Fair Prices but Portions Are On The Small Side

For the quality and freshness of ingredients, Oh My Kimchi is incredibly well-priced. Portions though tells a different story. They are too small for what we are used to. The food is clearly made to order—hot, fresh, and full of flavour. But the small portion meant, you can’t really share a few dishes between friends or family which is what we tend to do to make sure we get a taste of everything. It’s not fast food, but it’s fast enough, and every dish feels like it was made with care.

Why You Should Visit

Oh My Kimchi is easily one of Exeter’s best new food spots. The menu is exciting yet approachable, the ingredients are top-notch, and the flavours are bold, honest, and deeply satisfying. Stop by for a quick lunch or plan a full Korean dinner experience here and you won’t be disappointed. We especially loved the attention to detail—from the balanced spice levels to the welcoming service—and the commitment to authenticity without pretension. It’s Korean food at its best: heartwarming, homemade, and just a little bit addictive.

Oh My Kimchi is the kind of place you tell your friends about, the spot you go back to again and again, and the one you secretly wish would open just a little closer to home. If you’re in Exeter and you love Korean food or are curious to try it for the first time this is a must-visit.