Soju Social — Restaurant in Sydney

Drove 50 minutes to check this place out because of an Instagram influencer post and I have lost so much credit for them now.

Tl;dr - Dry and cold chicken pieces overshadowed by mere side dishes. Take your $40 and enjoy some proper Korean fried chicken elsewhere (or even a pub steak) and save yourself the disappointment and stomach ache.

The KFC == Take a look at the picture of the dry-as-hell chicken I took. The kitchen clearly isn't experienced with cooking times because some pieces were dry and some were fine. But when every piece of chicken is a Russian Roulette, you only remember how bad the experience is.

Chicken pieces were smaller than expected. Maybe twice the size of a Macca's chicken nugget.

I tried a bunch of flavours and some of them were mediocre, like the "Vietnamese chicken" (which was just the original flavour with Vietnamese style sauce), and the Mala Mala chicken (which was super oily and not properly salted).

The batter on the chicken was terrible as well. It was either too hard (not crispy) or soggy. Likely once again because the kitchen doesn't know their cooking times for chicken breast and chicken thighs individually.

To top it all off, the chicken wasn't even served hot. It was warm to slightly cold once it hit our table, and that was after waiting 30 minutes for it after ordering.

The Sides == Imagine the sides being the best part of the meal.

Cheese corn was delicious but how can you mess that up? I wanted to save half of it to eat with the chicken but by the time the chicken did come, the cheese had hardened.

The restaurant knows what they're doing with their tteokbokki, and how large of a serving they give you. The plate that it comes in has more volume than 20 pieces of chicken. This was a huge mistake to order, and took away too much stomach space for something I only really wanted a bite of.

Kimchi dumplings had nice and crispy skin, but mushy filling. So it was okay at best in my opinion.

Chips were nice and well seasoned, but they shouldn't have been the star of the show.

Also, the free pickled dishes they give you with everything were nice and refreshing. But I'm not paying $40 for this...

The service == The place wasn't even packed for dinner service (red flag) and we had to wait 30 minutes for the chicken order to be served, only for the chicken to be lukewarm to slightly cold at the first bite. Communication between the kitchen and the floor team needs...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Soju Social, and I can confidently say it's one of the best experiences I've had in a long time! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted by the friendly and welcoming staff who made me feel right at home. Their genuine enthusiasm for the menu and willingness to recommend dishes truly enhanced my dining experience.

Now, let’s talk about the food! The menu is a delightful blend of traditional Korean pub fare with modern twists that will tantalize your taste buds. I started with the kimchi fries, which were perfectly crispy and topped with a generous amount of savory kimchi and melted cheese. It was an explosion of flavors that set the tone for the rest of the meal.

The Korean fried chicken. WOW! It was truly amazing! The chicken was perfectly crispy on the outside, with a juicy and tender interior that was bursting with flavor. I opted for the spicy garlic sauce, and it was a match made in heaven—just the right amount of heat balanced with a savory sweetness. Each bite was a delightful explosion of taste that left me craving more.

The sides were equally impressive! The pickled radishes and crunchy coleslaw complemented the chicken beautifully, adding a refreshing crunch that rounded out the meal. I also couldn’t resist trying the kimchi fries, which were deliciously indulgent and a great sharing option.

For the main course, I ordered the bulgogi tacos, and they were nothing short of amazing! The marinated beef was tender and flavorful, paired with fresh vegetables and a zesty sauce that brought everything together. Each bite was a delightful fusion of Korean and Mexican influences that left me craving more.

And let’s not forget the drinks! The soju cocktails were refreshing and expertly crafted, making them the perfect complement to the rich flavors of the food. The staff was also very knowledgeable about the drink menu, helping me choose the perfect pairing for my meal.

Overall, Soju Social exceeded my expectations in every way. The combination of friendly service, incredible food, and a vibrant atmosphere makes it a must-visit spot for anyone looking to indulge in delicious Korean pub cuisine. I can’t wait to return and try more dishes from their fantastic menu!...

this place is more known for their bar at night but we decided to try it out for lunch on a Sunday. To satisfy those korean cravings 😇

We got a fair amount of food as we wanted to try out their menu. You know when you’re hungry at 2am and decide to cook a whole meal? All of these dishes tasted like that. So I wouldn’t say “homemade” as it was not quality. It tasted easy. It tasted like it had no love 🥲

The KFC was drier than the Sahara desert and the sauce on the spicy one was SOO thicc that it was so hard to eat! The sauce would cool down and get even thicker. The snow cheese on the chicken was the best part of the kfc… The corn dog was meh. Tasted frozen. The rabokki was actually the most decent out of the feed and it was pretty good! The sauce was nice and not too thiccc, still runny to coat the noodles and it had a good sweet, spicy taste. It was yummy but it wasn’t “wowwww”.

Sadly, cravings were not satisfied :/

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3/6

for more local casual eats in the area! head to my ig...