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

Yami Yami

1D Bank Street, Box Hill

Although Yami Yami has 3 restaurants throughout Melbourne, I have only ever visited their Box Hill location. They mainly serve a large variety of Korean comfort foods, which makes it a great place to visit if you aren't quite sure what you want to eat. But as they are a Korean/Japanese restaurant, if you look closely at their menu you will notice that they also serve some Japanese favourites, such as takoyaki and karaage.

Bulnak jeongol

There really is nothing better than a spicy Korean stew to warm yourself up during the cold winter days. While I usually go for the budae jjigae, or Korean army stew, I am also a fan of seafood, so I chose to have the seafood variant instead.

I am a bit divided when it comes to the food at Yami Yami. While I was quite pleased with the stew we were served, as it was an incredibly cold day, looking back on it there really was not much that was special about it. I would definitely not say it was bad, as I did enjoy it, but I felt like I would have enjoyed a stew at any other Korean restaurant just as much.

Despite this, I would still recommend visiting Yami Yami for some solid Korean dishes, as not only was the food enjoyable, but the staff were friendly as well.

Food Rating 7/10

Overall Rating 7/10

Good Ovening

Shop 3, 200 Queen Street, Melbourne

Many of the Melbourne CBD's Korean fried chicken restaurants often find themselves full of customers along with a packed waiting list. Being a relatively newer name, Good Ovening isn't quite as packed as the other restaurants, however they still boast a great range of Korean dishes and drinks and definitely rate as one of my favourite Korean fried chicken restaurants! 

Garden platter

The garden platter is one of the special dishes that I really enjoy ordering at Good Ovening. The oven roasted chicken thigh had an intense flavour from the herbs and slight char, which was quite pleasant when paired with the vegetables, sauces and radish. This made for a dish that was both tasty and fun to share and eat.

 Korean Fried Chicken

First and foremost, Good Ovening is a Korean Fried Chicken restaurant, so you would come to expect their fried chicken to be the best item on their menu. Unfortunately the chicken we ordered was only decent, with a small serving size when compared with other fried chicken restaurants.

Carbonara chicken

The carbonara chicken was another one of the unique dishes from Good Ovening. Although the sauce left some of the chicken with a soggy crust, the flavour was still good and definitely something that was new to me.

Corn cheese

Chilli cheese chicken

Good Ovening has everything that makes a casual restaurant great, which makes it my most recommended Korean fried chicken restaurant. Although we didn't find anything that set apart their fried chicken, every other aspect was well above expectations. The wide range of different Korean food offerings, as well as their range of drinks, atmosphere and friendly service definitely keep me coming back for more!

Food Rating 8/10

Overall Rating 8.5/10

Don't Tell Mama Shh

751-753 Doncaster Road, Doncaster

Don't Tell Mama Shh is a Korean restaurant just a few minutes walk away from Westfield Doncaster. They serve many different types of Korean specialties, from bibimbap, to fried chicken and even Korean army stew, all of this in their restaurant with walls that are adorned with quirky little phrases such as Don't tell mama our cooking is better than hers (which we would never dare to do).

Fried rice cake $5

The fried rice cakes were the first thing we ordered. They were covered in a sweet chilli sauce which was a lot more sweet than spicy, but not to the point where it would be unpleasant.

Japchae $17

Mama's fried chicken two flavours $34

Korean fried chicken is a staple dish of many of Melbourne's Korean restaurants, with many specialist restaurants creating a menu based solely on the dish. Despite having these specialist Korean fried chicken restaurants to compete with all over Melbourne, Don't Tell Mama Shh's fried chicken is definitely a contender. Unlike many other places, the sauce coatings aren't overpowering in terms of flavour and sweetness, and form a nice consistency, which creates an even coating for the chicken. All of this is accentuated by how the chicken is cooked, leaving it nice and tender with a good amount of juiciness. 

Don't Tell Mama Shh has become one of the go to Korean restaurants in the eastern suburbs. Although there aren't actually that many competitors in the surrounding area, they are definitely up there in terms of what Melbourne has to offer. 

Food Rating 8.5/10

Overall Rating 8/10

NeNe Chicken

Shop 2, 410 Elizabeth Street, Melbourne

As a food blogger, I have had my fair share of bad restaurant experiences and even though I usually give the restaurant the benefit of the doubt along with a second chance, my visit to NeNe Chicken was marred with a plethora of issues. While I have been to NeNe Chicken before, with quite a positive experience, my most recent visit can only be described as abysmal.

Kimchi chicken wrap

We decided to visit NeNe Chicken during a night out, as some of us had gotten quite hungry and most restaurants had started to close. While I have visited NeNe Chicken for their Korean fried chicken before, I decided to go with the wrap this time around as I was looking for something quick that I could eat on the go, this turned out to be a huge mistake. 

