Cultures collide at a new Korean street food restaurant that recently opened on Division Street in Sheffield. OMOMO opened January this year, offering customers tapas and sharing bowls of Korean style street food but with a British twist.
Striving to provide good times and good food, their demographic is as wide as can be – from a family looking for lunch to a lively group of friends ready for a drink or two. It’s all about accessibility. Most of their dishes can be substituted for a vegan option, their chicken is halal and they offer food varying from insanely spicy to not at all.
Owner of OMOMO, Lesley So, described the vibe of her restaurant: “OMOMO is actually Korean slang for oh my gosh, so we wanted the food to reflect that dynamic, that personality, that when you have it, it’s like a pop of excitement”.
Two years ago, she took a leap of faith and opened her first location in Derby, despite having little to no hospitality experience. Since then, they’ve come a long way while staying true to their original vision.
“I felt like there was a gap for accessible but delicious and still authentic Korean street food.
“We want it to be something that everyone can enjoy. Even people who have never had Asian food before can enjoy it.”
Now in Sheffield, Lesley decided the city was the perfect place for a second location. The city’s vibrant atmosphere is exactly what OMOMO wants to reflect – fun, new and exciting. She’s already made changes to the menu and encourages customers to give honest feedback as she builds an OMOMO that’s undeniably Sheffield. Customers should particularly keep an eye out for the restaurant’s summer menu when they need to cool down with shaved ice beer and desserts.
To experience all the restaurant has to offer, OMOMO’s food is best shared. Customers are recommended to buy two to three tapas style dishes per person and there are also large portions of stew for two. The tapas are priced at £6.95 each or there is the option for a sharing platter priced at £16.50. Some signature dishes include boneless fried chicken that comes with four flavours: honey soy, garlic honey butter, garlic mayo, and sweet and spicy. They also have kimchi pancakes, a savoury dish with a crispy edge but soft middle. If you’re dining alone, you can go grab a bowl of bibimbap for £10 as a lunch special.
One of their most interesting dishes with a story is the army stew, a traditional meal created during the Korean War. It was made from U.S. army rations, including rice cakes, luncheon meat, vegetables and baked beans, all infused with Korean ingredients to create a spicy stew that cooks in front of you.
For drinks there’s ice cream floats with a cute design, bubble tea options and even a chugging challenge. If you’re looking to test your drinking skills, OMOMO offer a soju bomb. Once the bomb drops, you have to down it before it overflows!
If you’re tempted to try this innovative spin on Korean street food, you can find OMOMO at 67 Division Street or follow them on socials here.
