TONGKUN — Restaurant in Hamilton

I was really looking forward to going there. However, the service was terrible. And we will not be returning. I rang at 7pm and was offered a reservation for 8.30 pm. Great, I thought to myself.

When we arrived, they told us they closed at 10 pm. I thought that's lots of time. However, with the slow service, I was counting down the minutes and watching the clock.

When the staff finally made it to our table to explain the MENU and left, we realised we didn't have all the cooking utensils to cook with and weren't advised properly what and how everything worked or how to cook our food. If we didn't see the people next to us open their draw, we wouldn't have even known where the eating utensils were. Our utensil draw had not been replenished, so our son had to go and ask for some forks. It took approximately 20 minutes for them to bring us five forks. It was then they realised we didn't have cooking tongs and scissors. We had been cooking with chop sticks over a very hot charcoal fire, and it was extremely difficult, hot, and dangerous.

Most of the staff had already started to tidy other areas in the restaurant, so there wasn't staff to assist us, which made us feel uncomfortable and like we needed to rush. One of the staff members was refiling the steel water jugs at the bar on the other side of the room. She was placing them in the fridge. Which I thought odd considering we were left to our own devices. The water in our jug was cold, which was great, but it tasted stale and old. I tried to add my fizzy to make it better, but it still tasted terrible. There was no waitstaff close by, and by this stage, I didn't want to ask. Luckily, there was a plastic container of water at the far end of our table.

Admittedly, the chicken nibbles we're lovely, but the majority had run out. There were around 10 different types, but they only had five remaining types in the warmers. There was no one interested enough to let us know if more was coming out. I waited but went back to our table to cook our meat.

We had to ask for more meat, and it took ages for it to come out. When it arrived, we were told again they would close at 10 pm. So I asked for the pork belly and the chicken to be brought out. When we cooked, the pork belly it caught on fire because we didn't know we needed to place it on the outer parts of the cooker. By this stage, we had a staff member come over to advise us how to cook the pork belly, which tasted burnt and tasted like wild pork. It still had hair in the skin. Our fire rack was burnt by the pork belly, which made the chicken we cooked next taste burnt. Luckily, the chicken was super spicy, and we were kinda full.

Service was slow, with only one person managing 5 or 6 tables. We noticed staff wandering around and cleaning other dining areas, which was disappointing. Because we required some help.

The majority of the food was spicy, so for people like me who don't like spicey food, there was only pickled raddish and lettuce. We had to pay for the rice, which were the only accompaniments that I could eat.

We are extremely disappointed, to say the least, and we WILL NOT be returning. We paid for five adults, two bowls of rice, and two fizzy drinks, which cost almost $200.

Now I wish I hadn't taken our friends from out of town there. It was embarrassing. They were shocked. To be honest, I think I should get a...

Good food and value, but uncomfortable service experience.

We recently visited Tongkun and have mixed feelings. The food itself was great - the BBQ beef skirt and pork belly were excellent, and there was a surprisingly wide range of Korean fried chicken flavours. For the price, it’s definitely good value.

However, the way our group was treated by staff made the experience quite uncomfortable. For example, my wife saw the sign on the drinks fridge saying “please ask staff,” so she did - a staff member helped her and handed her the drinks. But another staff member later came over and told her off in front of other guests, seemingly thinking she had just helped herself. If the rule is to order drinks from the table, that should have been made clear by the first staff member - and the second shouldn’t have assumed she couldn’t read English.

There were also a few other moments that made us feel watched. While cooking pork belly over charcoal, there were small flare ups (as expected). I knew how to handle it, but before the flames could die down, a staff member rushed over to tell me what to do - even though other tables were having similar flare ups. It felt like we were being singled out.

Finally, staff repeatedly cleared plates that still had food on them - once right from beside my face. With many tables around still full, it gave off the impression that they were eager for us to finish up. In some Asian cultures, that’s considered quite rude.

Overall, the food and value were great, but the way we were treated made us feel uncomfortable enough that we ended the meal early. Hopefully the management can look into staff training so all guests can enjoy their meal without feeling under scrutiny.

——— Update after the owner’s response:

I’m very disappointed by the owner’s response, which unfortunately contains false accusations rather than addressing the real issue.

You claimed our group overstayed the 90-minute limit and that you gave us 15- and 5-minute reminders. That’s simply not true. Our booking was at 5:00 - your opening time, and while we arrived a little late, our payment record shows we left at 6:12 - well within your time limit. No reminders were given at any point because they weren’t needed.

More concerningly, a friend from our group has just told me that one of the staff actually snatched a plate out of her hand - she had simply picked up the wrong plate by mistake while getting meats. This reinforces the patronising and overbearing attitude we all felt that evening.

Rather than acknowledging these concerns, your reply chose to deny and deflect with made-up details. That’s extremely disappointing and leaves us with no confidence that the situation will improve.

For that reason, I’ve revised my review from three star to one star. The food may be good, but being treated disrespectfully - and then falsely accused afterwards - completely ruins...

If you're craving mouthwatering Korean BBQ and crispy fried chicken, look no further than Tongkun Korean BBQ & Korean Chicken in Hamilton CBD! From the moment we stepped in, we were greeted with friendly service, a warm atmosphere, and the delicious aroma of sizzling meats on the grill.

The restaurant has a modern yet cozy vibe, perfect for a casual meal with friends or a fun Korean BBQ experience. The staff were attentive, friendly, and happy to explain the menu, ensuring we got the best out of our meal. Everything was clean and well-organized, with the BBQ grills at each table making the experience interactive and enjoyable.

Korean BBQ (Samgyeopsal – Pork Belly & Beef Bulgogi) We opted for grilled pork belly (samgyeopsal) and beef bulgogi, and they did not disappoint! The pork belly was thick-cut, juicy, and crispy after grilling, while the beef bulgogi was beautifully marinated, slightly sweet, and incredibly tender. The side dishes (banchan) complemented the BBQ perfectly—kimchi, pickled radish, and fresh lettuce wraps added great balance to the flavors.

Korean Fried Chicken (Soy Garlic & Spicy) The crispy fried chicken was an absolute highlight! We tried both the soy garlic and spicy flavors, and each bite was perfectly crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, and packed with authentic Korean flavors. The soy garlic had a deliciously sweet and savory glaze, while the spicy version had just the right amount of heat without being overwhelming.

Tteokbokki (Spicy Rice Cakes) A Korean street food classic, this dish had chewy rice cakes coated in a thick, spicy-sweet gochujang sauce. The flavor was bold, and it paired wonderfully with the fried chicken.

Kimchi Fried Rice This dish was rich, slightly tangy, and full of umami goodness, with just the right level of spice. Topped with a fried egg, it was comfort food at its finest.

Korean Soju & Drinks To complete the experience, we ordered soju (Korean rice liquor) and Korean soda, which paired wonderfully with the bold flavors of the dishes.

I’ll definitely be back for another round of Korean BBQ and fried chicken! Highly...