Kong

I got Kong to cater a party I was having by basically ordering heaps of each of their buns — we did it all by phone and then had someone pick them up on the way. They were a hit — so tasty and easy to eat standing up around the place. They were even nice heated in the microwave for a few latecomers (I had to squirrel these away otherwise we would have hoovered the lot by then). A great way to feed a crowd.

Table for two at this bustling restaurant. Service was good with a seat at the bar to watch all the chefs cooking it.
Ordered a cocktail first which was a margarita, tasted very good and went well to compliment the dishes we had as well.
Next came the baos, there was a crispy chicken one and a pork one. Both having very exquisite flavours and reminding me of the Korean flavours. Kimchi beef platter came next. The beef was cooked to perfection and the kimchi spicy flavours coming out of the kimchi was memorable. The beef was soft and had fantastic texture to it.
Overall the meal was excellent and would definitely come back here!

Amazeballs! One of those places where you want everything on the menu! Luckily the portions are small which means you get to order a couple. Can’t wait to go here again.

Amazing food and great service! Bbq tray was delicious! Get the sago trifle for desert!

Described as Korean Japanese and I’d say they’re about right.
Don’t be deterred if its busy as they’re super quick with service and manage to turn over the tables while not feeling like you’ve been rushed out the door. We put ourself on the wait list and grabbed a drink elsewhere while we waited.
As there was just two of use we scored some great seats at the bar with the view over the busy kitchen. The menu flows well with a good amount of options in the small, med an something more categories. The service was prompt yet not rushed and offered recommendations on what to order.
The funny part is we went against the grain an only ordered one of his recommendations the soft shell crap taco thing and it was awesome! We had something from each of the section and shared all of these. Whilst not a huge amount of food we left feeling satisfied and didn’t pay through the roof like a lot of other people have claimed and had a drink each too.
I’m keen to go back with a bigger group of friends to sample some more of the menu.

I was expecting huge things, Chin Chin things and was bitterly disappointed. I found Kong mediocre at best. The food was pretty expensive and rather pedestrian and the service well it was tuck shop style. For my money I would head to Golden Fields or Supernormal.

Five star service and two star food – Kong didn’t do it for me.
With no drinks except for water, we paid around thirty five dollars each for a table of four and left hungry. Portions were small, the meat (done off-​site according to the server and reheated) was dry and the incredible flavor Kong’s sister restaurant Chin Chin is known for was nowhere to be found. Everything tasted of salt only. The chicken wings were burnt and tasted charred.
The highlights were the bao. The soft shell crab and pork belly were both tasty. The crab was also quite salty but the bright, fresh coriander packed some flavor.
The meat platter was disappointing but the kimchi was divine. The pickled baby corn was nice as well.
The wait was long of course, but service made up for it. Our server was friendly, patient, and helpful. I don’t know, for the same prices and wait times, next time you’ll find me at the food paradise that is Chin Chin.

Wow. I mean… just wow.
I was recommended this place by some of my husband’s work colleagues and I am SO pleased we went. Notably, though, we did arrive there at 5.45pm (early birds, I know), but we were told that if we didn’t, it was very likely we wouldn’t eat till 10pm.
When we rocked up, we were able to secure a seat at the kitchen bar (alternatively you can sit at the cocktail bar, and it’s pretty much the same thing), but there were no other seats in the main dining area left. So that gives you an indication as to how popular it is.
A quick explanation of the menu from our wait staff, and we were ordering like champions. And who doesn’t love buns, right? Order them! The brisket is phenomenal. I thought I would get food envy, because my husband got the soft shell crab, but holy moly, by the time it got to the table (quickly) I was not giving up any of that brisket bun, friend.
The wings are spicy and sweet, sticky and delicious. Don’t be a weirdo, eat them with your fingers. You cannot truly enjoy wings if you don’t eat with your fingers and get wing sauce halfway across your cheek.
Order the pork rolled roti. I wasn’t sure what to expect (but knowing, obviously that I love roti). It’s deliciousness all rolled up into a bun and it’s heavenly. It’s chopped up into four pieces (kind of arrives in a sushi looking way? That sounds ridiculous, doesn’t it, but it’s the best explanation), which makes it easy to eat.
We went on to order a meat platter that arrived with kimchi and buns, a little DIY kit. Delicious. I could eat 15 of those buns and still want more. That’s probably a lie, but they are so wonderfully more-​ish, I have little self control around them. And they clearly go through so many a night. We saw plenty being pulled out of the steamer.
We didn’t order dessert because we were crazy full from all that. But if I DID order dessert, I would’ve gone with that apple tart. Sounds amazing!
If you’re keen, anther recommendation on the list from work colleagues was the eggplant with miso glaze. I’m a sucker for a miso glaze, but there was just no room! I’m sure, based on what I experienced here, that it would be fantastic.
When we walked out there was a very large queue of people waiting for our table, so I’d recommend getting in early if possible.

