Melbourne's Best Korean Restaurants
There is no doubt that Korean cuisine is taking the country by storm! Korean food has been growing in popularity around the world in recent years. Korean cuisine is presently emerging as a new Asian taste in the global culinary scene, fueled by the expanding popularity of Korean media contents such as K-pop, films, and dramas, as well as years of work by food firms. Melbourne has not been spared by this booming trend and we are not complaining about it! We are thankful for the increasing number of Korean popping up in Melbourne’s neighbourhood; here’s a round up of the finest Korean restaurants in the metro!
Top 10 Must-Try Korean Restaurants in Melbourne
Mr. Lee's Foods
Located in the Eastern suburbs of Ringwood, Mr. Lee’s Foods definitely cooks up a storm. Unlike other Korean restaurants, this mom and pop joint only serves three main dishes: Soondae or Korean pork blood sausages, Suyuk or steamed pork belly, and Dwaeji Gukbap, hearty stew of pork and rice. Nonetheless, this place has received impressive reviews and recognitions such as the Best Cheap Eat Award in Melbourne. If you are looking for authentic Korean comfort food, this is the place to go to!
Address: 5 Old Lilydale Road Ringwood East Melbourne 3135
Contact: +61 3 9879 2261
Opening Hours: Tue-Sat 11am-2pm; 5pm-9pm Sun 5pm-9pm
Suga
Suga Korean Restaurant is popular for its Korean Army Stew and its Japchae or Korean glass noodles. You can taste a little bit of each because their extensive menu includes everything from Korean side dishes like Corn cheese, streetfoods like Ddeokbokki, to meat dishes like Jokbal or boiled pork hocks, and hearty stews like the Gamjatang or Pork bone stew. Their prices are also not too steep so you get good value for your money.
Address: 269 Huntingdale Rd, Chadstone VIC 3148
Contact: +61 3 9888 1001
Opening Hours: Wed- Sat 5pm – 9pm
Joomak
Experience an authentic Korean-style pub when you dine at Joomak. This hole-in-the-wall pub has gained a quite a following among the young Melbourne population even without a signage in sight! Enjoy vibrant atmosphere, yummy Korean food and side dishes, and taste the different traditional alcoholic drinks of Korea. Leave a photo on their photo wall as a remembrance!
Address: Basement, 407/409 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: +61 3 9663 7123
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs 5pm- 12am, Fri-Sat 5pm- 2am
Gami Chicken & Beer
What better way to cap a tiring day but with Korean fried chicken and beer? Korean Fried Chicken gives new meaning to KFC as it gains more popularity among Australians. The combination of chicken and beer, also called Chimaek, is very much loved in South Korea. Gami Chicken and Beer brings Korean fried chicken game to Melbourne! Savour their signature fried whole chicken that comes with a choice of 1 or 2 different flaviours for each order. For those who don’t like bones, there is a boneless chicken option and deli chicken burgers cooked to your liking. Of course, chimaek is not complete without beer! Order a keg of beer to split-up with your friends! Delivery is also available through their website and app.
Address: Shop G, 535 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Address: 100 Little Lonsdale Street & basement, 26 King Street, Melbourne.
Contact: +61 3 9671 3232
Opening Hours: Sun-Mon 5pm-1030pm
Hansang
Hansang means ‘full table of food’ in the Korean language. Hansang Korean Restaurant brings exactly that, a table filled with lovingly prepared Korean dishes. It started out as a small Korean food joint catering to Korean University students who were looking for a taste of home but thanks to social media, it has now bloomed into a full-blown legit hot spot for Korean food lovers in Melbourne. Hansang boasts of its numerous side dishes served with every order of main dishes like braised pork belly, grilled fish, and army stew. You can also order a set meal )which comes with dessert!) to get more value for the buck!
Address: 347-349 King St Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: +61 3 995 0867
Opening Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-11pm
Seoul Soul Plus
Another gem of a restaurant is found in Seoul Soul Plus Northcote. They are highly known for their stone-pot bibimbap, rice placed in a sizzling stone-pot filled with vegetables, meat, and topped with a runny fried egg and some chili sauce. If it’s your first time, the friendly waitstaff are happy to teach and assist you in how you should properly eat your meals. One of the best things about Seoul Soul Plus is that they serve a unique corn tea that is very common in Korean households.
Address: 315 High St Northcote Melbourne 3070
Contact: +61 3 9481 3027
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs 530pm-830pm, Fri-Sat 530pm-9pm
Janchi Korean Feast
Professionally trained chef and owner Steven Ryu began his humble journey in New York where he earned his culinary degree from the Culinary Institute of America, trained in MASA, a Michelin three-star restaurant, and at Momofuku Ssam. His counterpart, SJ Min, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Adelaide and worked at Gordan Ramsay’s restaurant, Maze, partnered with Ryu to create a modern, trendy, and unique Korean dining experience. They offer fusion Asian-Korean fares on their menu that will surely tickle anyone’s palate! If you can’t decide on a dish, you can tell the staff ‘Feed Me’ and they will choose dishes that will satisfy you.
Address: 362 Bridge Rd Richmond Melbourne 3121
Contact: +61 4 9011 8144
Opening Hours: Wed 4:30pm-9:30pm; Thu 11:30am-3pm, 4:30pm-9:30pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-3pm, 4:30pm-10pm; Sun 11:30am-3pm, 4:30pm-9:30pm
Oppa Korean Kitchen
Be still, my Korean drama Oppa loving heart! Oppa Korean Kitchen offers Korean comfort food that you have seen a lot in Korean dramas and TV shows. Take a bite out of their Dosirak sets or Korean lunchbox sets where you have a choice among different kinds of bulgogi and grilled pork paired with some rice and veggies. If you are a curry lover, you can indulge in their Korean curry dishes that offer several meat choices like chicken, pork, and tofu for vegetarians. They also have Gukbap or rice and soup dishes, stews, and the world-famous Korean fried chicken.
Address: 271 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia
Contact: +61 4 5177 1427
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs 12nn-9pm, Fri-Sat 12nn-10pm
ChangGo
Feast on smokey and super flavourful Korean BBQ fares at ChangGo! People keep coming back for their Palsaik Set, which is pork belly served in eight different ways. It is a great way to have lunch or dinner with your friends because of the nice vibes and very casual setting. They also offer classic Korean dishes at very affordable prices!
Address: 70 Little La Trobe St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: +61 433 379 100
Opening Hours: Mon-Thurs 430pm-11pm, Fri-Sat 430pm-12am
Dooboo Korean Tofu House
Eat healthy for a change here at Dooboo Korean Tofu House! A favourite among Melburnians and Korean immigrants, they specialise in Korean tofu dishes just like their best-selling Soodubujjigae or Soft tofu stew. You can choose from different levels of spiciness. They also have options for vegetarians like the Vegetable soft tofu stew. Their entire menu is available for takeaway or delivery.
Address: 261 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: +61 4 067 12475
Opening Hours: Sun-Thurs 12nn-9pm, Fri-Sat 12nn-10pm
Travel Korea Without Leaving Melbourne Through Food
With the ongoing pandemic placing our travel plans on an indefinite pause, there is no better way to travel Korea than by visiting Melbourne’s best Korean restaurants! You’ll be sure to get a fiull belly and a huge smile after.