Hwatu
173 Lygon Street, Carlton
03 8597 8823
BBQ, Korean
$$$
Food
- Cho-Dan Set
- Beef Short Ribs
- Scotch Fillet
- Marinated Beef Ribs
- Kimchi Stew
- Beef Bulgogi Bibimbab
- Korean Fried Chicken Wings – Soy Garlic
- Fried Dumplings
The Good
It was off to a flying start with the Fried Chicken with Honey Soy Sauce. Lightly glazed, the wings were fried to a perfect crisp, with the batter offering a satisfying crunch and a hint of stickiness thanks to the sauce. The sweet and savoury mixture boded well with the tender and juicy chicken protein, while the well-seasoned battered offered up plenty of flavour.
We proceeded to sample the Kimchi Stew and were suitably impressed. The stew was full of flavour and suitably spicy, loaded with an abundance of soft, shredded veggies and slices of tender and flavoursome pork. This of course went exceptionally well with the rice served alongside.
The highlight of our meal was undoubtedly the barbecue Beef Short Ribs. The incredibly tender protein had a beautiful marbled fat, which made for an exceptionally flavoursome and juicy experience. It’s quickly apparent that the beef was of high quality, and when charred just right, the crispy outer made for an amazing and fragrant experience.
The Scotch Fillet was arguably just as tasty and full of flavour, though this cut was undoubtedly tougher and required more effort in chewing. However, you are rewarded with the same, juicy and flavoursome experience coupled with plenty of awesome beef flavour.
A dish that’s not to be missed was the Bibimbap. Presented in a humongous wooden bowl, the serving size was definitely more than generous. Within, the beef bulgogi was plentiful, which was a good thing as it was rather well-seasoned, pillowy soft and simply a delight to eat. The combination of sweet and savoury sauces worked flawlessly with the rice and salad, and coupled with a runny fried egg, this was one amazing bibimbap that we couldn’t say no to.
The Mediocre
Nothing.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
This was undoubtedly one of the best Korean BBQ experiences we have come across in Melbourne.
The quality meats on offer and generous serving sizes definitely made it a rather memorable and definitely satisfying meal.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
Most definitely. Can’t wait to be back for more bibimbap!
Penguineats dined complimentary of Eatclub, an easy to use app that offers flash discounts at various eateries around Melbourne.