Sáng by Mabasa: Restaurant review

Sáng's mission is to present the breadth and depth of traditional Korean cuisine in a contemporary setting. So, while fried chicken and bibimbap are here and well executed, the menu's rewards run far deeper. Order a lager or soju from the punchy drinks list (amazingly, you can still BYO), then start with some mandu, or moon-eo sookhwe – a tangle of poached octopus, radish and chilli. Larger, share-friendly mains also leave a big impression, especially the gujeolpan, a must-order wheel of nine "delicacies" wreathed around a pile of buckwheat pancakes. Ditto the bo ssäm, which is everything you'd hope for and more. Sporting just 24 seats, Sáng is particularly compact and sitting at a squeezy communal table is likely. But what this brilliant family-run spot lacks in elbow room, it more than makes up for with value and just about everything else that makes restaurant dining a total joy.

Sáng by Mabasa
98 Fitzroy St, Surry Hills
(02) 9331 5175
sangbymabasa.com.au

Chef Seung-kee Son & Jin-sun Son
Price guide $$
Bookings Recommended
Wheelchair access No