Myung jang and Obaltan restaurant — Restaurant in Sydney

2/5/25 - 2.5 stars

A pretty long standing Korean spot in central Sydney CBD which really leverages peak hour pricing. Honestly, a lot of Sydney is expensive and especially KBBQ so shouldn't really be that surprised, but, it should at least be good quality right?

Inside is pretty cozy with brick walls and wooden furnishing. Idk what they're trying to do with the lighting, but, it's flickering so quickly it makes you feel like things are moving in slow motion (as can be seen by the black bars on some of my photos). Staff are helpful and frequently change the grill which is good. Ventilation is ok but it still gets a bit smoky.

We got the big set for $260. This itself is not that expensive but drinks were really pricey. 3 soju, 4 beers and 1 makgeolli for $100.

Banchan: A, 7/10. Average

Fried chicken: B, 6/10. Not particularly crispy, juicy or flavourful. In fact, probably a bit bland

Seafood pancake: A, 7/10. A bit oily and with a lot of batter but not much ingredients

Beef tartare: S+, 8.5/10. Definitely the best dish. A lot of sesame oil can do wonders but the nashi pear was nice.

Seasoned rice: B, 6/10. Too much mayo

Beef: S, 8/10. Overall good but not very much at all. Marinated bulgogi and beef rib were...

I had a pretty disappointing experience at Myung Jang. I had a reservation and arrived about five minutes late—tried calling ahead, but no one answered. When I got there, guests who arrived after me were greeted and seated right away, while I was left waiting. About 20 minutes past my booking time, I was finally shown to a table, but nobody really explained anything.

Once I sat down, I wasn’t told that you order through a QR code—and it wasn’t even on my table. I ended up waiting another 40 minutes, desperately trying to flag someone down, but no one came over. Meanwhile, guests next to me had already received their food. When I finally asked a staff member, who seemed like the manager, about ordering, he just said I hadn’t ordered anything yet, even though no one had mentioned how things worked.

I was so frustrated that I left without eating. My partner and I had been looking forward to a nice dinner, and it turned out to be a real letdown. I hope Myung Jang can improve their communication and service so future guests don’t have to go through the...

3 years later... just not as good. The last couple of times the gas burners have gotten ineffective and you start waiting for the BBQ plate to warm up, the meat sits and boils, there is insufficient heat to keep your bbq cooked properly. The banchan selection is subpar now, one of the few times I never asked for a refill of at any korean bbq. From 5 stars to 2 stars for me, it'll be a long time if I'm ever back.

Previous review 3 years ago: Hidden in a cluster of Korean bbq joints, in a nondescript alleyway, and still busy, always popular. All your favourites. Great seafood pancake (Hae Mul Pajeon), crisp and loaded with seafood. Their soupy stuff is worth trying if you want to venture out. Meat cuts are crowd favourites like pork belly and skirt, but also others for the true lovers of bbq - ox tongue. The bbq is flavoursome and tasty without having yo break the bank, and provides perfect enjoyment while you join your friends and swoop your chopsticks and tongs via the warm pit in the centre of your table. Cash payments are discounted...