Bringing the warm flavours of Korea to Kuwait City’s dining scene.
In a city brimming with global flavours, it’s rare to stumble upon a place that feels both truly unexpected and deeply personal. Tucked away in Kuwait City’s Mirqab district, Cilantro isn’t just another trendy eatery—it’s a bold, heartfelt tribute to Korean comfort food, created by a local with a dream. From bubbling broths to fiery kimchi, every dish carries a story, a spice, and a surprising sense of home. Join us as we uncover the charm, flavour, and quiet passion behind one of Kuwait’s most intriguing culinary finds—you may just discover your next food obsession.
Kuwait City’s dining scene, known for its fusion of Arabic and global influences, rarely surprises with authenticity and intimacy quite like Cilantro. Tucked behind the bustling Assima Mall in the quietly evolving Mirqab district, this cosy Korean restaurant offers something rare: a deep and personal interpretation of Seoul street food, curated with heart and precision by Kuwaiti founder Sarah Al-Kharsan. It was on a sunny Saturday this May that three of us from CP Magazine visited Cilantro for lunch, and we left wholly impressed by the soulful food and welcoming atmosphere that lingered long after we exited the restaurant’s understated glass door.
Cilantro is modest in size but big in character. Its interiors blend industrial minimalism with playful nods to Korean pop culture. Wooden panels, warm lighting, and pops of Hangul neon invite you into a space that feels both modern and handmade. There’s a sense of intimacy that mirrors the menu: concise, focused, and deliberately curated. Sarah, a former engineer who left her career to pursue her passion for Korean cuisine, can sometimes be seen emerging from the open kitchen to greet guests or inspect plates before they leave the pass. Her attention to detail is evident not just in the food, but in the way diners are made to feel like guests in her personal culinary narrative.
We began with a selection of appetisers, each one a revelation of flavour. The Spicy Cucumber was a chilled bowl of sliced cucumbers, pickled lightly and tossed in a fiery vinaigrette. Each bite snapped with freshness, balanced by the warmth of sesame oil and a subtle kick of chili. Alongside, the Korean Salad offered a crisp contrast—a medley of mesclun greens, sweet onions, and toasted sesame seeds dressed in a sweet-and-sour vinaigrette tinged with gochujang. It was light, vibrant, and quietly complex.
The Mandu Dumplings, served hot and perfectly pan-fried, came with a soy-ginger dipping sauce. Their hand-folded skins held a savoury pork and cabbage filling that burst with umami. What struck us most was the freshness—these were clearly made from scratch, with no shortcuts taken. There was care in every fold, every sizzle on the pan.
For mains, we shared several of Cilantro’s best-known dishes. The Kimchi Hot Noodles, served in a rich crimson broth, came laden with thick udon, tender chicken pieces, and ribbons of fermented cabbage. The broth, both tangy and spicy, had a complexity that only time and fermentation can offer. Its flavours unfolded with each bite—first heat, then sourness, then a deep savoury note that lingered warmly.
The Ramen, meanwhile, arrived as a deep bowl of soy-miso broth laced with beef fat, crowned with soft-boiled egg, nori, and slices of marinated beef. The noodles held their bite perfectly, and the broth was a lesson in restraint and richness. Equally memorable was the Spicy Beef Ricecake dish—a sizzling stir-fry of chewy tteok, tender beef, and scallions in a ssamjang-based sauce. It was bold and addictive, sweet and spicy in equal measure, with the rice cakes offering a satisfying chew that anchored the dish.
Another standout was the Seoul KFC—Korean Fried Chicken, golden and perfectly crisp, with a sticky, spicy glaze that clung to each piece. It was everything Korean fried chicken should be: crunchy, juicy, and coated in a sweet-hot sauce that made it impossible to stop at one bite. The exterior crackled with each mouthful, while the interior remained tender and flavourful. It added a playful street-food charm to the overall meal, reminiscent of a night out in a Seoul night market.
Throughout, we sipped on chilled ginger ale, its crispness an ideal match for the robust flavours of the food. The carbonation and gentle spice worked like a palate cleanser between the richer bites, and we appreciated the simplicity of the pairing.
To finish, we sampled both dessert options. The Cilantro Cheesecake, while modest in size, delivered a dense, tangy slice accompanied by a swirl of raspberry coulis. It leaned more towards the baked, slightly firm variety rather than the creamy New York style, but the flavour balance was spot-on. More refreshing was the Green Tea Ice Cream served with mochi—the ice cream earthy and smooth, the mochi sweet and chewy. It was a quiet, refined ending to a boldly flavoured meal.
What stood out most about Cilantro was its sense of purpose. This isn’t a themed restaurant jumping on a culinary trend—it’s a deeply personal venture. Sarah’s passion radiates through her food, and her story adds texture to the dining experience. She once admitted to local press that she feared no one would show up when she first opened. That fear was unfounded. Today, Cilantro draws a diverse crowd: locals eager to explore, expats seeking a taste of home, and curious food lovers like us, looking for something honest and memorable.
Prices are fair considering the quality and care—most dishes fall between 3 to 5 KD, with generous portions meant for sharing. Cilantro is not just a restaurant; it’s a celebration of culinary dreams realised with grace and grit. For those craving authentic Korean comfort food in Kuwait, it’s an experience not to be missed. We left full and happy, already planning our next visit.
