Dari Korean Café and Bar
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Visitors to Hardware Lane are rewarded by a taste of South Korea with Dari Korean Cafe and Bar. Owner, Yoon Ji Park, who grew up in South Korea, is passionate about her culture and desires to share her love for Korean street food with Melbournians. Dari is the Korean word ‘bridge’ and speaks to Yoon’s passion to unite Australian and Korean culture by showcasing and replicating the nostalgic flavours of her childhood, but also to bring a different side of Korean cuisine to Melbourne.
Melding together Australian and Korean cafe culture, Dari’s day time menu boasts a large array of Korean sandwiches and sweet treats typically seen on the streets of Busan and Seoul, but hardly seen before in Melbourne’s cafe scene. Each sandwich has been carefully crafted to incorporate a taste of Korean culture, but with a unique twist.
We loved tasting our way through the menu. The bulgogi buns and sandwiches are our top picks. The Sweet Beef Bulgogi sandwich, featured melt in your mouth sweet soy beef, lettuce, Onion and Sesame Mayo Sauce within a grilled in Japanese-style milk bun. The Spicy pork bulgogi burger bun on the other hand featured hot and spicy tender morsels of pork bulgogi – perfect for those who want a little chilli kick!
Whatever you do, do not leave without trying the In-Jul-Mi Toast. Think gooey rice cake adorned with lashings of sweet soy spread goodness sandwiched between white bread and toasted to perfection before being topped with lashings of sweet soy powder, sweet soy spread, honey, nuts, rice cake and condensed milk.
Apart from coffee, expect to find interesting hot and drink options (13 in total) from Korean Kombucha (Hong-cho) to Black Sesame Lattes as well as delectable cocktails - think orange and lemon soju that is a sweet and tart combination with a fruit popping pearl or coconut mukgulli highballs which brings out the nutty and creamy taste of Mukgulli and delicious chewy coconut jelly.
Yoon takes pride in knowing that most of the beverage options are all made in-house or flavouring ingredients are made to order from Korean milling specialists in Melbourne, fine-tuning each ingredient for the perfect taste and balance.
Dari Korean Cafe and Bar offers both uniquely Korean items for Melbourne’s foodie fanatics and quick takeaway options for busy, city workers.
Location: 27-29 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Phone: 03 9917 2299
