Funda

Joining Sydney’s swell of modern Korean restaurants, Funda is a CBD restaurant combining Seoul’s vibrant energy with formal European kitchen techniques.

Executive chef Jung-su Chang and head chef Chris Kim (who bring combined experience from hatted and Starred venues like Tetsuya’s, Gagnaire à Séoul and Sepia) have developed a menu drawing from their Korean heritage and experience in modern Australian and classic European venues.

Expect innovative fusions in dishes like fried seaweed rolls filled with prawn and scallop mousse with perilla and yuzu kosho, grilled leeks on stracciatella with pistachio and Korean soy sauce, savoury Korean pancake with fish of the day, Wagyu steak with traditional banchan sides, and a take on the beloved ramyun with bulgogi crumble, fried egg and spring onion salad.

The dessert menu spins flavours like yuzu, perilla, red dates and makgeolli into pavlovas, cakes and seasonal sorbet, and a banquet menu offers starters, seven main dishes and shared desserts for $99.

From the bar, signature cocktails like a house martini (pickled kombu Tanqueray, white miso sherry, Tasmanian mountain pepper leaf and kimchi oil) or the World’s Favourite Negroni (mezcal, Campari, Unico Zelo yuzu vermouth, perilla and enzymatic Icheon rice) are joined by soju, beers including Yulli’s Brews Karaoke Kingu Japanese rice lager, and wine.

With splashes of neon, reflective surfaces reminiscent of late-night Gangnam and live DJs Thursday–Saturday nights, Funda combines its elegant menu with an energetic dining experience.

A neighbouring 12-seat fine dining concept, Allta, will open in October.

Image credit: Funda