Find Korean barbecue from a hatted restaurant in this suburban shopping centre

Korean barbecue is one of the most recognisable styles of Korean food in Australia. That’s partly because it was one of the country’s early cultural exports (along with fried chicken), leading to an explosion in the number of K-BBQ places to choose from in Melbourne. But K-Pop BBQ and Bar in Glen Waverley stands out from the pack.

It’s from the team behind Marble Yakiniku, which specialises in premium Japanese barbecue but excels at so much more, winning a hat in both the 2023 and 2024 editions of The Age Good Food Guide.

K-Pop BBQ, at The Glen shopping centre, has plucked chef Hwancheol Seung from Marble Yakiniku.

Seung has 20 years of experience, including many years as a sushi chef at spots including city institution Shoya. So, somewhat unusually for a K-barbecue spot, he’s added sashimi, including kingfish in a gochugaru (Korean chilli powder) sauce and hae muchim, a spicy salad of thin slices of raw fish. Hot dishes, such as soups and stews, are also available.

For the tabletop grills, he’s sending out hand-cut meat, such as beef short-rib, and high-grade steak, including Japanese wagyu striploin graded A5, the highest grade attainable.

At the neon-coloured and lightbox-decorated space for more than 100 people, the Korean pop that’s part of the venue’s name is not just over the speakers. Several dishes are named after pop groups, including the AKMU barbecue set, honouring the group often referred to as the Nation’s Siblings in Korea. The set comes with oyster blade, chuck tail flap and wagyu striploin, plus condiments and leaves for wrapping as ssam.

On the sweet side of the carte, there’s refreshing Korean shaved ice – bingsu – which is available in choices including the traditional red bean or more visually striking strawberry.

Open daily 11.30am-3pm, 5pm-10pm

The Glen Shopping Centre, Shop G-014, 235 Springvale Road, Glen Waverley, kpopbbq.com.au