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My first thought when I saw the news of Gosame opening its first outlet in KL was: what makes this place so special? Having never heard of the restaurant before, I was genuinely curious about all the excitement surrounding its arrival. Apparently, I might have been one of the last people in Malaysia to find out about this halal spot from Seoul, known for its charcoal-grilled mackerel, among other things.
Located at The Stories of Taman Tunku in KL (quite the bougie neighbourhood, if you ask me), Muslim-owned Gosame is tucked beside a narrow walkway that leads to the restaurant’s entrance. Like most establishments in the area, it has both indoor and outdoor seating, although neither is particularly spacious. It was raining when we visited, so the outdoor area felt a little stuffy, but thankfully not too warm.
There’s still quite a bit of hype surrounding the restaurant, so expect a queue. You’ll need to scan a QR code to get your name on the waiting list, though we only had to wait around 20 minutes, which wasn’t too bad. Of course, that’s assuming you’re not rushing back to the office after lunch.
What to order at Gosame
Imagine going to the “famous charcoal-grilled mackerel spot from Seoul” then not getting the said mackerel. Talk about not being like other girls. Not me, though!
We went straight for the Grilled Mackerel (RM37), alongside Spicy Squid (RM35), Sundubu Jjigae (RM25) and, naturally, a bowl of Rice (RM5), which came with banchan.
The grilled mackerel was served as a whole fish split into two halves, with the skin grilled until beautifully charred while the flesh underneath remained moist and glistening with oil.
Now, I’m not exactly the biggest fan of fish, especially those with a stronger fishy taste like tuna and mackerel. So I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this as much as I did. It had a hint of the ocean, but nothing too overpowering. The flesh was buttery, juicy and wonderfully flaky, almost melting apart with each bite. A dip in the accompanying tangy sauce made it even better.
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But if you ask me which dish I’d order again, the Spicy Squid would probably be my answer. The squid was tender without being rubbery, while retaining a satisfying bite. What really stood out was the sauce, which tasted quite different from your usual gochujang-based Korean stir-fry.
It was smoky, deeply savoury and reminded me a little of sambal, though not quite Malaysianised. There was also a gentle kick of spice that made it dangerously addictive, especially with rice.
The Sundubu Jjigae was another no-brainer. You can’t really go wrong with a comforting bowl of kimchi stew, especially one that comes with generous portions of soft tofu and eggs. It had a nice touch of heat and paired well with the grilled dishes.
To wash everything down, we had the Yuja Blue Tea (RM12) and Yuja Soda Ade (RM12). Both were refreshing choices for a meal like this, although I found them a little too sweet, particularly towards the bottom of the glass where the yuzu syrup and fruit strips had settled.
Who is Gosame best for?
Families, friends and casual catch-ups, definitely. It could work for a casual date, too, although I wouldn’t put it on my list for a formal dinner date.
How to get there?
Driving is your best bet, as the restaurant isn’t directly connected to public transport. There are paid parking spaces available in the area, though can fill up rather quickly.
Do we recommend Gosame?
How do I put this? The food was genuinely delicious, and I’d say Gosame is worth trying at least once, particularly if you’re curious about its charcoal-grilled mackerel. The Spicy Squid was also a pleasant surprise and easily my favourite of the meal.
Would I go out of my way to have it again? Probably not. At least, not yet. But if you’re already in the neighbourhood or have been curious about what all the fuss is about, I’d say give it a go. At the very least, you can finally see what the hype is about without having to wonder about it anymore.
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