Your guide to Melbourne's official Koreatown

Healeys Lane has just been given the official title of Melbourne's Koreatown. Find your own slice of Seoul in this bustling pocket, located at the west end of Little Lonsdale Street and part of Spencer Street.

The best of Healeys Lane

Sao Bar: Korean BBQ and soju

If you’ve got a big group to cater for head to Sao Bar and BBQ on the corner of Healeys Lane and Lonsdale Street. Fire up the grill and cook melt-in-your-mouth cuts of beef. Then order signature dishes like the spicy fried pipis, hearty kimchi stew and wagyu fried rice. There's also a decent selection of soju on the menu as well as some fun cocktails if you’re in the party mood.

Sevenstar Pocha: Korean army stew

Ramyun noodles, spicy broth, spam, beans, veggies and more. Don't knock this iconic comfort food until you've tried it. If you're not keen on cheese and luncheon meat, try the pork rib or bulgogi stew. These bubbling hot-pot dishes feature potato noodles, ripened kimchi and juicy grilled meat. Sevenstar is open late every night of the week.

Sukbong: cult-status street toast

Bong Seoul Toast (or Sukbong) is a famous chain with more than 200 stores in Korea. Its one and only Australian store can be found in Healeys Lane. Start simple with egg and cheese, or go OTT with added hash browns and beef bulgogi. Everything on the menu is under $20, and the signature bulgogi toastie will only set you back $11.

More Korean spots in Melbourne

Dong Dae Mun: loaded gimbap rolls

Head to Dong Dae Mun on Little Lonsdale Street opposite Healey's Lane for a cheap lunch feed. It's hard to go past the gimbap. It comes loaded with fresh crunchy veggies, rice and your choice of protein, wrapped in seaweed. Get it with bulgogi, tofu, ham and more.

Life4Cut: Korea's number one photobooth brand hits Australia

Visit this popular Korean self-photo booth studio chain in Chinatown or Elizabeth Street. Offering multiple rooms, it has specialised machines for an interactive and creative photo experience. Choose from an adorable range of props and backgrounds then get ready to pose. All photos are accessible by handy QR codes.

Misty Pot: soft tofu hot pot

A Korean hot pot with soft tofu, braised beef or ginseng chicken soup is just the ticket on a chilly day. All the dishes from Misty Pot come with kimchi, rice, pickled radish and dipping sauce. We love the look of the small bites too, like the savoury beef pancake and the deep fried oysters with sweet and spicy dipping sauce. You’ll also find bibimbap, bulgogi rice bowls, fried chicken and more classic dishes on the menu.  

Korea Town: late-night eats

Korea Town stays open until 2am every day for your late-night cravings. Knock back a soju and peruse the menu of more than 100 Korean dishes. Try the beef sushi, torched right at your table. Then order crispy seafood pancakes, Wagyu ribs and specialties like jokbal (braised pork trotter).

Kono: hidden coin booth karaoke

Private karaoke rooms and the odd open mic night are pretty well-known in Melbourne. Mini coin-operated singing booths? Not so common. Enter Kono, a hidden gem lined with disco-lit nooks perfect for solo or small group singing. Regulars can be heard singing along to BUZZ ballads in perfect Korean, but there’s a bumper book of English tunes to pick from, too.

Paik's Noodle: jjamppong and jajangmyeon

Prolific South Korean chef Jong-won Paik has opened his first Australian outpost of the hugely popular Paik's Noodle franchise. Try super spicy 'gochu jajang', a chilli-spiked black bean broth rich with umami flavour. Or slurp up bowls of jjamppong, the iconic seafood noodle bowl you would have seen on countless K-dramas. Bowls start at $15.80, and Paik's stays open until late.

BBQ King: the best Korean all-you-can-eat

This fresh new all-you-can-eat spot has all the Korean food staples covered. Enjoy unlimited premium meat, hot molten corn cheese, cult-status bo ssam (juicy pork in refreshing lettuce cups), sushi, seafood and more. Eating here is easy on the wallet too. A big lunchtime feast will only set you back $39.90. Find BBQ King at 280 King Street, walk-ins only!

Koconut: Korean skincare

Part of the West Side Place precinct, Koconut is a hidden gem location selling cult-status beauty brands. Think Banila Co., Innisfree, Laneige and Sulwhasoo. Shop for everything from low-cost sheet masks to super splurgey ginseng packs. The team also stocks cute LINE friends collabs, Nexcare pimple patches and the odd piece of BTS merch.

Paik's BBQ: world-famous Korean BBQ

Sure you can order menu staples like kimchi stew at Paik’s BBQ at 525 Little Lonsdale St, but then you’d miss out on the star of the show. Superior Korean pork, barbecued over charcoal at the table and served with too many condiments and side dishes to count. This much-celebrated meat-loaded spot is also owned by Seoul’s celebrity chef, Jong-won.