Kimchi Hut

185 Coleman Parade, Glen Waverley

As a lover of Korean cuisine, I have visited many different Korean restaurants all over Melbourne, however I always end up at Kimchi Hut when I am in the Glen Waverley area. Their combination of solid Korean style comfort food, cosy environment and friendly staff always keeps me coming back for more!

Kimchi tofu stew 

Seafood japchae

The stews at Kimchi Hut are one of the reasons that I enjoy visiting them so much, as there are few things better than a warm, spicy stew on a cold winter night. Although I wouldn't say that they were the most amazing Korean stews that I have ever tried, I always enjoy them when I visit. If I had to criticize them though, I would say that I would have liked the flavour of the soup to be more intense.

If you are a lover of Korean cuisine, I would definitely recommend giving them a go. While you might find better Korean restaurants here and there in terms of the food served, the overall package that Kimchi Hut presents always has me returning for more.

Food Rating 7.5/10

Overall Rating 8/10

YOMG

67 Kingsway, Glen Waverley

Originally a frozen yogurt store in Mordialloc, YOMG has since expanded to 4 more locations including Mornington, Malvern, Cairns and Glen Waverley. Last year when they expanded to Glen Waverley they also expanded their food menu with a selection of 11 burgers, topped fries, wings and a range of shakes.

Glen Waverley's Kingsway

Clean and bright interior

YOMG

Shang-fry $10.00

The Shang-Fry is in a weird place in terms of size, where it is not quite big enough to be a meal by itself, but is too much when ordered with a burger. However the flavours and and balance of the Shang-fry as a snack is perfect, the only problem being that you have to eat it quickly in order for the chips to not get soggy.

Luau Luau $14.50

When visiting a burger joint I don't usually order chicken burgers as I haven't had great experiences with them, however the Luau Luau sounded almost irresistible and I was also in the mood for something different. The burger itself was lovely, the chicken was nicely cooked and tender while the flavours were enhanced by the saltiness of the bacon and the sweetness of the grilled pineapple. A small problem I found with the burger was that the huge slices of pineapple had some of the core left in it, causing the burger to be a little hard to bite through.

The laid back atmosphere, friendly staff and range of food really make YOMG a great hangout spot. I will definitely be back to try their frozen yogurt and shakes.

Food Rating 8/10

Overall Rating 8/10

The Black Toro

79 Kingsway, Glen Waverley

The Black Toro first opened in July of 2012 where it was spearheaded by Glen Waverley locals Garen Maskal, Aret Arzadian and Sasoon Arzadian and provided Kingsway with an exciting new experience from the diverse cuisine of Latin America. Since then they have opened another restaurant in the heart of Melbourne's CBD which offers a modern approach to Armenian cooking techniques and flavours, which they describe as New Armenian.

We were lucky enough to be invited to share in celebrating their 4th anniversary with their dynamic new Hispanic menu. As I am always dining around Glen Waverley I jumped at the chance to dine at The Black Toro, as I have heard great things about them from many people. 

Glen Waverley's Kingsway

Bar and kitchen area

The Black Toro

Miguel's Angel

Great wine recommendation

Spanner crab tostada / yuzu, smashed avocado & wasabi tobiko

Our entrees started off with the spanner crab tostada with yuzu, smashed avocado and wasabi tobiko. This dish was perfect as a starter to the banquet as it was full of light and refreshing flavours which aided in getting our appetites ready. The wasabi tobiko was a great touch as it provided a counter note to the otherwise light flavours.

Potato, jalapeno & cheddar croquette / whipped goats cheese

Usually when I try croquettes at other restaurants they are one dimensional in flavour, so the prospect of trying croquettes does not particularly excite me. This was not the case for the croquettes at The Black Toro. The wonderfully crisp outer layer was a great contrast of textures with the fluffy potato, just as the potato and cheese proved to be a great contrast for the jalapeno kick, which elevated the dish above any croquette I have tried before.

Coconut kingfish ceviche / young coconut, tomato, cucumber & chilli

The coconut kingfish ceviche was the standout dish of the night. Ceviche is a popular dish in the coastal regions of Latin America. The dish is typically made from raw fish which is cured in citrus juices with different toppings. The coconut kingfish ceviche at The Black Toro chooses to forgo this preparation method and instead uses a broth of young coconut as the base to the dish, which proved to be an amazing change, as the broth imparted a lovely fragrance throughout the entire dish. Aside from the broth, the rest of the elements were very fresh and vibrant in both flavour and colour. The only thing I disagreed with on the dish was the angel hair chilli placed on top of the dish as it did not have any particular flavour profile but instead had a strange texture.

