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Oriental Spoon

3.5 (22 reviews)
ModerateKorean
Closed 11:30 am - 9:30 pm

Oriental Spoon Photos

ORIENTAL SPOON ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Loud
Classy
Good for groups
Good for kids

Recommended Reviews - Oriental Spoon

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Extremely spicy chilli paste, but the red chillies are the killers. Very good though.
Alpha L.

If you want a dish to blow your head off, give the Cheese Bul Dak a go. The sizzling hot plate arrives piled high with morsels of chicken glistening with a red chilli sauce. As the sweet chilli sauce tempts you to eat more, you forget to look out for the little red chilli bombs. Just as well the oozy cheese soothes your tongue.

Lunch time crowd
Alexander Y.

I came here for the spicy chicken bento, which was delicious and well presented in a cute little wooden bucket, accompanied by some seaweed, chicken winglet and some tempura. The problem was I waited almost 1 hour for it at lunch time, and it finally came only after I reminded the waiter. Given that the lunch menu only offered a choice of either bento or bibimbap (with just different variations of meat), there was no reason for the delay. The waiter was politely apologetic though. The serving size was too small to fill me up; if only those cute buckets were deeper with more rice. Furthermore, they do not serve the typical side dishes, which should be standard in a Korean restaurant.

Small portion! :(
Anatoliy M.

I legitimately don't understand why people rate it so high, I've never been to a bad Korean food in my life until this. Let's start with the menu. There weren't many choices like a regular Korean place. They don't offer enough varieties and options for share meal etc. I ordered a corn tea and grape bon Bon which the staffs don't even know what they are when I asked. Maybe I should work there. The taste was mediocre and basic aka boring. The food is definitely O M G so freaking small!!! It wouldn't even be enough for new born baby! I can eat three portion of the main meal times 10 and sadly the chicken bulgogi tastes plain like a woman without make up after gym if you compare with other Korean places. The Kimchi and pickles are so small too that you need a microscope to see it! So I don't understand where these people are saying that it's the best Korean place they've been to and tastes like real Korean food or whatever. Like are you being legit sucks? which Korean food have you been? Is it the microwave food u got from Asian supermarket? Seriously though, the rice is like 80% of the portion and the chicken was served quite COLD, like as if it just went through Antarctica then to my table. Not impressed. Next.

Mark J.

You can keep your raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens. One of my favourite things is the rise of Korean food over the past few years. I don't really know where it comes from (eh, you know what I mean), but I really enjoy that style of food, so I'm pretty darn stoked that it's taking off in Melbourne in such a big way. Oriental Spoon is definitely part of that. There's the service problem you sometimes get with Asian restaurants, in that the staff seem to be hired more for their Korean language skills than their English. But it's not a big deal, it just means there's a fair bit of smiling and nodding and pointing. To be honest, that translation problem applies a bit to the food too. I haven't been there for dinner yet, but the bento box I've had for lunch had purple things and bright yellow things and a strange fried ball thing. No clue what they are. But who cares? They're damn tasty, especially the various pickled vegetables (probably). The dinner menu looks like it'll set you back a bit more than average, with dishes at around $40 or so, but the lunch options are a fair bit cheaper.

Alice H.

Not bad, not bad! By Melbourne standards, at least. I would give it 3.5 stars but +0.5 star for the location/convenience. I've been eyeing this place ever since I arrived in Melbourne and finally got to try it last night. First off - I did not try the KBBQ here, only their a la carte dishes. The soups and bulgogi are solid, and their banchans were good (though they only gave us 3 things- kimchi, beansprouts & pickled radish - fewer than most Korean places). Portion sizes are reasonable; 5 large chunks of beef ribs in my Galbi Tang! I will be back to try some more dishes again.

Jen H.

We ate the traditional marinated Korean BBQ set, the tofu soup, and soju cocktail. We've traveled all over the world including South Korea and this was some of the most tastiest BBQ we've ever had! The marinade that the meats were simmered in was out of this world. The soup was quite delicious as well. Service was great - warm and friendly. When we're back in Melbourne, we will most definitely be eating at the Oriental Spoon again!

