Hanabi @ Lidcombe

2.8 Not Recommended

Food  4      Ambience  1      Service  2      Value  4     

After meeting my friends outside in the cold, we went inside. There was no one in the front part of the restaurant so we walked out into what was essentially the rear garage. After my eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, I noticed several hungry Korean men huddled around each table.

The barbeque embedded in each table was lit and the aroma of all sorts of unusual cuts of meats were being cooked filled the cold night air. There wasn't a lot of talking going on as Koreans take eating (especially meat eating) very seriously, there is no talking until you're finished!

My friend Jin placed the order and thus my education in eating blood and guts Korean style began, we're talking intestine, heart, kidney, liver, lung, pancreas, aorta...you name it and it was there, all served up with garlic laced Kimchi and a range of accompaniments and condiments. I ate everything placed before me partly to avoid causing offence but partly also because it was quite tasty (although clearly unhygienic).

The food was shockingly in your face, vegetarians who even glimpsed the scene would have either passed out or died on the spot (adding to the meat supply perhaps). There were no vegetables served. I don’t even think they knew of vegetables.

Service was barely ok and I was with my Korean friends. I hate to think what it would have been like without them.

I stress, however, that since I came here (2010), Hanabi has changed hands which I am led to believe has improved matters no end. Nevertheless the memories of hard core Bulgogi from that night, still linger on.

Mar 10, 2012 

9.8 Highly Recommended

Food  10      Ambience  10      Service  10      Value  9     

Ok, I wasn't all too impressed with them back in few years ago and didn't go back ever since. I visited their establishment few days ago to meet some friends and they are now in new management and it has improved so much better. The back area which is like a barbeque garden has gone under renovation and is now clean and new compared to the state it was before the new management and I enjoyed the atmosphere of having a barbeque there. The back area was full when we went there so we had to wait about 5 minutes or so and there's something very relaxing and lively about having a gathering and doing your own barbeque. My Korean friends who go there regularly told me that the new owner bought that dump and changed everything so I think I'll be back for more from now on:)

Feb 09, 2012 

2 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  2     

Had a bad experience! It was quite a hot day when we had Hanabi which explained why there was alot of flies around, but it didn't excuse them from serving us a drink with a dead fly in it! Ugh!

The food was so-so. I was turned off from the dead fly still. We hurriedly ate our food and went to pay the bill, and saw that their side dishes (kim chi, potatoes and other assortments) were not only not covered or stored away in refrigeration but it was all visited by flies! And it wasn't just 3 or 4, but like 20 or more! I felt so sick seeing that and I swore never to go there again!

Apr 16, 2010 

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  1      Value  1     

I had a terrible experience here. I had been here once before, and had a meal which was nothing special. The second time I came here, I asked for the Hot BBQ coal based dishes. The waiter said I couldn't as there would be too much smoke. There were other Korean families with lit braziers, and very little smoke. I basically felt very unwelcome and thanked him, then left. Avoid.

Aug 31, 2009 

1.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  1      Service  1      Value  2     

Staff didn't speak english or very little. Food was just put on the table and the waitress walked away without saying anything. I won't be going back it was a rip off.

Apr 26, 2009 

1.8 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  2      Value  1     

The biggest ripoff. $15 bux for a few slices of meat (like 4-6 small thin slices), when you can just go to an all-you-can eat korean bbq for $25 bux. Nothing special about how it was marinated or anything, it's like they give you a small plate of raw meat and you just cook it and eat it. Won't be going back.

Dec 09, 2008 

3.5 Below Average

Food  2      Ambience  4      Service  6      Value  2     

I dunno whether they are related with the one city, I went to city the other night and it was most shocking. The food was frozen and wasn't cooked properly, and so salty I had ask them nicely to taste it themselves. Had it replaced but not much better. They have been friendly to help with issues, but food was just so horrible.

Mar 06, 2008 

2.5 Not Recommended

Food  2      Ambience  2      Service  4      Value  2     

How I wish I'd stuck to sushi rolls from up the street...... the food here is too weird for words. Maybe appealing to the Koreans, but not to this little black duck. Not very sympathetic surroundings and relatively expensive for the area and for what it is. Been there, done that; still shuddering at the memory.

Feb 14, 2008 

7 Recommended

Food  8      Ambience  4      Service  8      Value  8     

Not the most ambient of places to eat but clean and neat. Korean was a totally new experience for us and it was really fun and great food. As with most Korean BBQ places I'm guessing, we had a hot coal BBQ placed in the middle of our table, I thought it was a little dangerous but it did keep us nice and warm on a cold night.

We had delicious little dumplings with dipping sauce for entree and then the BBQ pork chop and BBQ chicken for main. The waiters had limited English but were very helpful and we could not fault them. They answered all our questions and explained what all the strange little condiments jelly squares and salad-stuff on our table was. When the BBQ mains came out they did a round of demonstration cooking, showing us how to cook the meats on our mini BBQ and then how to assemble everything in our lettuce-leaf roll. Then left it to us to keep cooking and eat up! The big exhaust fans aren't great for atmosphere but it does get pretty smoky so they're necessary. Overall, really different food, great balance of flavours and a pretty fun experience. What a gem in little Lidcombe!

May 31, 2006