Wagyu beef sliders / shaved iceberg, American cheese, cucumber pickle & TBT special sauce

Although a tasty treat, the wagyu beef sliders did not have as much of an impact as the dishes that were served before it. We felt that although the wagyu beef was well cooked and seasoned, it did not stand out among the other supportive ingredients so it ended up lacking the flavours that a dish should be based upon.

Spicy pulled pork taco / soft corn tortilla, shredded cabbage, onion & sour cream

I absolutely love both pulled pork and soft tacos, so I was very excited for this dish. The pulled pork in the tacos was very tender and the spiciness of the sauce danced on my tongue while the sour cream mellowed out the overall taste of the dish. A memorable way to finish off the entrees as we moved on to the main course.

Crispy pork hock / masterstock braised pork, guajilo chilli caramel, green apple salsa verde & butter lettuce

The main dish of the banquet was the crispy pork hock with guajilo chilli caramel. When the dish arrived at the table it was quite imposing. The large chunk of pork which was served on top of a glistening pool of the guajilo chilli caramel and topped with the apple salsa verde proved to be a quite a feast on its own and the two of us had trouble finishing it. The butter lettuce served with it as an accessory to the meat was very necessary as the pork was a little overwhelming when consumed on its own. 

Dessert tasting plate

After the main course of the banquet we chose to take a break while enjoying our drinks, as we were both ready to burst at the seams. When the dessert arrived though we were instantly ready for more. 

The beautiful arrangement of The Black Toro's dessert menu which lay before us on a board was almost mesmerising. It included a deconstructed peanut butter cheesecake with chocolate ice cream and honeycomb, a passionfruit tart with toasted meringue and berries, a chocolate parfait with hazelnut caramel, salted caramel popcorn and vanilla bean ice cream and finally the arroz con leche which was a coconut rice pudding with saffron spiced pear, cinnamon and walnut. Each of the desserts had their own unique combination of flavours which made them stand out from one another. My favourite dessert of the arrangement would have to be the chocolate parfait as I love the combination of chocolate and hazelnut, however we felt that some of the desserts while just a little too sweet for our tastes.

The entire evening from the moment we entered the door was an absolutely lovely experience. The banquet displayed masterful skill in showcasing a wonderful range of flavours and textures in different dishes, while the service made us feel welcome while imparting knowledge about the different dishes throughout the night. The Black Toro showed us a wonderful dining experience and I would definitely love to visit them again!

We were invited and dined courtesy of The Black Toro.

Food Rating 9/10

Overall Rating 9.5/10

Waya

100 Kingsway, Glen Waverley

Down by the end of Glen Waverley's iconic Kingsway lies a moderately sized Japanese eatery that stays busy throughout the day. With small tables in the front section of the restaurant as well as a seating area with booths in back of the restaurant, Waya can cater for any casual diner to larger groups.

Booth seating area

Mixed sashimi $15.50

The sashimi arrived quickly and was presented well which made me want to dig in quickly, however I quickly noticed that the three scallops in the description of the dish actually turned out to be 3 halves of scallops.

Teriyaki beef bento $14.80

Grilled salmon bento $14.80

Both of the bento boxes we ordered were good value for money. I had the teriyaki beef while my friends ordered the grilled salmon bento. The bento boxes also included a grilled chicken skewer, two pieces of sushi, two pieces of egg omelet, a serving of green salad, a serving of seaweed salad and a generous amount of rice.

Red bean taiyaki

Although we dined at Waya on a busy night, they were very accommodating and quickly found a booth for us, food also came out very quickly and the staff were very efficient. If we had to fault something for the night, it would have been that we found most of the meat was quite salty and that the sashimi servings seemed smaller than I expected. Other than that point though, Waya is a great place in Glen Waverley for a quick and cheap Japanese meal.

 Food Rating 7/10

Overall Rating 7.5/10

Bon Chicken & Beer

91 Kingsway, Glen Waverley

Continuing on the journey to fulfill my Korean cravings, I ended coming to Bon Chicken & Beer with a large group of people. A new chicken and beer restaurant to add to the variety in Glen Waverley, Bon Chicken & Beer is situated further down on Kingsway across the road from Century City.

Outdoor Seating

We arrived with a large group which I was worried wouldn't be able to get a seat on the busy weekday night, however the staff were accommodating and quickly put together some of the outdoor tables for us.

Pickled radish and coleslaw sides

Original fried chicken

Sweet chilli fried chicken

Garlic soy fried chicken

It can be hard for restaurants which serve whole fried chicken on their menu, the cooking times of the different sized pieces of chicken can mean some of the chicken comes out well cooked where as some other pieces may be slightly overcooked. While the way some of the chicken was a little overcooked was no different for this restaurant, the crispy outer coating and the paired with the variety of flavours they offer was quite satisfying, if I had to choose a favourite it would definitely be the garlic soy. 