I’m sorry guys but this is where the buck stops. I can’t take it when post-​fusion millennial asian joints targeted at people that seek out the new & the cool get it all so wrong. it makes you feel ripped off.
I am what I call the vulnerable foodster, seduced by hype into trying that new place with all the good reviews — I dutifully put name down, wait 2 hours downing martinis back home as appetizers — waiting with anticipation for the grace of THAT text, then flying down the street in 10mins flat to get bums on seats. I was buoyed by all the good reviews salivating at the good meal to come.
Well Kong failed hard baby, it tanked. Had they actually served up tasty food this paltry 2-​star review would not have been more than a glimmer in this lady’s eye — that point when the waitstaff suggested a whole bunch of salads and some kimchi fried rice as the best dishes, and dumplings. Darling please — do I look like this is my first time eating Korean-​neu-​Asian?
too harsh?
well the service apart from that was good to be fair. But the place has a hectic vibe and pretty awful white fluro lighting (not for dates) so not sure it’s that enjoyable bad food aside.
Food was very underwhelming, it was actually bad. I was surprised how bad. I’d describe it as very pedestrian fusion new-​age-​but-​tired-​Asian with a heavy kimchi hand (kimchi kingfish was not good). I think If you were new to this you’d think it was good just because the combos are fresh, but this fusion-​asian gets old fast when the flavour isn’t there. Burnt Kim chi (yes again) rice really killed it for me. Dry pork ribs, mamasita-​esque corn cobs (pale comparison), you can see where I’m going with this. Totally average food and life’s too short for that at the prices & wait times Kong demands. I won’t be back.
Chin Chin (same guys) is a much better option, and so is Lucy Liu and Golden Fields — if you’re after this kind of food.

After being to Chin Chin’s, it wasn’t going to be long before I tried out it’s little brother, Kong, too. Whilst it’s clear that they are owned by the same group of people, there are subtle differences that stem from more than just the difference in cuisine that make them just as good as each other.
The first thing that was obvious is that Kong isn’t as ‘grand’ if you like. Rather than being in a massive warehouse, Kong is delicately tucked in nicely to Church St. On a Sunday night, we got a seat straight away (there can be waits though depending on when you go), and were looked after by many lovely staff. Whilst it would be very noisy and bustling in the peak of a Saturday night, when its slightly quieter is when Kong’s strengths really come to the fore.
The menu is very Japanese, however I’m sure there are some hints from a number of many other cuisines, including Korean and Chinese. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to look through the many different types of dishes, and many are perfect to share, which I find is so much more enjoyable than the traditional way of ordering a single main dish with a drink and thats it. We were able to enjoy two buns, a roti roll, delicious Korean BBQ wings, and a brisket fried rice. All of it was so good. Add to that the specially made blended wines made specifically to complement Kong’s menu, it was truly a great experience.

The BBQ son of Chin Chin is a great place to catch up with friends and eat great food. They manage to squeeze in all the flavours of the parent into BBQ treats — my favourite being the chilli wings… I will be back for the ribs

Being a Richmond local, I feel like I am one of the last to finally venture to Kong. I wasn’t really interested in partaking in the mania upon it opening so I ventured on a normal Thursday for lunch with a lovely friend. We met at 12.15pm and didn’t have to wait for a seat — there was plenty of room and we chose to sit at the bar to watch all the action. Winning.
As it was only lunch, we decided to share a couple of things, but not too much — so I will have to go back!
We had a pork belly bun each. And then shared the BBQ chicken & kimchi roti wrap (which they kindly chopped up into four pieces for us) and the beef fried rice with runny egg. All our dishes were tasty. With a decent amount of spice & flavour. I love runny egg, and it topped the fried rice off really nicely. There was also good crunch to the crackling in the pork belly bun. The roti wrap was tasty, but messy once chopped up — definitely a knife and fork number!
Service was friendly & provided a couple of good recommendations when we asked (big tick from me for that — I hate fence sitters when I ask about things on the menu). We didn’t have dessert or drinks (aside from water which was constantly topped up) on this occasion (my friend had to return to work and I had a client later in the evening) so I can’t comment on those aspects.
The space is cool, but would be quite cramped & loud if it was full — not a problem for us on this occasion however as we were at the bar all by ourselves! And it would just add to the buzzy atmosphere anyway.
Overall, a yummy experience! Will definitely return to try more of the menu, but not sure if I would wait hours for a table as that’s not really my style — although there are options nearby if you do need to wait (PA pub, Baby pizza bar, Royal Saxon a bit further afield) — so plan ahead & be prepared. It’s definitely more «fusion» than traditional Korean, but it’s good nonetheless!