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12 years ago

Their seafood pancakes are totally fail!! Taste is not Korean at all ... so disappointed.

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Quite disappointed with my Kimchi Chigae soup & kimchi... I had never ate the sweet kimchi before... Taste yiaks....

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Review Highlights - Oriental Spoon

Their japchae, cheese bul dak, sweet and chili fried chicken, and pink lady soju cocktail is a MUST try.

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Guhng - the Palace

Guhng - the Palace

4.1(24 reviews)
0.6 kmMelbourne
$$$

This is a hidden gem down McKillop that boasts a good selection of Korean dishes and the…read moreopportunity to grill your own meal! Not to mention the decor is classy and chic. I went with the bi bim bap, a classic that was cooked to perfection. Loads of toppings on purple rice. It was so delicious. You also get to add as much hot sauce as you desire. Plus there are unlimited sides like kim chi, pickled radish and seasoned onions. For a dinner meal coming out at under $20, it can't be beat! I would gladly come here again.

Having been to a number of Korean BBQ places in Melbourne (Oriental Spoon, Hwaro, Marroo) I would…read morehave to say this is one of the better ones. It's decked out decently enough; kind of has a warehouse feel complete earthy tones. I'd recommend dining in the basement close to the front for 2 reasons: 1. The smoke that inevitably billows out in korean bbq will rise and so if you're one of those poor buggers on the top floor, you will be copping 3 levels worth of bbq fumes 2. It's very close to the kitchen so your food comes out amazingly fast. One thing I must share are the desserts at this place which are absolutely amazing. The desserts are only 6 bucks a pop and you can have everything from black sesame ice cream, green tea cakes and ice-cream, lemon sorbet with jelly and black and white chocolate mousse. You'd easily expect to pay $15 for comparable desserts elsewhere. To understand my complex voting system, this place is a 4 for food, plus 1 for the dessert and minus one for the service, which was about as interesting and engaging as a wet lettuce leaf. They are attentive enough in that they bring out the food fast, and replace your grill as soon it gets blackened like coal, but as I've stated elsewhere, to get a 5, I need an experience with friendly casual banter! TIP: this place has unlimited lettuce and side dishes if you run out.

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Guhng - the Palace - Korean BBQ with Pork Belly and Beef

Korean BBQ with Pork Belly and Beef

Guhng - the Palace
Guhng - the Palace

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Korean Table - Interior decor

Korean Table

5.0(5 reviews)
0.9 kmMelbourne

The food here was amazing, ambiance was very street Korean and comfortable, and the service was…read moregood - Sunday surcharge was a bit steep, but the meal made up for it.

Cute little Korean restaurant on Rose Lane, the "new laneway" in the Upper West Side building…read more Korean Table is surrounded by I Love Chicken, Hakoya Ramen, Kyoto Mart, and Rolling Nori - and it holds its own for sure! I came here on New Years Day for dinner. The menu is 6 pages long, but there is a picture of every dish, which makes it really helpful to decide (I assume especially if you're not Korean). I kept it classic and went with the beef bibimbap, and boy am I glad I did! The only adjustment I made was no bean sprouts. Served in a sizzling hot stone bowl, you'll have to control yourself for a couple of minutes to let the rice continue to cook and get all crispy on the edges. The server was quite sweet and asked me if I knew how to eat it when she delivered the bowl. I sheepishly said, "um, mix it all together?" and she nodded in approval and skipped away. All of the ingredients and flavors blended together perfectly, aided by a generous helping of gochugang (sweet/spicy red sauce). I added a grapefruit soju to wash it down. Like many places, you'll self serve cutlery (chopsticks, spoons, napkins) as well as water from the counter. Someone takes your order either at the register or your table (didn't seem to be rhyme or reason to which or why), and then drops off your food when you're done. Space is tailored to groups of 2 or 4, though one group of about 6 or 7 kids came in together looking worse for wear after NYE. Prices are about $15 each for most entrees. The food was delicious (see photos) and I will be back!

