Ah, Korean food. You’ve got spice, you’ve got creativity, and, most importantly, you’ve got fried chicken. If you love big, bold flavours, an abundance of free side-dishes and a bite with a kick then you’re probably already a fan of Korean cuisine—if not, then it's about time you explored it.
From KBBQs to street-markets-turned-eateries, Brisbane/Meanjin's got a fair few places you can get your K-fix from—and here at Urban List we've eaten our way through them all. Here’s where to find the best Korean restaurants in Brisbane, whether you're looking for KFC, topokki or bibimbap:
Sinjeon
Sunnybank Hills, Brisbane CBD and Chermside
One of the biggest Korean street food brands around, Sinjeon is a can’t-miss spot. Their most iconic dishes include their original spicy topokki, beef bulgogi kimbap, and deep fried seaweed rolls. Sinjeon’s topokki menu has multiple variations of the chewy rice cake dish, like squid topokki, chicken topokki, or, most popularly, the cheese topokki—where the chef pours cheesy hot goodness all over your food, right in front of you.
Maru
73 Mary Street And 157 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane CBD | 4/1145 Wynnum Road, Cannon Hill
With both a restaurant and grill house within Brisbane’s CBD, plus another venue in Cannon Hill, Maru leaves you spoilt for choice. Their grill house is the perfect place for your KBBQ fix, with a huge range of meats up for you to grill on their premium Binchōtan charcoal. If you’re less of a DIY queen though, that’s what Maru’s a la carte menu is for. Try out their fried chicken, hotpot, soups, or even their different types of bibimbap. So much food, so little time.
Hanwoori
1/70 Mary Street, Brisbane CBD
Image credit: Hanwoori | Website
The funkiest Korean joint in town, Hanwoori is decked out in red neon signs, industrial interiors, and cool hanging lights. Lucky it’s a good place to hang, because you’ll want to spend all your time there, chowing down on their unlimited buffet. It's not just KBBQ, though that is included. They’ve got everything, from Korean fried chicken, to baby octopus, to kimchi, to cucumber garlic salad. Count us in for an hour or ten.
Manok Park
18/11-21 Kingston Road, Underwood
Split between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, Manok Park is here to provide Korean for both sides of SEQ. Owned by three Korean siblings missing home, the casual restaurant is named after their mother—who taught them how to cook. They serve traditional dishes such as ganjang gejeng, yangnyeom-gejang, and kimchi, as well as more creative plates like cheese blanket tonkatsu, dry beef curry, and radish pancakes. There's something for everyone.
Zero Fox
36 Vernon Terrace, Teneriffe
Like your Korean food with a side of Japanese? Head to Zero Fox in Teneriffe—the walk-in only joint that will have you posted up with good food and good booze on the deck. Nestled under the London Woolstores, this laid-back eatery offers small Korean-inspired plates like kimchi fries, all the way to heartier bowls like their bulgogi beef. Bonus points for their plethora of vegan-friendly options, including the spicy yet satisfying tteo-bokki.
Kor-Dak
342 Montague Road, West End
Fresh off their grand opening in February, Kor-Dak are getting the recognition they deserve. After becoming a cult-favourite market stall, they’ve evolved into a permanent eatery in West End. Specialising in giant grilled chicken skewers, Kor-Dak have now expanded their menu, adding Korean style corn dogs, fish cakes, kimbap, and more to the mix.
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Momo Chicken
Various Locations
Image credit: Momo Chicken | Website
Shockingly, Momo Chicken serves more than just chicken—though it is on the menu, and definitely worth a mention. Burgers, rice, noodles, soups, desserts, cocktails—you name it, they’ve got it. Highlights include their hotteok, boneless candy chicken, and their hot stone bulgogi beef soup. It rocks.
Bistro Korea
Coorparoo Square, Old Cleveland Road, Coorparoo
You know how you can never get enough Korean fried chicken? Well, that’s where Bistro Korea comes in. They serve up unlimited—yes, you read that right—chicken wings, as well as other options for the non-chicken eaters. The contemporary and minimalist space also offers bibimbap, Korean pancakes, grilled beef ribs, and a range of other dishes.
