Now Open: Handpick Your Own Cuts of Wagyu Before Firing Them Up at the CBD's New Korean BBQ Joint Woo399
Pick your meat from the fridge, pay at the counter and then cook up your own highly personalised KBBQ feast.
Melbourne is no stranger to a Korean barbecue restaurant. You'll find them all over the CBD and out in the burbs. We've also got all kinds of them — there are cheap BYO joints and all-you-can-eat affairs, as well as fancier varieties.
Melbourne CBD's newest KBBQ spot Woo399 lands on the more premium side of things. Don't get us wrong, it's not a hushed-voiced fine-diner. There's still plenty of fun to be had fighting over the gas-fired grills in the 104-person restaurant. We say it's more high-end because of the quality of meat that's up for grabs.
The team sources its pure-bred wagyu from Elbow Valley in Queensland, where the cattle are fed a combination of orange pulp and locally grown grains like wheat, barley and corn. This results in outstanding meat quality, with the team sourcing plenty of cuts with a 9+ marble score.
And unlike most Korean barbecue joints, you don't just choose a banquet or selection of meats from the menu. At Woo399, you make your way up to the butcher's fridge, where top-grade meat has already been sliced and packaged for you. Either take this meat home or stick around to dine in.
When dining in, simply pick the wagyu with your desired marbling (and price), add some other meats to your basket (pork belly and ox tongue are also available), pay at the counter and then start cooking. Choose from beef cuts like chuck eye roll, short rib, flat meat and the holy oyster blade.
Each person is charged $9.99 to use the grills, which also gets you complimentary sauces, three side dishes and unlimited soft drinks. For an extra cost, you can order kimchi, croquettes, soups and a bunch of vegetables.
And if you'd rather pair your KBBQ with some booze, Cass Korean larger and soju can be ordered from the waitstaff.
Woo399 is ideal for Korean barbecue fans who are incredibly particular about the cuts and quality of meat they want to grill. There are absolutely no surprises here.
You'll find Woo399 at 399 Lonsdale Street in the CBD, open from 5:30–10pm every day of the week. For more details, visit the restaurant's website.
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