Photos
Korean Table - Spicy bugogi beef

Spicy bugogi beef

Korean Table - Bibimbab Chicken bowl

Bibimbab Chicken bowl

Korean Table - Beef bibimbap, no bean sprouts.

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Beef bibimbap, no bean sprouts.

Sam Sam

Sam Sam

4.0(19 reviews)
0.4 kmMelbourne
$$

4.5 rating, but will round up for good value and portion sizes…read more It seems like Korea's reputation to produce fine things has been continuously growing over the past couple decades. 20 years ago, Korean cars and electronics didn't exactly carry with it a strong association with excellence. Today, they're an absolute giant in these regards - not to mention becoming an economic powerhouse. Korean food has also grown in popularity too, and one can go to many restaurants and find some "Korean-flavoured" dish on the menu. That preamble brings me to fried chicken. Even five years ago, how many non-Koreans would have drawn an association between fried chicken and Korean food? Flash forward to today, and Korean fried chicken has an association with excellence in a similar way that Samsung does with phones. At my final evening in Melbourne, I didn't really have a plan where I was going to eat, but when I spotted KFC (Korean Fried Chicken), the decision was made for me. One thing that stood out to me on the menu was the reasonable prices. $15 all in for a dozen large wings is a great deal almost anywhere. In a CBD in an Australian city, this is almost a steal. At this point in my trip, I was accustomed to tax and tip being worked into the menu prices and it was apparent that this meal wasn't going to eventually hurt my credit rating. Flash forward to the wings themselves, I ordered the soy+garlic. Very good wings, terrific value though I have to say I have had better. I'd say those were 4 star. The surprise of the meal was actually the ribs. The full rack came with fries and salad and was somewhere around $28. Loved, loved, LOVED the ribs. Honestly, the fries were just ok, the salad was just a salad, the aforementioned wings were a 4, but the ribs were so perfect that I just have to give the place 5 stars. That, and I think I paid about $50 all in for a massive amount of food for two people.

Convenient place to grab a quick dinner! We ordered the chicken soup w/rice (the broth is flavorful…read moreand really warms you to the core, with a surprisingly good amount of chicken) and the bulgogi hot pot (interesting way to serve bulgogi) - satisfying, filling meal. Busy place, but once we placed our order, the food came out quickly!

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Sam Sam
Sam Sam - Boneless chicken hot and spicy

Boneless chicken hot and spicy

Sam Sam - Fried chicken, kimchi fries and a bowl of rice.

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Fried chicken, kimchi fries and a bowl of rice.

Ohsso

Ohsso

3.5(2 reviews)
0.5 kmMelbourne

Food: 4/5 Service: 3/5…read moreCleanliness: 4/5 Decor & Style: 4/5 Bulgogi Hotpot was good/decent, but I've had better. I do like the ambience and having hot pot sitting on the streets, something I've never had before with Korean hot pot. This is a good place for late night dining.

Miznon was full, Busan was closed. We chose Ohsso at random off the street. We'd give Ohso a 3.3…read morewhich would round out to a 3.5 if that option was available. This is best described as a Korean cafe, I reckon. The space is pretty rough and ready and open to the street. Seating is on backless stools. The food is serviceable but without real wow factor. We chose the pork and kimchi dumplings to start. There were 6 to share not 8 as the server has promised, not that that was ever going to be a game changer with people as good humoured as us. The dumplings were good. We liked them and they disappeared with some speed. I chose the Seafood Jiim for main and my partner chose the Bulgogi Hot Pot. The hot pot was the dish. Silky smooth with good amounts of beef and onion, it's a beauty. Really nicely flavoured and we both loved it. A very generous serve on offer which we couldn't finish. The seafood dish wasn't as successful. Probably a strategic error on my part to order it. Overspiced for me. There was a good amount of seafood though and again the dish was a good serve. Note, the wine choice here is alarming. Basically there is no choice and the house wine is a NZ sav blanc, never our first choice. That is as may be. We had some unexpected entertainment during our meal. We heard the life story of the three people at the next table. Their mission seemed to be to speak so loudly, shout almost, that the whole restaurant could hear. As annoying as it was it was also strangely compelling.

