Authentic Korean barbecue is more than a meal. It's an experience.
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You choose your protein and your marinade and then watch a chef grill it right in front of your eyes, at your table. Or, you can grill it yourself.
It's a tradition followed closely by Hanok Korean Fine BBQ which opened at The Rooftop last month. Restaurateur Marvin Ma launched the Hanok Korean Fine BBQ chain at Shellharbour, followed by Wollongong, Miranda and now Kotara.
"Korean cuisine was developed and highlighted from the Joseon period, an important dynasty in Korea," Ma told Food & Wine.
"The dishes and barbecue set-up we offer at Hanok is inspired by cooking traditions of the kingdom of Joseon period.
"In recent years, Korean barbecue and its banchan (or side dishes) have grown in popularity, notably among non-Koreans. Slices of meat or marinated meats are cooked on a charcoal grill and served with rice and lettuce."
Hanok's point of difference when it comes to Korean barbecue, Ma says, is the quality of meat used.
"We at Hanok choose to have the best quality wagyu beef cooked the traditional Korean charcoal way at your table to ensure the final product is unique and authentic," he explained.
"The ingredients have been chosen carefully to ensure guests can enjoy a premium DIY barbecue experience, complemented by side dishes."
The menu was designed by Hanok's corporate head chef, Seung Jin Jun, and includes salads (spicy baby octopus, jellyfish, soft-shell crab); kimchi and seafood pancakes; various Angus and wagyu cuts; soups (seafood and silken tofu; spicy or cold beef); hot stone pot bibim-bap (a rice dish); and deep-fried options.
"He came to Australia with more than 15 years of Korean cuisine experience in 2010," Ma said. "He has a very deep understanding of authentic Korean food and specialises in butchery.
"He brings authenticity to the menu by minimising changes to the original recipe to accommodate the Australian taste."
Ma said the dishes that were popular with customers to date include the wagyu tester (portions of different cuts of wagyu beef) and the soup entrée.
Hanok Korean Fine BBQ is open daily for lunch and dinner (takeaway only during lockdown).
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