13 of the best Korean barbecue restaurants in Sydney

Stoneage Korean BBQ 

Location: West Ryde and Hurstville 
Known for: a bit of everything 

Some Korean barbecue restaurants are known for their epic range of sides dishes, others for the quality of meat or the price, but Stoneage is Sydney’s all-rounder. That fact brings in big crowds and long queues. If you have any anxiety about getting the perfect char or crispness on your pork belly or marinated octopus, don’t worry, the staff can handle the barbecue.  

Bornga Korean BBQ Restaurant 

Location: Haymarket and Rhodes 
Known for: being helmed by celebrity chef, Baek Jong-won 

From the glossy menu of marbled meats to a fit out that includes the awnings of a Korean temple, this international chain from the judge of Culinary Class Wars is one of Sydney’s more luxurious KBBQ options and locally known as one of the highest quality. The signatures are woosamgyeop (thinly sliced, marinated beef) and the self-service bar, where you can pick up banchan, salad and sauce to your heart’s content.  

Butchers Buffet 

Location: multiple 
Known for: all you can eat 

There are no menus at Butcher’s Buffet, you simply walk in, pay a set price (varies depending on time and day) and eat as much as you want. We’re not talking about off cuts and lettuce leaves either, the buffet includes a diverse range of meats (including halal options) like pork belly, duck, prawns and scotch fillets halal. And that’s just the meat. The neon-lit restaurant allows you unlimited kimchi, salad, brownies, fried chicken and so, so many other things.  

Butchers Buffet, Sydney - Credit: Butchers Buffet

Kangnam BBQ 

Location: Hornsby and Epping 
Known for: banchan and fried chicken as good as the barbecue 

Dinner at Kangnam is an onslaught. It starts with the banchan delivery, eight or more of them, then will move onto barbecue (including rarer cuts like smoked duck and fresh king prawns). Normally you might order some cold noodles and finish up, but because Kangnam is a rare barbecue restaurant that does everything well, how are you going to say no to a plate of fried chicken, black bean noodles or a seafood pancake bigger than your head? Sit outside, so that when you finish, you can pass out in the breeze.  

Yang San Park  

Location: CBD 
Known for: value for money 

Sydney city has more than 10 Korean barbecue options, but Yang San Park is one of the busiest. Here, the weekend queues aren’t necessarily forming for the quality of the meat on offer, the crowds are here for value for money, the loud atmosphere and the fact the waiters are happy to cook everything for you.  

Kogi Korean BBQ 

Location: Haymarket 
Known for: premium wagyu 

Many of Sydney’s first Korean barbecues were focused on being affordable but, in recent years, restaurants have shifted the focus to a more premium offering. Kogi is one of the best examples – its wagyu platter comes with a full rib-eye steak, the banchan are plentiful and refilled at your desire, and the fit out is more akin to a luxury hotel lounge than a smoky barbecue hall.   

Kogi Korean BBQ, Haymarket - Credit: Kogi Korean BBQ

Dae Jang Kum  

Location: Eastwood 
Known for: consistent quality for close to a decade 

Seems like everyone who goes to Dae Jang Kum has a different reason for loving it. Barbecue traditionalists respect the use of real charcoal, locals appreciate the value, others praise the selection of high-quality cuts, the fried chicken, the seafood pancake and the banchan offering. If your group is big enough, you can experience it all.  

Jang Ta Bal Sydney

Location: Strathfield 
Known for: imbuing your clothes with the aroma of charcoal 

One of the oldest and most notorious barbecue restaurants in Strathfield’s Korean hub, Jang Tal Bal’s notoriety comes from the aroma – an unmistakable waft of charcoal that seems to never leave the restaurant’s hall. There’s that, and how the restaurant feels as though it’s always about to erupt into a party. Along with a selection of high-quality meats, get a side of raw, marinated crab, it’s a signature of the restaurant.  

Jang Ta Bal, Strathfield, Sydney - Credit: Jang Ta Bal

Jongro Hwaro BBQ  

Location: North Strathfield 
Known for: banchan 

Before you order anything at Jongro, your table will be filled with food: a haul of side dishes including anything from marinated lotus root to potato salad. Add your picks from a long menu that includes premium wagyu cuts for the grill or cold buckwheat noodles to cleanse the palate.  

Suliya Gogiya 

Location: Lidcombe 
Known for: intestines 

No-frills Suliya Gogiya has made a name for itself in a Korean hub that has close to ten Korean BBQ options. It’s popular for a few reasons, its unique mix of high-quality offal and marbled beef, and the atmosphere – the closest you can come to street eating indoors. If you want to do a Lidcombe crawl Palbok, Yun’s Pork and Duck, and Ogong are just some of the other great local barbecue options.  

678 Korean BBQ 

Location: multiple  
Known for: high-quality meat 

Korean speakers may know 678 as chain of restaurants founded by comedian Kang Ho Dong, locals know it as one of the best Korean barbecues in the state. The restaurant’s small menu is packed with premium cuts and the banchan, side stews and seafood pancake match the quality. Also check out, 789 Korean BBQ in Green Square and Darling Square, opened to recognise the tenth anniversary of 678.  

789 Korean BBQ, Green Square - Credit: 789 Korean BBQ

Yugsig-Insaeng Korean BBQ 

Location: Newington 
Known for: cosy vibes and free ice-cream 

Newington isn’t a well-known suburb for dining, but this restaurant is as busy as the city’s best. That’s because this humble, no-frills Korean barbecue joint is as good as any in Lidcombe, Strathfield or the CBD. It’s hard to save room for dessert after rounds of grilled meats; banchan refills; and a side order of bibimbap, seafood pancake and yukhoe (marinated raw beef); but a highlight here is the freezer with help-yourself ice-cream.  

ButcheRant 

Location: Homebush 
Known for: you shop for your meat 

ButcheRant introduced an entirely new Korean barbecue concept to Sydney: instead of ordering your meat, you shop for it. You see, as soon as you enter, there’s a miniature supermarket where you choose what you want to cook. From here you pick and pay for whatever quality you want (selections include luxury items like dry-aged beef), and then you’re seated to have the traditional DIY barbecue experience with whatever items you picked.  

ButcheRant, Homebush - Credit: ButcheRant