JMT Rice Bowl & K-Chicken
9b Edmondstone Street, South Brisbane
Now, if you haven’t heard of soju, you’re missing out. The Korean spirit is quite popular—as it should be—but, more importantly, it’s even better in a slushie. JMT Rice Bowl & K-Chicken, also referred to as the “Soju Slushie Place”, is the perfect joint to drink soju to your liver’s content. Also, they serve really good food. Cheese tteokbokki and sticky pork belly, anyone?
Korilla BBQ
1/43 Queen Street, Brisbane CBD
Image credit: Korilla | Website
Tucked upstairs away from the hustle and bustle of Queen Street is Korilla BBQ. The Korean BBQ you’ve probably walked past thousands of times should not be overlooked. The airy space is full of plants and wooden furniture, providing an oasis in the middle of the city. The other oasis they provide? Their food. Teriyaki salmon, honey chilli chicken, kimcheese pork fried rice, beef brisket soybean soup—need we go on?
K Pocha
70 Mary Street, Brisbane CBD
A mini version of Seoul nestled right in our CBD, K Pocha is decked out in neon lights and funky interiors. Their signature dish is spicy chicken feet, but if you’re after a less adventurous option, other creative meals include spicy pork belly with kimchi and cheese fondue, deep fried squid legs, and marinated chilli mussels. Don’t forget to order their cheese mince pork cutlet—cheese pulls for days.
Daega Korean BBQ Cuisine
7-8/2922-2926 Logan Road, Underwood
As you can guess from the name, obviously Daega Korean BBQ Cuisine is a good place for your K-BBQ fix. But they serve so much more than just that. Their unique menu ranges from dishes like sweet and spicy wagyu sashimi with pear, to spicy sausage soup with sweet potato noodles, to raw beef hot stone bibimbap, all the way to roasted eel with vegetable and teriyaki sauce. The possibilities are endless.
3Bros Korean Bistro
2/45 King St, Bowen Hills
Image credit: 3Bros | Instagram
The Jonas Brothers have nothing on these 3Bros, whose Korean bistro sells the best street food Seoul can offer. With ox bone soup, braised beef short ribs, K-fried chicken feet, and loaded kimchi fries on the menu, you will want for nothing here. Open till 11pm on Fridays and Saturdays, your 3Bros are here for you late into the night.
The Manjok
17/261 Warrigal Road, Eight Mile Plains
Cheapskates unite! You’ve found a friend in The Manjok. Rice balls? $5. Okonomiyaki? $5. Gun mandu? $8. If you’re after something more substantial, fret not. Their main meals are just as affordable, with most averaging in the $20 range. Beef rib stew with a side of saving our hard earned dollars? Count us in.
Seoul Garden
341 Mains Road, Sunnybank
Make sure to pack an empty stomach when you hit up Seoul Garden—because you’ll definitely want some extra space. Melbourne’s favourite all-you-can-eat Korean joint has come to Queensland, and it does not disappoint. For only $50, you can shove your face full of unlimited meats and hotpot variations for a good 90 minutes. Now that sounds like an hour and a half of pure bliss—and barbeque.
Ari Ari
Westfield Mt Gravatt, Upper Mt Gravatt | 105 Elizabeth Street, Brisbane CBD
Another one for the cheapskates, Ari Ari is the perfect place for a classy date that won’t break the bank. Despite the culinary masterpieces on offer, Ari Ari actually has a fair few specials to choose from—most notably, the $50 lunch deal, where you and your date can share 500 grams of MB9+ Bulgogi beef, five sides, a soup, and some sotbap. Not a fan of sharing? Grab some wet-aged wagyu beef and fire up the grill.
Looking for more Asian cuisines? Head here:
- Brisbane's Best Japanese Restaurants
- Brisbane's Best Thai Restaurants
- Brisbane's Best Vietnamese Restaurants
Image credit: Sinjeon | Instagram
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