Now Open: Butcher's Buffet in Chinatown Is Australia's Largest All-You-Can-Eat Korean Barbecue Joint

All hail the king of Korean barbecue buffets—a sprawling 500-square-metre restaurant on Sussex Street in Haymarket with space for 200 diners, 60 individual barbecue stations and private rooms for up to 30 guests.

After struggling to meet customer demand at its original Chinatown outpost, Sydney chain Butcher's Buffet has moved 20 metres down the road, opening not only its largest restaurant to date but also (it claims) the largest all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue buffet in the country.

Butcher's Buffet has enjoyed meteoric success since opening its first outlet in Eastwood in 2019. Booming popularity led to a string of new venues in Strathfield, Blacktown, Cabramatta and Chinatown. However, with overwhelming numbers of diners vying for a table in Haymarket, it seemed the only solution was to go big—really big.

Open seven days a week, Butcher's Buffer offers a choose-your-own-adventure dining experience. Guests chart their own culinary journey rather than following an existing menu, choosing from a diverse meat selection including bulgogi, soy-marinated scotch fillet, wagyu beef belly, spicy pork belly, beef ribs and more.

There's also a hot food section where diners can get their fill of prepared dishes, including pork short ribs, house-made dumplings, potato noodles and, of course, Korean fried chicken. Visitors can wash down their meal with a wide range of beverages that include Korean beer, flavoured soju and ice teas. While the menu is primarily aimed at carnivores, the restaurant does cater to certain dietary preferences. Halal-friendly cuts of chicken and beef are available upon request, and seasonal additions keep the menu fresh for regular customers.

But it's not just the food that has Sydneysiders flocking to Butcher's Buffet. With slick, modern decor, neon lighting and a K-pop soundtrack, party vibes abound, making the chain an especially big hit with younger patrons.

However, while the atmosphere of the restaurant may be contemporary, the philosophy behind the food, overseen by Executive Group Chef Joanne Lee, is all about the rich traditions of Korean dining culture. "Butchers Buffet ensures that only the freshest ingredients and quality meats are used," Lee explains. "Our meats and food selections have been carefully picked, freshly prepared, and deliciously made. Even our sauces are made daily in-store without any preservatives."

Find the Chinatown branch of Butcher's Buffet at Shop 8, 363 Sussex Street, Haymarket, open Sunday–Thursday, 4.30–10pm and Friday–Saturday, 4.30–11pm. Prices start at $36.99 per adult and $21.99 per child for lunch, and $46.99 per adult and $29.99 per child for dinner. Head to the venue's website for more details.