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Ohsso
Ohsso
Ohsso

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Uncle Jung's - Spicy rice cake

Uncle Jung's

4.5(2 reviews)
0.1 kmMelbourne

Uncle Jung's is in amongst a group of smaller food outlets in the walk through of Melbourne…read moreCentral and Elizabeth Street, Menzies Alley. Having frequented its neighbour, Saigon Square countless times, I decided to mix things up and give Uncle Jung's a try and I was very glad I did. I went for one of the bibimbab bowls - here you choose your meat (or veg) of choice along with a combination of other vegetables like mushrooms, carrot, zucchini, etc along with a raw egg. I opted to try the Spicy Pork minus the raw egg. We chose to sit in the upstairs area that is shared by this group of food outlets and as with its sister stores, the food arrived quickly, was delivered with a smile and looked delicious. I could still hear mine sizzling away and loved the presentation with the addition of the mini chilli and soy sauce bottles on the side, enabling you to add as much or as little of these as you pleased. My only complaint would be that for "spicy pork", it didn't taste spicy at all - having been to other Korean restaurants in the past, I have come to learn that one chilli in Korean speak is the equivalent of three or more anywhere else! However, this was no biggy as I simply added chilli sauce to get it to the right heat level and devoured every last morsel of food. I definitely recommend making a visiting and trying one of the bibimbab bowls - I don't think it will be too long before I make a return visit! They also have a card you can get stamped and earn your 10th meal free - got to love a place that rewards your return custom!

If you are after a great Korean modern take. You have to try uncle Jung's. It offers Korean…read moretacos, Korean burgers, fried chicken, and chips with an awesome variety of sauces to choose from. Uncle Jung's used real nixtamal tortillas.. Not your usual imitation Mexican super market branded tortillas. If you feel like trying something completely new right in the cbd. Give uncle Jung's s shot and you won't be disappointed.

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Uncle Jung's - Front of the restaurant

Front of the restaurant

Uncle Jung's - Original flavour Korean fried chicken rice plate

Original flavour Korean fried chicken rice plate

Uncle Jung's - Chicken bibimbap

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Chicken bibimbap

ChangGo - Tofu soup

ChangGo

3.9(9 reviews)
0.1 kmMelbourne
$$

We arrived at this restaurant at 6:30 pm on a Thursday night only to find that there was already a…read morelong queue of people waiting outside. It took us 30 minutes to get in but it was well worth the wait. We tried the 8 flavours of belly pork set (8 slices of belly pork which came with some vegetables, 2 bowls of rice, seafood stew/hotpot and some dipping sauces) and it was perfect for 2 hungry diners. We loved cooking our own food on the hotplate (with plenty of help from the waitresses) and it was fun to try all the different pork marinades. It was delicious and very good value!!

