Kong

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Kong – Richmond – Wednesday 4 June 2014 – Lunch

20140604-161631-58591920.jpgIt’s a really late time for lunch. The first week must have been good for Kong because there are several tables at 3pm just starting!

There is an air of confidence that must come from running one of the most successful restaurants in Melbourne. There’s no air of trepidation but it is that feeling that the examination is just beginning.

I was at Chin Chin for a banquet last Saturday and I’d rather not talk about it. It was probably absolute coincidence that the service and knowledge downstairs were not up to scratch. I’ll leave it at that.

Having been to the pop-up of Kong I know I love the food. I like the concept and the vibe around the food too. Walking in to the restaurant I definitely like the permanent version as well.

Unfortunately it is a quick lunch limiting me to one dish and it’s not easy to pick. In the end I have gone for the chicken ramen (wood roasted chicken with chrysanthemum, ginseng, chestnuts and fried ramen egg). The egg in particular is spectacular. The more flavoursome leg of the chicken is delicious but the breast is a bit too thick meaning the flavours haven’t penetrated as much. The broth is delicious – more complex and rich than many other ramen type soups I’ve encountered. The Korean Hite beer is good and the French marsanne is even better with it.

Next time I’ll be back to try a bit more or if it’s lunch I’ll have the ssam roti-roll or buns.

I’m sure there will be some long waits for dinner but the greatest thing about Kong will be if the quality remains long after the hype diminishes.

Kong BBQ on Urbanspoon

A Day In The City – Saturday 3 May 2014
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A Day In The City – Saturday 3 May 2014

Pop ups

Pop ups

Church of Secular Coffee - St Ali

Church of Secular Coffee – St Ali

The pop-up is a relatively new concept. Though unlike the concept it encapsulates, it is likely to stay popular for a long time. Seeing three pop-ups side-by-side only strengthens this notion.

The question is – if a pop-up is going to be in place for six months is it a pop-up? Either way, the business case behind it seems irrefutable! At 80 Collins Street in the city three eagerly anticipated, or already popular and established, restaurants have joined forces and the result is delicious. We had got into the city early on account of the horrible forecast for early afternoon and later in the day. So a quick long black from The Church of Secular Coffee, a St Ali offshoot, was needed. But we had come for Kong.

Brisket Buns

Brisket Buns

Kong is the soon to arrive Oriental barbeque restaurant in Richmond at the old Pearl Cafe which will be the third child of a very successful family after Chin Chin and Baby. We had to wait to midday for what we knew would be strongly flavoured and rich offerings. The 16 hour smoked brisket steamed bun is delectable. The meat is beautifully cooked (though not necessarily generously served) and the slightly spicy accompanying wombok kimchi (Korean pickled cabbage), walnut ssamjang (Korean spicy paste) and kewpie (a mayo) create an amazing filling for the star in my book, which is the fluffy steamed bun. Two for $11 is reasonable, but not cheap.

Wonderbao lane!

Wonderbao lane!

The more innovative dish is the ssam roti rolls. BBQ lemon & gochujang (yet another spicy Korean condiment) chicken is served in a very light roti, quite crisp and thin, with Korean chilli paste, slaw and zucchini kimchi. It is heartier than the buns and a good option for lunch at $12. The flavours are a little more restrained but still a great balance for the slight chilli punch. The roti works nicely to keep it all together, but the wrapper is still definitely needed!

Wonderbao

Wonderbao

Jimmy Grants also has a pop-up in between and I’ll be rushing back to try their souva!

After checking out a free exhibition at the State Library on Rome: Piranesi’s Vision we had worked up a bit more appetite! I’ve always wanted to try a bun at Wonderbao and it was worth going a bit out of the way! I expected something a lot smaller for $3.50 but the Da Pork Bao was huge and equally delicious. The filling was especially great, but although the bun was nice, it was so big that I couldn’t finish it. I’ll be back, but with a bigger appetite!

We eventually had run out of puff doing quite a bit of walking and just made it to Cumulus Inc for an Originale (Belvedere Vodka, Campari, Tonic and Lime) as the rain came down.

Kong on Urbanspoon