MELBOURNE | Paik’s Pan is the newest popular Korean chain to hit Melbourne. It’s from the same team who have brought Korean chef and restaurateur Jong Won Paik’s restaurants Paik’s Noodle and Paik’s Bibim to town. I popped in a few weeks ago to check it out for What’s On Melbourne.
The focus at Paik’s Pan is on Korean-style hotpot and foundational Korean dishes, which aren’t commonly seen in Australia. Portions are generous, and dishes are designed to be enjoyed between a few people. If you have leftovers, take-away isn’t an issue.
In the same family as shabu shabu, the hot pot at Paik’s comes with broth, and an assortment of meat and veg to the side. When the pot reaches a simmer, you add the ingredients as you please. It’s a light dish, and quite healthy, consisting mostly of vegetables and lean protein.
Beyond hot pot, the two other must order items at Paik’s are dakgalbi (spicy stir-fried boneless chicken ribs) and rabokki (tteokbokki with the addition of ramen noodles, eomuk (fish cakes), gochujang, and egg).
The chicken in the dakgalbi is marinated in a gochujang-based sauce, then stir fried with tteokbokki, sweet potato, green cabbage, and Korean perilla leaves (kkaennip jangajji). When hot, it’s topped with cheese which melts through. When you’re done with the ingredients, a bowl of rice is added and mixed through with the remaining sauce to create some tasty fried rice with lots of crispy bits.
Everything is cooked tableside by the restaurant staff. If you’re inclined to cook things yourself, you can. There’s easy to follow instructions at each table.
To drink, it’s Korean sodas and juices, soji, makgeolli, and makgeolli cocktails. Dietaries are well catered for, and in one difference from the Korean menu, pork options aren’t a thing here, which has allowed Paik’s Pan to obtain Halal certification.
Paik’s Pan
15 Healeys Lane
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia
Telephone: (03) 9738 9058
E-mail: n/a
Website
Open
Mon – Sun: 5:00pm to 10:00pm