Sariwon Korean BBQ

I checked out Sariwon Korean BBQ on Charles Street. It's just off the ferry docks, and around the bend of Phillip and Charles st. The restaurant seems family run, there is a middle aged korean couples, two early 20s kids (a boy and a girl) and a grandma. I've never asked them if they are related but it seems like one happy family.

I elaborate...

The food: If you've never had korean food this is probably a good place to start. It has a bit of everything and nothing extreme. I had the Bibimbab, strange name, but bueatiful dish. It's claimed to be a very healthy meal on the restaurant menu, and seems a bit of a lunch time fave. At $10 it's not bad value either. So what is a Bibimbab? It's a large bowl with cooked rice, mixed with vegetables (cooked carrots, mushrooms, greens), a meat of your choice cooked (or just veges). It comes with a fried egg that you mix in with everything else and you dig in. The dish also comes with a soup (not unlike miso) and of course traditional korean side dishes. I've been to korean restaurants just for the side dishes and I have to say these were good, and they change every day.

 Other dishes worth checking out are their bbq stuff, the glass noodle dishes and the pancakes. They do have a 'Oz specials' section, never ordered anything from it, and why would you bother? If you want oz specials you should try somewhere else.

The service: The service has been excellent to date, I've been here a couple of times now and each time I've had great interactions with the staff. Each time though I've had to ask for chopsticks, the food just comes with spoon and fork.

The ancillaries: You wouldn't come here for the view, all you see is this giant high rise and a car park, but Charles street has a new CBD look about it, it's a pseudo concrete jungle, at sometimes that's a nice look. I think the orderliness of korean food also lends itself to the street being quite and very corporate.

So here is my verdict on Sariwon Korean BBQ: A great lunch or dinner stop over, with quick service and very tasty food. They serve korean alcohol and it's BYO. There is enough space for a impromptu meeting or catch up with a few friends. The food is light and generally healthy.