Modern Korean Restaurant in Melbourne CBD
Melbourne’s CBD has Korean barbecue on Little Bourke Street, fried chicken in Chinatown, a late night menu on La Trobe and a modern Korean dining room on Little Collins. Rōnin is on Little Collins too, at number 445, and it is none of those things. It is a ten seat counter where one chef cooks a Korean omakase.
If you are looking for a modern Korean restaurant in the city for a night that feels like an occasion, this page explains what you get and what you do not.
No Menu, No Ordering, No Grill
There is nothing to order. Chef Liam Lee decides about ten courses from the day’s produce and cooks them in front of the room. The seasoning is jang and ferments made in house, the heat is charcoal. Why there is no printed menu is explained on the journal, and what omakase means is on its own page.
What Fusion Means Here
Fusion at Rōnin is Korean cooking that uses what grows here and what the chef learned in Melbourne kitchens, not Korean flavours dropped onto Western plates. A beef tartare seasoned with gochujang, short rib cooked for seventeen hours, noodle soup, banchan as courses. Press coverage from Broadsheet and Melbourne Food and Wine has described the range. The menu changes with the season.
Where It Sits Among CBD Korean Restaurants
For a group dinner over a grill, Hwaro and Hwadam are the CBD names. For a modern Korean dining room with a menu, Doju is a few doors down Little Collins. For a counter where the chef cooks ten courses for ten people, there is Rōnin. Korean fine dining in Melbourne sets out the fine dining side of that comparison.
Between William and Queen Streets
445 Little Collins St is a short walk from Southern Cross and Flagstaff stations, and a block from the Collins Street tram stops. Directions and what is nearby are on the location page.
Price, Hours and Booking
A$195 per guest, paid at booking. Wednesday to Saturday from 6pm, dinner only. Seats open on the 20th of each month at 8pm via OpenTable. No dietary alterations, no BYO. The counter can be booked out for ten.
Common Questions
Is Rōnin a Korean barbecue?
No. There is no grill at the table and nothing to order. It is a ten seat omakase counter.
Can I order a la carte?
No. The chef decides every course. The price is A$195 per guest for about ten courses.
Is it suitable for a work dinner?
For up to ten, yes, and the whole counter can be booked for a group. Larger functions are handled by email at info@roninomakase.com.
Do you open for lunch?
No. Dinner only, Wednesday to Saturday from 6pm.
Book a Seat
445 Little Collins St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Wed to Sat, 6pm to 11pm (dinner only)
0401 721 491 | info@roninomakase.com