Latest news with #VuzaHospitality
Time Out
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Korean restaurant Hongdae Pocha brings the heart and soul of Seoul's street food to Sydney
Korean food is well and truly having a moment in Sydney, and we can see why. From umami-sweet bulgogi to soft and crisp vegetable pancakes and funky kimchi, Korean food is a one-way ticket to flavour town. The new kid on the block? Hongdae Pocha, a 172-seat restaurant in Chippendale that brings the late-night soul of Seoul to Sydney, complete with sizzling Korean barbecue, chilled soju and neon lights. Started by the Vuza Hospitality group – the same guys behind Buttered, Allta and Funda – this place has just opened next door to the viral Korean bakery (they're the purveyors of the viral Korean salt bread). The chef in charge of Hongdae Pocha is Haeseung Choi, whose resume includes restaurant Jueun in Seoul and Firedoor here in Sydney. Firstly, context about the name: 'Hongdae' is a vibrant neighbourhood in Seoul, and 'pocha' is short for pojangmacha – Korea's street stalls that serve late-night eats, soju and beer in a no-frills setting. It's a big part of Seoul's nightlife, where delicious flavours and good times go hand-in-hand. The team wanted to capture that magic and serve it to Sydneysiders. Craving something punchy? Try the gochujang yukhoe – Korean beef tartare jazzed up with gochujang (Korean red chilli paste) and served on a crisp hash brown. Or go for the yetnal tongdak, a whole deep-fried chook served two ways: one half with a mustard-soy glaze and spring onion, the other slathered in a sweet-sour-spicy sauce. Of course, there's a delish range of banchan (small side dishes). Says chef Choi, 'Pocha is a big part of Korean nightlife – it's where food and drink come together in a relaxed, social setting. With Hongdae Pocha, we wanted to capture that same energy for Sydney – approachable, vibrant and true to the way we eat and socialise back home.' The drinks list is equally fun – soju cocktails, frosty Korean beers and plenty of makgeolli (rice wine) to keep the good times flowing. Geonbae! Find out more here. Address: 5 Central Park Ave, Chippendale NSW 2008
Time Out
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
An incredible new bakery selling Korea's viral salt bread is now open in Chippendale
If you don't spend half your life on TikTok, let me get you up to speed on the salt bread that's taken South Korea by storm. Originating in Japan, the cult baked treat features a golden, crisp shell topped with salt flakes and a soft, buttery interior. It's simple, delicious and comforting – and people are going nuts for them. Case in point: someone recently drove 1.5 hours from Illawarra to Chippendale just to get their hands on one. Where? Buttered – a new Korean bakery and café now open inside a heritage-listed building in Chippendale – one of Sydney's coolest 'hoods. The bakery is by Vuza Hospitality's pastry chef Philip Choi, who trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. 'Salt bread was the treat I craved most when I was homesick,' Choi says. 'It's deceptively simple, but when done right, it's magic.' You can order the original – here called the 'Salty Boi' – or opt for a sweet or savoury filling, including almond, vanilla cream, roasted garlic, spring onion and bacon, or garlic cream cheese. You may also want to come here for the tissue bread – a croissant-style cube of pastry filled with soft, layered folds that pull apart. Flavours include lemon meringue, matcha, pistachio and strawberries and cream. We've also got love-heart eyes for the 'grammable waterfall cake – a light and airy sponge layered with whipped cream and pretty, seasonal fruit cascading down the centre like a waterfall. 'Asian café culture is leading the way when it comes to pastries and drinks, and I wanted to bring a slice of that creativity and comfort to Sydney – with a little twist,' Choi adds. Plus, expect fun Korean drinks made with sparkling water and house-made syrups – yuzu, strawberry or green grape – as well as hot coffee brewed with beans from Bondi's Will & Co. Buttered is open every day from 9am until 5pm, meaning there's plenty of time to get your Salty Boi fix. Find out more here.
