Korean food is well and truly having a moment in Sydney, and we can see why. From umami-sweet bulgogi to soft and crisp vegetable pancakes and funky kimchi, Korean food is a one-way ticket to flavour town. The new kid on the block? Hongdae Pocha, a 172-seat restaurant in Chippendale that brings the late-night soul of Seoul to Sydney, complete with sizzling Korean barbecue, chilled soju and neon lights.
Started by the Vuza Hospitality group – the same guys behind Buttered, Allta and Funda – this place has just opened next door to the viral Korean bakery (they’re the purveyors of the viral Korean salt bread). The chef in charge of Hongdae Pocha is Haeseung Choi, whose resume includes restaurant Jueun in Seoul and Firedoor here in Sydney.
Firstly, context about the name: ‘Hongdae’ is a vibrant neighbourhood in Seoul, and ‘pocha’ is short for pojangmacha – Korea’s street stalls that serve late-night eats, soju and beer in a no-frills setting. It’s a big part of Seoul’s nightlife, where delicious flavours and good times go hand-in-hand. The team wanted to capture that magic and serve it to Sydneysiders.
Craving something punchy? Try the gochujang yukhoe – Korean beef tartare jazzed up with gochujang (Korean red chilli paste) and served on a crisp hash brown. Or go for the yetnal tongdak, a whole deep-fried chook served two ways: one half with a mustard-soy glaze and spring onion, the other slathered in a sweet-sour-spicy sauce. Of course, there’s a delish range of banchan (small side dishes).
Says chef Choi, “Pocha is a big part of Korean nightlife – it’s where food and drink come together in a relaxed, social setting. With Hongdae Pocha, we wanted to capture that same energy for Sydney – approachable, vibrant and true to the way we eat and socialise back home.”
The drinks list is equally fun – soju cocktails, frosty Korean beers and plenty of makgeolli (rice wine) to keep the good times flowing. Geonbae!
Find out more here.
Address: 5 Central Park Ave, Chippendale NSW 2008