Hongdae Pocha, a new 172-seat Korean BBQ restaurant, has opened in Chippendale, offering street-style dishes and a vibrant dining experience in a heritage-listed former brewery and warehouse.
Background on the Venue
Hongdae Pocha has opened at 5 Central Park Avenue, Chippendale, within a heritage-listed former brewery and warehouse. The site features exposed brick, steel supports and historical plaques, with seating for up to 172 guests.
The restaurant is operated by Vuza Hospitality, the team behind Allta, neighbouring bakery Buttered, and Funda. The concept is inspired by pocha – the Korean term for casual street food stalls – and aims to recreate the social and lively atmosphere of Seoul’s late-night dining culture.
Menu and Culinary Approach
Head Chef Haeseung Choi, whose background includes Firedoor in Sydney and Jueun in Seoul, has created a menu designed for sharing. Diners can choose from grill-it-yourself beef and pork cuts, seafood pancakes, ramen fried rice served in Shin Ramyun cups, and a selection of banchan.
Signature dishes include the gochujang yukhoe, a Korean beef tartare served on a crispy hash brown, and the yetnal tongdak, a whole deep-fried chicken served half with mustard-soy glaze and spring onion, and half with a sweet-sour-spicy sauce.
Atmosphere and Design
The fit-out combines industrial heritage elements with neon signage, round grill tables and a K-pop soundtrack. The layout includes communal BBQ tables, designed to encourage group dining.
Drinks and Social Dining
The drinks list features soju cocktails, Korean beers and makgeolli. The offering is designed to pair with the informal, share-style dining, reflecting the pocha tradition where food and drinks are central to a night out.
Opening Context
The venue opened in late June 2025, expanding Vuza Hospitality’s presence in Chippendale. The group’s goal is to introduce a Korean dining style that blends authentic street food flavours with a setting adapted for Sydney’s dining scene.
Published 13-Aug-2025