Tucked away in the top end of the Melbourne CBD is a secret well-guarded by the Asian community…read moreversed in the art of K-BBQ. There is definitely a specific set of techniques involved when consuming Korean Barbeque, as was evident when meeting fellow ATOTB's blogger Tiff at ChangGo for our death by pork. With both of us arriving in our oversized sack dresses and having starved ourselves for most of the day, we knew things were about to get serious. ChangGo doesn't take bookings after 6pm and I was advised to arrive early to secure our spot on the waiting list. We were relieved (and ridiculously hungry) when we were finally shown to our table an hour and fifteen minutes after arriving. Little did we know that we were about to coud go from being so hungry to so full in a very short amount of time. The 'death by pork' that I speak of involves of eight serves of pork belly in eight different flavours - wine, herb, ginseng, garlic, curry, hot, miso, and plain - and is placed on a table on a metre long plank. The pork is part of a set menu (Palsaik set, $52) that also includes the traditional accompaniments to K-BBQ (kimchi, pickled daikon, bean shoots, rice cake, spring onions, lettuce, steamed rice), as well as a Seafood and Tofu spicy stew (also interchangeable for a pork kimchi stew) - all intended to serve 2-3 people. Being rather petite little (competitive) Asian girls with a love for pork belly and all things K-BBQ, we gladly accepted the challenge. And boy, were we defeated. That bad boy definitely took it's toll on us, and I could not even look at pork for the next week. If ever there was a healthier way of eating pork belly, ChangGo seems to have found the answer with their angled grill plate allowing the excess fat to drip away. The seafood and tofu stew was a generous serve (it could easily feed four people as an entree), full of seafood and intensely flavoured, unlike the generic hot pepper paste flavour that most cheap Korean places offer in their stews. All of the flavours of the pork belly were well marinated and intensely flavoured, with the curry flavour being the only disappointment. Koreans aren't really known for their curry, and as curry fiends, Tiff and I were already quite wary - we would have expected and preferred a kimchi flavour! The waitresses were very attentive, ensuring that even the most rookie of KBBQ-ers were well looked after. Though there was a long line of diners waiting for our table, we were not made to feel rushed, and enjoyed our eight courses in as comfortable a time as possible when consuming eight serves of pork belly. Our commitment to the cause meant that we left ridiculously full bellies, an absolutely demolished table, and delirious enough minds to suggest the option of sharing an Asian icey dessert afterward. Word of warning: everything you say while in a pork belly food coma is stupid, and you should definitely not eat more until at least 24 hours later. Review originally posted on http://www.ataleoftwobougies.com

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ChangGo
ChangGo - Meat

Meat

ChangGo - Meat

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Meat

Seoul House - Interior

Seoul House

3.7(13 reviews)
0.5 kmMelbourne
$

Best value Korean bibimbap lunch in Melbourne cbd, hands down! So what's the deal? The lunch…read morespecial is a choice of either pork, beef or chicken with rice, and loads of mixed vegetables (beenshoots, pickled carrots, cucumber, radish, lettuce) AND a fried egg on top. For vegetarians, it would be everything sans meat/egg. Compliments to the chef, as the bibimbap is consistently awesome each time I come here. Think that's all? Guess again. A delicious miso soup AND a set of small side dishes accompany your meal. The side dishes can vary but it wouldn't be complete without kimchi of course! The others may consist of pickled radish, sweet potato, blanched beanshoots or fried tofu. If you ask nicely, they are usually happy to provide a free top up (unless it's just for regulars). Even if you're not on the VIP list, seriously a 3 course meal for the incredibly modest sum of $6.50 for a standard bowl or $8.50 for a sizzling stone bowl (if you prefer your rice crunchy) is THE bargain of the century. Most other Korean restaurants I've been to charge $$ for side dishes or don't give you any at all. These guys serve up an enormous quality and filling lunch for half the price of their trendier counterparts. Which leads me to bring up the fact that yes the interior is dated/old fashioned but I would prefer to call it traditional :) Adorned on the walls are posters of Korean celebs and events (eg. FIFA world cup) from years ago, which were not placed there as a kitchy homage to the Gen Y glory days, but there because they were cool and relevant back then, and the restaurant has actually been around for that long - they just haven't taken anything down. But by not renovating the interior, they are passing the savings onto us yay. Find me a better deal and I'll shout you lunch!

I stopped by Seoul House while attending the Australian Grand Prix. I ordered a spicy beef entree…read morewhich was delicious and also came with many sides. It was great value and delicious!

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Seoul House - Interior

Interior

Seoul House - Tables with built in grill for Korean BBQ

Tables with built in grill for Korean BBQ

Seoul House - Spicy beef bowl with many sides

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Spicy beef bowl with many sides

Oriental Spoon - korean - Updated May 2026

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