Sáng’s mission is to present the breadth and depth of traditional Korean cuisine in a contemporary setting. So, while fried chicken and bibimbap are here and well executed, the menu’s rewards run far deeper. Order a lager or soju from the punchy drinks list (amazingly, you can still BYO), then start with some mandu, or moon-eo sookhwe – a tangle of poached octopus, radish and chilli. Larger, share-friendly mains also leave a big impression, especially the gujeolpan, a must-order wheel of nine “delicacies” wreathed around a pile of buckwheat pancakes. Ditto the bo ssäm, which is everything you’d hope for and more. Sporting just 24 seats, Sáng is particularly compact and sitting at a squeezy communal table is likely. But what this brilliant family-run spot lacks in elbow room, it more than makes up for with value and just about everything else that makes restaurant dining a total joy.
This review was made independently for the Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide. The guide’s reviewers visit unannounced and pay their way. To learn more about the process, click here.
Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Guide 2023
Our guide gives a yearly snapshot of the best restaurants to eat at right now. The best-rated restaurants, as judged by the reviewers’ first-hand experience, form our national Top 82.
