Food Whisperer: Seoul Kitchen in Westford offers superb dumplings and more

When you think of homemade dumplings, what reaction does it evoke? Does your stomach start to rumble? Do you immediately go find your stretchy pants that are usually reserved for holiday feasts? If so, Seoul Kitchen in Westford has you covered—and not just with dumplings.

Located at 142 Littleton Road in Westford, Seoul Kitchen is a Korean fusion place that has something for everyone. You’ll find many traditional favorites on the menu, such as bibimbop, bulgogi, and japchae. They take it to the next level by adding a twist to some of those traditional dishes. We’re talking about items like ribeye-kimchi fries or the Korean tacos, flour tortillas filled with your choice of barbecued ribeye, soy-marinated chicken, or spicy pork topped with an Asian slaw and Korean chili aioli. If you’re more of a seafood lover, there’s tiger wok shrimp, Korean seafood stew, sushi, and more.

The menu is extensive, but not overwhelming, which always helps with my ordering indecisiveness. Overall the pricing is reasonable, given the quality of the food and the portion sizes. It’s no secret that it is expensive to eat out these days, and I really do appreciate that Seoul Kitchen has dishes at various prices. Entrees range anywhere from $17 to $27, not including the sushi.

Let’s talk about the sushi for a second. I need to preface this by saying I’m somewhat of a sushi dork. I was introduced to it at a young age by my father, who traveled to Asia multiple times a year for almost a decade. And I also fish, so I think it’s fair to say I have high standards. I’ve tried the sushi twice at Seoul Kitchen, and each time I’ve walked away saying it was just OK. I wouldn’t discourage you from ordering it, but I think it’s overpriced for what it is. But that’s for you to decide on your own.

Delightful dumplings

Thought I forgot about the dumplings? Oh, no, no, just saving the best for last. There’s something about a simple dumpling that can bring so much joy when done right. Seoul Kitchen does a classic pork and vegetable filling, pan-fried to a golden brown on each side and served with a sweet and tangy dipping sauce. I’m not proud of this, but with eight dumplings to an order, I have done a triple order and made it my meal—don’t judge me. So what makes these dumplings so good? Word on the street is the owner’s mother is in the kitchen making these every day, which explains a heck of a lot.

The restaurant itself is a warm and vibrant setting, with a lively dining room that has both booths and tables, along with seating at the sushi bar if that’s more your scene. They also have a small patio area to dine al fresco, adjacent to the parking lot. If I’m dining in, you can find me in the bar area located off the dining room. The oblong bar seats around 30 guests, with multiple TVs suspended above the respectable lineup of craft beers on tap. One of the reasons I love sitting at the bar at any restaurant, and I would encourage you to do the same, is the insider information to be gained from your friendly bartender (this is where I learned that mom is still slingin’ dumplings out of the kitchen). Any good bartender will be happy to explain their cocktail program, favorite dishes on the menu, any fun facts from the kitchen, or just what’s happening around the neighborhood.

Speaking of the bar, Seoul Kitchen offers a solid selection of craft beers, wine, sake, creative cocktails, and my favorite, the tiki lineup, which includes favorites like mai tais, painkillers, scorpion bowls, and Singapore slings.

My standard order always includes an order of the pan-fried dumplings and crab Rangoon (did I mention these are also made in-house?), along with one or two entrees depending on how hungry I am. My last order was the spicy pork bulgogi, and my wife went with her old faithful, the bibimbap with white rice and beef. The bulgogi was succulent, with just a hint of chili in each bite that leaves you with a pleasant mouth burn by the end. Nothing extreme, but enough to know you had some spice in your life. My only wish is that more zucchini and carrots came with the pork for a more balanced dish.

I highly recommend you swing by Seoul Kitchen, especially if you’re looking for something new. If you take away nothing else from this column, I’ll leave you with this: Life is short—have a mai tai, eat some dumplings, and be happy.

Greg Schneider is a dedicated home cook, former bartender, and a devoted patron of local restaurants. He currently blogs about local breweries at The Hotter Upper.