Joseon Korean Restaurant Sydney Olympic Park
By Lisa Nguyen | Published 1 July 2024
Does this spot match the hype?
TL; DR | Summary
Joseon is only open twice a month on Sunday nights. It operates through Plate Café, which opens during the day. As the restaurant transforms into Joseon at night, it features a seasonal Korean set menu. While the location can be tricky to navigate, the cosy atmosphere, delicious dishes, and traditional Korean touches make it well worth the effort to experience this rare dining experience.
Joseon Review
Located at Plate Café, Joseon has a mysterious allure within Sydney Olympic Park. It is open only twice a month on Sunday nights and reservations are essential as they do not accommodate walk-ins.
Getting there is relatively convenient, with decent street parking and a train station, though it often requires a transfer at Lidcombe. First-timers might find it tricky to locate this place as there's no clear "Joseon" signage, but keep an eye out for the Joseon stand at Plate Café.
Joseon features a seasonal menu, rotating between summer and winter selections. The alcohol menu includes soju, red and white wines, and Korean beer. In contrast, the tea beverage menu adds a traditional touch.
The atmosphere is casual yet cosy, enhanced by conventional Korean tools like their unique cutlery bag. Once seated, you're greeted with a complimentary Korean tea, setting the tone for the meal.
Joseon Contemporary Korean Menu
Due to the limited number of guests, the service at Joseon is warm and personal. You can expect to be personally attended to, making the dining experience even more enjoyable.
The set menu is thoughtfully prepared and seasonally tailored. During my visit in Autumn, the menu featured warm soup and hearty mains.
Angus Beef Tartare
We started the course with Australian Angus Beef Tartare marinated in a sweet Korean pear sauce. It was then topped with thinly sliced hweh and ssamjang and wrapped in crispy seaweed. The dish was lovely, offering a variety of textures and flavour notes while remaining light.
Sous-vide Seasonal Fish
This white fish is served with 60-day fermented white kimchi in a seafood stock-based sauce and drizzled with aromatic sesame oil. With the addition of a clear dipping sauce, the tender sous-vide preparation and thoughtful ingredient combination make this dish both delicious and light.
12-Hour Braised Chicken, Beef, and Radish
In Korean set menus and omakases, the main course usually consists of multiple components such as rice, soup and sides.
Such is the case at Joseon. The lengthy preparation time shows how tender each ingredient is in this main dish. Prepared in a sophisticated Gaesung style, this dish is served with a trio of seasonal banchan and a bowl of rice to complement the flavours. It's a perfect way to familiarise yourself with the more traditional Korean sides.
As for the braised chicken, beef, and radish main, it has a homey, comforting feel, reminiscent of meals found in many Asian households. It’s similar to a Vietnamese staple called Thit Kho (Vietnamese Braised Pork with Eggs), featuring braised meat in a caramelised sauce.
While not fancy or extravagant, this dish captures the familiarity of comfort food, making it a satisfying and heartwarming way to enjoy dinner as if you were in a Korean home.
Traditional Creamy Korean Soup
The main dish also includes soup with tofu and green onions. I recommend drinking this after eating the main dish, as the traditional soup is a great palate cleanser.
House-Made Strawberry Ice Cream
For our last course, we had strawberry ice cream made in-house. It was served with a pink lady apple jeonggwa and sweet-flavoured citrus dasik. There's nothing special about this dessert, but it was decent for a light and fruity end to the meal.
RECOMMENDED
- Angus beef tartare
- Sous-vide seasonal fish
- 12-hour braised chicken, beef, and radish
- Traditional creamy Korean soup
Final Words
Joseon's restaurant is a delightful spot for a contemporary Korean food. Its seasonal menus, exclusive cosy atmosphere, and delicious dishes make it a sought-after experience.
The flip side is its minimal opening times and slightly challenging location.
But if you love Korean cuisine and want to explore the traditional side, Joseon is well worth the effort to book ahead and make the trip.
Where to find Joseon In Sydney Olympic Park
Address
Hours
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: Closed
- Thursday: Closed
- Friday: Closed
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: 5:00 – 10:30 PM
Website
Phone
+61 450 313 944
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Loving the captures and the description of the dishes you ate at this place.
Thank you so much Andrew. Appreciating your comments as always 🙂