Hanok Korean Fine BBQ Woden — Restaurant in District of Woden Valley

It has been less than 24 hours since I went in and experienced Hanok Woden. So, the whole experience is still quite fresh. What is so special about this place is they are very sensitive and attentive to the needs of their customers. They leave you in peace to enjoy your food but they definitely know when to be near you to help you.

I particularly enjoy the vibe of the whole place. It's not too fancy but not too ordinary either. It's neat, cozy and, well, appetizing. I sat there observing people's reaction to their first, second and third bite. And everyone seemed to be enjoying their food. A bit weird I know. Either that or they were really hungry. I believe a combination of both.

I was dressed comfortably with a loose top to accommodate the expansion of what was going to expand (lol) after devouring their delectable Pork Belly and Beef Spare Ribs barbecue, which to me tasted really fresh and expensive. Their Pork Belly comes with lettuce and pickled onion, as well as garlic and chillies. If you have been to other Korean restaurants, this may have to be requested, not readily available. That to me is their edge.

We also ordered their Chicken. I arrived late so my bestfriend already ordered the chicken and I got a little bit dismayed that it wasnt spicy but that isnt their fault. However, there was something a bit lacking with the chicken seasoning but overall at par with the ones I tasted in Melbourne and Sydney.

Their sides, however are too die for. They were, to me the main event. As a gastric sleever (I had sleeve gastrectomy in 2014), the sides became the star of the dinner. We particularly loved the head chef (lol)-no I mean the seaweed noodle salad-and I loved the seasoned spring onion. This is a bit weird of a review to highlight the sides but I hope that it resonates with like-minded people who believe that the side-dishes are what make Korean restaurants different from one another. They have almost similar mains but the experience of Korean dining, to me, lies at the very experience of their sides. Some of their sides would be heirloom and family recipes-protected and preserved from generation to generation.

I will definitely come back to try some of their other menu items-but most importantly for their seaweed noodle salad. and to experience their hospitality.

Kudos to the team at Hanok Woden! See you again soon!

Antoinette (Toni) Antigo Clinic Head/Founder The Australian Drip Company Mobile Infusions/Intravenous...

You go out with your loved ones on a special day, have a terrible service and dining experience, pay a handsome ~ $150, get back home, compare it with other Korean BBQ experiences you have had in the city for the same amount or less, realize what happened just wasn't right, and decide to share the experience.

I am sure this was owing to a rather frustrated server who couldn't take the pressure. I refrain from taking her name despite her demeanour being outright rude, dismissive and inconsiderate of the child we had with us. It might have just been a bad day for her. To top it off she spent the rest of the night ignoring me (understandable, but again, not justified).

For the money spent, Gaon or Tasty Hill is a much classier, hygienic and 'tastier' option, HANDS DOWN.

It's been sort of a tradition with my two girls (partner and 8-yr old) to head to a Korean BBQ every few months. I have been a server, worked in delivery, a warehouse, so I am familiar with how crazy things can get on days like Valentine's. So I have the utmost respect for them.

But when all we requested for was to shift tables when there wasn't anyone waiting on either of the two tables I requested for, I was denied it. We were made to sit right outside the kitchen with the curtain open, not sure if it was a dripping roof or pipe above, a jug on the floor sat there catching every drop while the floor was being washed. Better not get into why we eventually asked to be moved. Let's just say what we saw inside wasn't the most appetizing sight. When I asked around, it turned out I wasn't the only one. There are many more unsaid stories waiting to be shared and the place has consistently been losing customers owing to the quality and service.

The worst part, there was no accountability. On our way out, the manager just said, it's busy and I'll let the owner know to look out for your review. What more can you say? Neither did he call the server over to clarify, nor was there an apology or an iota of remorse. And the best part, after we moved, neither did that table get occupied nor did people come flooding in as the server warned us.

I would like to go on. But I have said enough.

Bottom line, if you are planning to head here, please pick Tasty Hill or Gaon instead. You won't regret it.

This place would be perfect if it was 50% - 60% cheaper. It would justify the service,...

The fried chicken and cold noodles were by far the worst. They used old chicken and cooked it with thick, rock hard batters that were hard to bite into. It was so tough and tasted horrible. The half size portion was so tiny but we could not finish them. My toddler who loves kfc had one bite and did not touch them since.

Cold noodles (both plain and spicy) were just flavourless and lukewarm. Yuck. Side dishes were also very poor quality and quantity. The steamed egg and stoned rice bowl was just ok.

As a Korean currently living in Sydney, I advise the owner/chef/management to visit some Korean restaurants in Sydney at least and get some ideas what Korean food actually taste like before you run the business. Not sure if this is a Canberra standard suited to non-Koreans tastebuds. But I feel ashamed and feel genuinely sorry for those who will think that Korean food tastes like this. I have not tried the BBQ, so I haven't got anything to say about that. Sorry for the harsh reviews. But hopefully this will help you improve your food quality in the future. Tonight's dinner was just a waste of money and time...