melbourne korean

Gami

MELBOURNE

Fried chicken and beer, Korean style.

Wah Wah Gee

GEELONG

Mixes the best of Asian flavours in one loud, colourful package.

Bakemono Bakers

MELBOURNE

This Japanese-inspired bakery is from the team behind Little Rogue just across the street. It's selling whole loaves of shokupan (fluffy milk bread), flaky almond-yuzu croissants, Danishes piled high with berries, and soft buns filled with cream cheese, then doused in garlic butter.

Tang The Asian Food Emporium

MELBOURNE

Tang (formerly known as Great Eastern Foods) has been stocking Asian groceries at its Russell Street residence for over 35 years. Come here for noodles, dim-sims, sambal, soy and sake.

KT Mart

MELBOURNE

This is one of two Korea Marts on Elizabeth Street. Visit for an unsurpassed array of kimchis, gochujangs and other Korean specialties. There are also plenty of frozen dumplings to take home and one of Melbourne's best line-ups of specialty rices.

Tokyo Hometown

MELBOURNE

A one-stop shop for Japanese groceries, cooking materials and confectionary that stays open until midnight every night.

Roy Hammond

BALLARAT

A friendly, warmly lit Korean snack bar specialising in spirits and cocktails.

Chae

COCKATOO

At this singular Korean restaurant, chef Jung Eun Chae cooks, cleans and serves for just six guests at a time – in the living room of her home. If you can score a hotly contested booking, expect a serene, wholesome meal underpinned by homemade ferments, including booze.

The Hop Shop

FRANKSTON

Frankston’s biggest craft beer venue features 18 taps of rotating ales and lagers, 200-plus packaged beers to drink in or takeaway, and a beer-friendly menu of hawker-style snacks by Mordialloc’s Bang Bang.

Ondo City

MELBOURNE

This casual Korean eatery serves up hard-to-find dishes like yukhoe bibimbap and mandu-guk. The menu runs the full gamut of flavours and textures, from fermented and fiery to crisp, cool and refreshing.

Moon Mart

SOUTH MELBOURNE

Oozing yellow-hued charm, this Korea-meets-Japan cafe has a cult following for its bulgogi sausage muffin and okonomiyaki hashbrowns.

Sot Dining

MELBOURNE

Showing that Korean food is more than just barbeque. At Sot, an ex-Nobu chef serves inventive spins on Korean classics – like K-style beef tartare, ceviche in chilled gochujang broth and a panna cotta spin-off.

The Butter Room

MELBOURNE

Look for the rabbits to find this small bakery, which nods to Korea’s many self-service cafes. Head in for dramatic pastries and theatrical drinks. Think “lava” pandoros, matcha-chocolate canelés and purple sweet potato lattes.

Doju

MELBOURNE

Here, owner-chef Mika Chae (a distant relative of chef Jung Eun Chae) draws inspiration from top Korean restaurants and modern Australian fare. Come for marron with garlic butter, or Korean hwae (a Jeju Island-style raw fish dish).

Baguette Studios

NORTH MELBOURNE

This is one of the few spots in Melbourne that blends traditional French baguettes with bold Korean flavours. You might find jambon-beurre sandwiches alongside a beef bulgolgi-inspired cheesesteak.

The Library Bakery

BRUNSWICK EAST

Book it to this French and Korean bakery to get your hands on Korean honey cookies, pretzel baguettes and a peanut butter bread-inspired pastry from a trio of pastry chefs.