The ordering process itself took an abnormally long time, with us having to wait 20 minutes while the restaurant was not particularly full. After receiving my meal from an unenthusiastic looking staff member, I was quite keen to eat it. As I went to unwrap the wrap only minutes after purchasing it, I noticed that the package was soggy and disgusting. After a little effort, I managed to unwrap it without making a huge mess. However, to my disappointment, the sauce from the wrap had leaked everywhere which made it look like the wrap was sitting in a bowl of soup. Despite how the wrap looked, I decided to give it a try and eat it anyway, which was my second mistake of the night. I specifically chose the kimchi wrap because I wanted some extra flavour, however the entire wrap was basically just a soggy and flavourless mass which I had to throw out.

All of my previous visits to NeNe Chicken have been decent and I have enjoyed their Korean fried chicken. Unfortunately, after this recent experience I will most likely not visit again.

Food Rating 2/10

Overall Rating 2/10

Dosirock

Shop 1, 280 King Street, Melbourne

Dosirock is a Korean restaurant in the Melbourne CBD with a bit of a twist. Their specialty is their various styles and flavours of pork hock, which is a great sharing food for a cold night, as well as a type of food that is not easily found around Melbourne.

Dosirock

Korean rice cakes with chilli sauce

People that know me, know that ddeokbokki is one of those staple dishes that I love to order at every Korean restaurant that I visit. The ddeokbokki at Dosirock was not particularly special and the addition of a large, soggy dumpling on top of the dish did not do the dish any favours.

Spicy cheese hot pork hock

The pork hock is the specialty dish of Dosirock and also the redeeming factor of the restaurant. The pork itself was tender and flavourful, while the addition of chilli and mozzarella cheese gave the dish that little extra flavour.

While there were some low points in our visit to Dosirock, such as the ddeokbokki, there were also some good points, such as the pork hock and friendly staff. While it may be difficult to differentiate between some of their dishes and those served at other more established Korean restaurants, Dosirock still manages to maintain its own identity. With a specialty dish which is great for sharing over their range of Korean drinks Dosirock is definitely a lively place to visit and we will be back for more!

Food Rating 7.5/10

Overall Rating 7.5/10

Suda

Shop C2, 550 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne

Suda has long been one of my favourite Korean restaurants in the Melbourne CBD. While Suda is not strictly traditional Korean fare, I do enjoy the Korean flavours which they use and combine with elements from other cultures to create inspiring dishes, such as their kimchi tuna quesadilla and creamy mushroom tteokbokki.

Spicy chicken ssam

Meatball ssam

Cheese on firey chicken

Spicy chicken bibimbap

Beef bulgogi bibimbap

There are many reasons why I enjoy visiting Suda as often as I do, such as their friendly service and especially their food. The food at Suda is made with Korean flavours touched up with a western kick, which gives them a fresh touch. 

While the variation of Korean tapas is always something I enjoy, my favourite has to be their fresh interpretation of the humble bibimbap. The meats are tender and flavourful with a marinade that does not make it too sweet, while the sauce on the side can add that little bit of extra spice and sweetness that some people enjoy. What gave the dish that extra special touch was perhaps the smallest element on the dish, the addition of a lightly poached egg instead of the usual fried egg.

Suda is definitely a fun place to dine, as they offer a wide range of flavours, which they incorporate into their fun to eat dishes, such as they tapas and ssam. Apart from just the food, the staff have always been friendly and helped us feel right at home!

Food Rating 8.5/10

Overall Rating 8.5/10

Bebu

2/31 A'Beckett Street, Melbourne

Bebu is a small Korean eatery hidden down A'beckett street just a minutes walk away from Melbourne's RMIT university. They serve a large range of Korean style dishes, ranging from the ever present bibimbap to their special crazy tteokbokki set.

The kitchen

Cold kimchi noodle

As one of my favourite Korean dishes, I always like to try cold noodles when visiting Korean restaurants, whether it be in the summer or winter. The cold noodle dish served at Bebu was similar to a mix of the two styles of cold noodles that I am familiar with, the spicy bibim naengmyeon and the mild mul naengmyeon. The most enjoyable aspect of the dish was the balance of flavours, especially the vinegary flavours and the spice.

Fried eggplant with chilli caramel and peanuts

The fried eggplant dish was a dish completely different from most of the eggplant dishes I have tried in the past. The eggplant itself was soft on the inside, yet had a nice and crispy coating, which along with the nuts, gave the dish good textural contrast. 

My experience at Bebu was a very enjoyable one. The dishes served used a lot of Korean flavours and techniques, but the added creative twist to their style was a very welcome and refreshing change, I look forward to visiting again!