Deep fried chicken gizzard

Definitely one of my favourite dishes when I visit a Korean fried chicken restaurant, the crispy batter and the texture of the gizzard are a great combination.

Seafood pancake

Kimchi pancake

Out of both the pancakes I definitely preferred the kimchi pancake over the seafood pancake. The seafood pancake did not have as much seafood as I would have liked and was a bit bland, however the kimchi pancake was very nice as it had a lot of kimchi but instead of getting soggy as it normally does at other places, it stayed nice and crispy.

Tteokbokki

Tteokbokki is one of the most well known types of Korean street food as well as one of my absolute favourite overall Korean dishes. Made with rice cakes, fish cakes and various types of vegetables cooked in a spicy red pepper sauce, the Tteokbokki boasts a hefty amount of heat with a little sweetness to it. This particular dish is a good example of a basic, but solid Tteokbokki which left me warm on a cold night.

As a new restaurant and a newcomer onto the scene, Bon Chicken & Beer has to compete with not only the diverse restaurant scene of Glen Waverley but also other fried chicken restaurants of which there are no shortage. With good service and a solid amount of dishes on offer Bon Chicken & Beer is a restaurant that I would definitely love to visit again.

Food Rating 7.5/10

Overall Rating 7.5/10

BBQ Code

249 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley

Lately I have been going through a Korean phase, having visited many Korean restaurants in the past week or two. This time I had my sight sets on the Korean BBQ of BBQ code which is a newer restaurant and one of the only Korean BBQ restaurants in Glen Waverley.

 Tucked away in a corner

 Relatively empty weekday night

When we arrived it was already quite late and the restaurant was almost empty which surprised me as it was usually quite busy when I walk past.

 Side dishes

Even more side dishes

I really enjoyed the variety of side dishes they offered, service was also very attentive as the meat on the grill was always attended to and our side dishes were kept topped up as we finished them off.

 Seafood pancake $18.00

Whenever I go to a Korean restaurant I always try to order at least one of my two favourite Korean dishes, the pancake or the tteokbokki. I went for the pancake this time and really enjoyed the crispy texture. The unusual addition of fresh chilli added a nice flavour, especially for a spice lover such as myself. However as it is a seafood pancake, I found it to be a bit lacking in that department as there was not as much seafood as I was hoping there would be.

 Beef set $88.00 

The beef set consisted of ox tongue, a steak and marinated ribs as well as a kimchi soup and japchae. While the meat was pretty standard for Korean BBQ there was quite a lot of it and it was cooked well as the staff were very attentive. The kimchi soup that came with the set had a good amount of spice to it which I enjoyed. The japchae was also cooked nicely and had some good flavours.

 Kimchi soup

 Japchae

Before we dined at BBQ Code I was a bit skeptical since there were mixed reviews for the restaurant, however we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and as well as having good service, it was also quite good value for money, I would definitely like to come here again when I am around Glen Waverley.

Food Rating 7.5/10

Overall Rating 8.5/10

Paradise Road

171 Coleman Parade, Glen Waverley

Choosing to stay closer to the eastern suburbs rather than heading into the city for dinner, we ended up choosing Glen Waverly as our destination. After walking around and checking out a number of restaurants, the strong aroma of Thai cuisine drew us to Paradise Road.

Outdoor seating

Green milk tea

Tasmanian oysters with chilli nahm jim $3.00 ea

Being a sucker for oysters, I had to order at least a couple of them to try out the dressing. The chilli nahm jim wasn't overly hot and had a nice saltiness and tang to it.

Thai fish cakes $9.00

Nam tok "Waterfall" $20.90

The Nam Tok is a marinated and char-grilled porterhouse steak with a Thai style dressing on the side. The meat had a good flavour to it and was very tender, however instead of lending to the char-grill flavour, the grill marks added a heavy bitter taste, almost like the grill wasn't cleaned very well.

Massaman curry $19.80

The Massaman curry is a curry of slow cooked lamb with a strong coconut and pineapple flavour. We ordered the curry with a side of coconut rice, the combination of the slow cooked lamb which basically fell apart in my mouth alongside the fragrant coconut rice and the light spices of the curry were a great combination.

Seafood Pad kra prao $21.90

Although the flavours of the stir fry worked well with the chilli and thai basil, the dish was let down by some of the elements being overcooked.

While Paradise Road is a great option for Thai food in the eastern suburbs, the friendly yet inexperienced staff as well as some inconsistency in the food let it down slightly. Definitely a solid choice, but if able to travel further out, I would definitely head towards the more proven and popular Thai restaurants closer to inner Melbourne.

Food Rating 7/10

Overall Rating 6.5/10