Pocha Bristol — Restaurant in Bristol

Pocha delivers on the food but could do with a bit of a facelift - a bit of TLC would help turn this place in to a great spot!

When dining at Pocha the first thing I noticed was how, if it were not for the generally good reviews, I would not be too struck to enter it off the street. Although once you enter the decor is lovely and feels very unique and complementary to the food it is serving you, the outside doesn't necessarily appeal. Still, far more important than this is the actual quality of the food and the service. In this way, Pocha was a home run. I shared 4 small plates and taste tested each of them. There were certainly highlights, particularly the korean fried chicken, but they were all great and hit the spot. Though, there could definitely be room to perfect. The service was fantastic, our waiter and the chef were both extremely quick and made for a pleasant experience. But the restaurant itself was not as busy as it should have been given its qualities - this was a shame. I hope Pocha can succeed and grow in Bristol as it has some serious quality. All in all, a very fun spot to eat at, and definitely worth a try if you have reservations about how it appears from outside. The food was good and well priced, and I would...

🍗 Korean Fried Chicken Went for the Soy Garlic Honey flavor — perfectly sweet and savory, super addictive! The coating was extra crispy while the chicken stayed tender and juicy. Could’ve gave a bit more sauce, but the crushed peanuts added a nice crunch and nutty aroma that made each bite more layered 🤤 🔥 Tteokbokki The sauce had a slight kick without being overpowering. The rice cakes were chewy, and the fish cakes came in generous portions! 🥘 Kimchi Jjigae Loved the balance of fatty and lean pork — so tender! The broth was packed with bold kimchi flavor, slightly spicy but very comforting and warming. Plus, it came loaded with enoki mushrooms, tofu, and more — such a hearty, satisfying pot ✨ 🦐 Garlic Prawns Grilled perfectly — the prawns were firm, juicy, and naturally sweet. The sauce of butter and garlic gave it a rich aroma, while the sweet chili added just the right touch of heat and sweetness to cut through the richness 🧈 🥬 Kimchi £4 A classic Korean side — tangy, spicy, and just right. 🍇 Bonbon £3.2 Finished off with this drink — light on sweetness, with grape jelly inside for a fun,...

My friends and I always strive to support independent businesses and was looking forward to dining at this restaurant. Unfortunately, our experience was quite disappointing. While the food itself was underwhelming, the main issue arose from an incident where food was accidentally dropped on my coat by our waitress.

Attempts to address the matter with the manager at the time were unsuccessful. I later emailed the owner hoping for a resolution, but the response was disheartening. Instead of a constructive dialogue, I was met with an unprofessional reply, declining to cover the dry cleaning cost and suggesting that we owed the restaurant additional payment for our reservation made through First Table, despite us meeting the stated terms.

This situation could have been easily resolved with a gesture of goodwill, but it instead highlighted a concerning lack of customer care. While this incident won’t impact the restaurant's success, it has left us with a negative impression. Regrettably, we won't be returning and cannot recommend the establishment in...