Food Rating 8.5/10

Overall Rating 8.5/10

Oh Deer

Shop 24, 235 Bourke Street, Melbourne

Oh Deer is a Korean style fusion restaurant located in the heart of Melbourne's CBD. Although their location at the back of Tivoli Arcade on Bourke Street may seem like a strange place to find a restaurant, this is definitely not the case as the immensely popular Warra Warra is open right next to Oh Deer.

Oh Deer

Spacious and clean

Pineapple punch

Spicy ddeokbokki

Spicy rice cakes are a staple dish from Korean street food and is found all over the world. The variation served at Oh Deer was more of a snack than the traditional dish, which uses large rice cakes as well as fish cakes, egg and various vegetables. In terms of the flavour of the dish, the sauce was quite spicy and sweet, which I enjoyed, however the sweetnmess could have been toned back slightly. 

Cold noodle plate

The cold noodle dish was meant to be shared, however I decided to order one for myself as I was quite hungry. The noodles used were of a different kind variety than the chewy buckwheat noodles that I am used to. This was however not a bad thing as the lighter and softer noodles worked well with the lighter flavours of the broth and meat.

The food at Oh Deer uses many different influences to add something to the Korean roots of their dishes, hence being known as a Korean fusion restaurant. While I did enjoy the food at Oh Deer, I also noticed that there were some added elements which did not add anything to their food. With that and the service being lackluster, I would much rather head over to the well established Warra Warra right next door.

Food Rating 7.5/10

Overall Rating 7/10

Sam Sam

209 Swanston Street, Melbourne

SamSam is a restaurant in the Melbourne CBD that specialises in Korean fried chicken. Although SamSam has been around for quite a while, it is still quite a newcomer when compared to the well established fried chicken restaurants, such as Gami. 

Sam Sam

Coconut jelly

SamSam Chicken wings $15

Pickled radish

Because there are already many established restaurants already, new restaurants looking to enter the Korean fried chicken scene need to have something special to stand out from the crowd. We tried the chicken wings from SamSam and while they were satisfying, there was nothing that differentiated them from ordinary fried chicken wings. I feel like I would definitely have preferred to visit one of my usual fried chicken restaurants instead.

Food Rating 6.5/10

Overall Rating 6.5/10

Bewon

652 Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn

Although Hawthorn, specifically Glenferrie Road, is known as an amazing and diverse area in regards to the culinary scene, it is definitely lacking in certain areas. In a quest to sate our cravings for Korean cuisine, we stumbled upon Bewon, one of only a few Korean restaurants in the area.

Dumplings

Potato korokke

For the entrees we ordered some fried dumplings and potato korokke. Unfortunately neither of the dishes we ordered were exceptional. The dumplings were somewhat bland and the skin was chewy, while the flavour of the potato korokke was completely overpowered by the huge amount of sauce added on top. The only redeeming quality was the texture of the potato korokke which had a crispy coating and smooth center.

Beef bulgogi stew

Ddeokbokki

Although the mains were significant better than the entrees, they still suffered from of the same same problems. Both of the dishes were cooked well, but were bland and lacked any real flavour behind it, which was quite strange, as Korean cuisine is generally known for its intense flavours.

The food served at Bewon was quite disappointing and although Korean cuisine has many different styles and flavours, bland is not a word I should ever think about when describing Korean cuisine. With so many amazing Korean restaurants around Melbourne, I will definitely travel the extra distance when looking for my next Korean fix.

Food Rating 5.5/10

Overall Rating 5.5/10

Hanbat

15 Bank street, Box Hill

Hanbat is a Korean restaurant located close to the Box Hill town hall. There are many other Korean restaurants in Box Hill that I usually visit, making the walk to Hanbat something that I do not normally take. However, we ended up near Hanbat after parking near the town hall, so we decided to dine here.

Side dishes

Seafood tofu stew

My friend ordered the stew, which was definitely the most disappointing dish of the meal. The soup itself had quite a strong flavour, however most of it was just the overpowering spice and nothing else. The worst part about the dish was that there seemed to be a mistake, where there was no seafood added, which made the dish basically a tofu soup.

Chilli cheese chicken

Spicy baby octopus

Tteokbokki

The other three dishes were a redeeming factor, as they were all cooked very well with a lovely flavour. My favourite dish was the spicy baby octopus. The octopus itself was not chewy like I sometimes find at other places and the sauce had a good balance of spiciness and sweetness which I loved.

The overall quality of the dishes was quite high. However, our experience was marred by the fact that our orders took almost an hour to come out and when they did come out, there was a huge mistake. Coupled with the fact that the service was sub-par and that there are many other Korean restaurants in Box Hill, I will most likely not be returning.

Food Rating 6/10

Overall Rating 5.5/10