Koreatown | Melbourne |
Melbourne is lucky to have a selection of killer Korean restaurants at our fingertips.
Prime your tastebuds for coal-fuelled Korean barbecue or bibimbap cooked in a hot stone dish, tables crammed with every banchan imaginable and hot soups to warm your cockles on a chilly evening in the city.
Your guide to Melbourne's unofficial Koreatown*
It may not be as established as Chinatown, but this little pocket of the city is fast making a name for itself. Find your own slice of South Korea along Healeys Lane, the west end of Little Lonsdale Street and part of Spencer Street.
Healeys Lane
Sinjeon: soju and street food
Start your Korean street-food journey at Sinjeon. It's the go-to place for Seoul's number one snack, tteokbokki (pronounced 'doo-bok-kee'). These sweetly spiced rice cakes pack a chilli-powered punch. Try dipping fried fish cakes into the spicy sauce. Or top with a pot of melted cheese. Of course there's much more on the menu at Sinjeon, including kimbap (Korean sushi), fried chicken and bibimbap.
Sukbong: cult-status street toast
Bong Seoul Toast (or Sukbong) is a famous chain with more than 200 stores in Korea. Their one and only Australian store can be found in Healeys Lane. Start simple with egg and cheese, or go OTT with added hash browns and beef bulgogi. Everything on the menu is under $14, and the signature bulgogi toastie will only set you back $8.50.
Sevenstar Pocha: Korean army stew
Ramyun noodles, spicy broth, spam, beans, veggies and more. Don't knock this iconic comfort food until you've tried it. If you're not keen on cheese and luncheon meat, try the pork rib or bulgogi stew. These bubbling hot-pot dishes feature potato noodles, ripened kimchi and juicy grilled meat. Sevenstar is open late Tuesday to Sunday.
Little Lonsdale Street
Kono: hidden coin booth karaoke
Private karaoke rooms and the odd open mic night are pretty well-known in Melbourne. Mini coin-operated singing booths? Not so common. Enter Kono, a hidden gem lined with disco-lit nooks perfect for solo or small group singing. Regulars can be heard singing along to BUZZ ballads in perfect Korean, but there's a bumper book of English tunes to pick from, too.
Paik's Noodle: jjamppong and jajangmyeon
Prolific South Korean chef Jong-won Paik has opened his first Australian outpost of the hugely popular Paik's Noodle franchise. Try flaming 'gochu jajang', a chilli-spiked black bean broth rich with umami flavour. Or slurp up bowls of jjamppong, the iconic seafood noodle bowl you would have seen on countless K-dramas. Bowls start at just $11, and Paik's stays open until late.
Paik's BBQ: world-famous Korean BBQ
Sure you can order menu staples like kimchi stew at Paik's, but then you'd miss out on the star of the show. Superior Korean pork, barbecued over charcoal at the table and served with too many condiments and side dishes to count. This much-celebrated meat-loaded spot is also owned by Seoul's Jong-won.
King Street and Spencer Street
Koconut: Korean skincare
Part of the new West Side Place precinct, Koconut is a hidden gem location selling cult-status beauty brands. Think Banila Co., Innisfree, Laneige and Sulwhasoo. Shop for everything from low-cost sheet masks to super splurgey ginseng packs. The team also stocks cute LINE friends collabs, Nexcare pimple patches and the odd piece of BTS merch.
BBQ King: the best Korean all-you-can-eat
This fresh new all-you-can-eat spot has all the Korean food staples covered. Enjoy unlimited premium meat, hot molten corn cheese, cult-status bo ssam (juicy pork in refreshing lettuce cups) and more. Which includes slightly sweet, perfectly crunchy, mozzarella loaded Korean-style corn dogs. Find BBQ King at 280 King Street, walk-ins only!
Eggholic: gilgeori toast and late-night bingsu
At long last, one of the OG spots for street toast has made its way to the CBD. This little hole-in-the-wall is serving up super stacked, buttery brioche filled with fluffy, cheesy egg. Take it classic with bacon, spicy with kimchi, loaded with crab or filled with fried spam. Next door in the dessert bar, find classic melon bingsu and thick slices of bingsu cake. That's rectangles of shaved ice, loaded with cream and cult-status flavour combos. Try rich tiramisu (with a salty sweet pretzel on top), or order a cookie butter Biscoff slice.
* Source: whatson.melbourne.vic.gov.au
Korean Restaurants in Melbourne
❊ Web Links ❊
➼ Koreatown | Melbourne
➼ Best Korean restaurants: TimeOut
➼ Melbourne CBD Korean Restaurants: AGFG
➼ Best Korean Food in Melbourne: TripAdvisor
➼ Best Korean BBQ Restaurants In Melbourne: theurbanlist.com
❊ Also See... ❊
➼ Korean Restaurants in Melbourne
Disclaimer: Check with the venue (web links) before making plans, travelling or buying tickets.
Accessibility: Contact the venue for accessibility information.
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