Mansae Korean BBQ
Shop 9, 120 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne
03 9939 9189
BBQ, Korean
$$$$
Food
- Wagyu Cube Roll
- Soy Marinated Beef Galbi
- Prime Pork Jowl
- Pork Belly Kimchi Stew
- Steak Tartare
- Peach Soju Cocktail
The Good
We were advised to first start our BBQ with the Wagyu Cube Roll, and damn was this an incredible beginning to an absolutely delicious feast. The beautiful marbling if this stunning fresh cut made for an exceptionally tender and succulent experience. Each bite was just so juicy and full of flavour, and with a tad of charring on the outside, this was seriously one of the best ways to enjoy beef. No sauce needed.
We the moved onto the Soy Marinated Beef Galbi. We were awestruck by the marinade, so tasty and appetising with just the right balance of sweet and savoury. This was of course well accompanied by the once again flawless beef shortrib, the thick cut proving incredibly tender and offering a slight firm yet spongy feedback.
The Prime Pork Jowl didn’t disappoint either. The equal proportions of fatty and lean ensured a delightfully juicy and almost crunchy sensation. The bold, porky flavour was a definite highlight and this was well paired with a dip of sesame oil.
BBQ aside, we also sampled the Pork Belly Kimchi Stew. Served piping hot and still boiling, the bright appearance thankfully didn’t translate to an overly spicy experience. We found the chilli from the kimchi well moderated though still offered up plenty of fermented flavour. The cuts of pork belly and soft tofu were delicious, as were the generous helping of veggies within. The hot and tasty soup went incredibly well with a bowl of rice!
To cool down, we opted for the Peach Soju Cocktail. The cocktail was simply delicious, intensely sweet with a beautiful fruity flavour. Mixed with plenty of fruit and the lovely peach flavour, it’s almost like downing an intense cordial! Spot on.
The Mediocre
The only disappointment our meal would be the Steak Tartare. The beef itself was incredibly fresh and well matched with the acid of lemon juices and crisp cucumber slices. Unfortunately, the marinade was overwhelmingly sweet and distracted away from flavours of the beef itself.
The Bad
Nothing.
The Verdict
While Mansae doesn’t offer a charcoal in their BBQ, this was still undoubtedly the best Korean BBQ experience we’ve had in Melbourne. With a range of premium quality, fresh ingredients forming a fantastic foundation for the BBQ, and when coupled with tasty marinades and delicious sides, it’s pretty hard to beat such an excellent combination.
Would Penguin Eat Again?
You bet! For Korean BBQ lovers, we definitely can’t recommend this venue enough.
Penguineats would like to thank Mansae for inviting us.