WOW! Words don’t express. I am a fan of chin chin & was waiting patiently for the boy to take me to Kong! THE NIGHT FINALLY HAPPENED & it will become a regular thing. Not only was the food on point, the service blew me away!
We went in on a very busy Sunday night, we were advised a 20 min wait time, number given & a txt would be sent once table became available, easy. We popped into the pub up the street had a drink & within about 15 mins our table was ready. We sat at the bar to be greeted by a gorgeous, friendly bar tender who had all the information for us. We asked her recommendations, & she went through the whole menu explaining how it worked, what she liked, portion sizes etc. Love it! The wait staff were hilarious & all smiles the whole night, regardless of how busy it got.
I ordered a beautiful crushed coconut vodka drink with kiwi fruit and strawberry’s, YUMMO & the boy got an Asahi on tap. We then ordered all the food, king fish sashimi, tuna something or other, some soft shell crab buns (you must order these), a meat platter (So so so much meat), half rack of ribs and sweet sticky chicken wings! Sorry did I mention we were starving?!?
OMG each & every dish was simply stunning! Then because you can clearly never have enough food we ordered dessert coconut sago, for me this was the only down side but the boy loved it, I am a big chocolate lover when it comes to dessert & not much else will capture me. In saying this it was by no means bad, just not my cup of tea!
Go to Kong, if you don’t enjoy it I think you need your tatste buds checked.

Food is great. However, waiting nearly 3 hours is not great. They sat us 1 hour after their expected waiting time. There some amazing places to eat in Melbourne that take bookings. This new style of come early and wait only maximises profit not satisfaction. There will always be enough people that think a long wait means it must be the best…,
Update: we were seated 65 minutes and they turned the lights on and pressured us to leave. Never again!

Kong joins the latest craze in Melbourne — Korean Food. You definitely need to think ‘fusion’ here and if you go with that in mind and enjoy the hectic atmosphere for what it is then you have a winner. Currently there are long waiting lists for dinner, again accept this and have a plan! We put our names down on a Friday night at about 7 pm and then popped over to Baby for a vino by the bar while we waited for our table. (note there is no space to ‘wait’ at Kong). PAs is close by so you could also head there while you wait for a table (they will text you).
We sat at the bar, which is my location of choice as you can pick and choose based on the visions of joy that are prepared around you. Or just talk to the honeys serving at the bar ;)
Food waivers between good and excellent. Of particular note are the soft shell crab buns and the roti wraps. The kransky slider was less impressive and a little greasy for me. There is plenty more to try, the mixed plate of meats and sides has been a hit with my friends although I have yet to try it. #bettergoback
If nothing else this is the place to be seen this winter in Melbourne, it’s hustle, it’s cool and it’s a good time. Definitely recommend.

I’ve eaten authentic Korean food in South Korea, and whilst this is more of an Asian fusion blend, the share food and beverage selections are impressive.
The menu is designed for sharing and offers an enormous array of Japanese-​Korean fare. Small dishes like wood grilled scallops, BBQ chicken and kimchi roti rolls, soft shell crab buns and hot wings will wet the appetite. Food from the ‘Natural Fire’ menu will excite. A selection of ribs, chicken, and salmon to name a few, but the Kong Bossam BBQ Tray is sure to be a crowd pleaser. Offering pulled chicken and pork, pork belly, beef brisket, lettuce, pickles, kimchi and walnut ssamjang for $ 28! And if that wasn’t mouth-​watering enough, items from the ‘Rice, Noodle and Greens’ selection will complete your dining experience. And like every meal, you need a drink or five to wash down all that tasty food, and the drinks menu here is as appealing and intriguing as they come.
The large open-​plan kitchen and warehouse vibe is so in right now, and the décor is pretty trendy. Light woods, whites and neon lighting decorate the space with lots of share tables on the floor and casual seating up at the bar. Celebrity chef, Benjamin Cooper, was running the kitchen, which was nice to see.
A good place to visit for lunch and dinner.