If you’ve never tried Korean BBQ before, walking into a restaurant with grills on every table and a menu full of unfamiliar names can feel a bit intimidating. At Geonbae in Frankston and Hastings, the whole experience is designed to be welcoming, fun and easy—even for complete beginners.
1. Understand how Geonbae works
Geonbae offers both Korean BBQ and a range of classic Korean dishes, so you can choose the style that suits you best. At Frankston, you can explore set menus or order à la carte, with the BBQ meats cooked right at your table. At Hastings, you can enjoy an all‑you‑can‑eat Korean BBQ buffet in the evenings, with a generous selection of meats, hot dishes, salads and sides.
If you’re new to Korean BBQ and not sure what to order, a set menu is a great place to start. It gives you a balanced mix of meats, banchan (side dishes) and classic Korean favourites, without you needing to make too many decisions.
2. Start with the basics: meat and banchan
Korean BBQ is all about grilling bite‑sized pieces of meat at the table and pairing them with a variety of side dishes. At Geonbae, you’ll find favourites like beef bulgogi, galbi (beef short rib), pork belly, spicy pork and marinated chicken on the BBQ selection. When your order arrives, the meat will come raw and ready for the grill, and the staff will help you get started if it’s your first time.
Alongside the meat, you’ll see small plates of colourful banchan—kimchi, pickled radish, seasoned vegetables and more. These are designed to be shared by the whole table. You can snack on them between bites of meat, mix them into lettuce wraps, or enjoy them with rice.
3. How to grill your meat at the table
Don’t worry if you’ve never cooked at the table before; the team at Geonbae will set up the grill, turn on the heat and can guide you through the first round. Here are a few simple tips:
- Place pieces of meat on the hot grill in a single layer so they cook evenly.
- Give them time to sear before turning—flipping too often can dry them out.
- Cook marinated meats like bulgogi and spicy pork until they’re nicely caramelised on the outside.
- If you’re unsure whether something is done, just ask a staff member for help.
At the Hastings buffet, you can walk up to the meat section, choose your favourites and bring them back to the table to grill as you go, making each round a little different.
4. Build your own lettuce wraps
One of the most fun parts of Korean BBQ is making ssam—lettuce wraps. Geonbae even has a blog post dedicated to the art of lettuce wraps, because it’s such a key part of the experience.
Here’s how to make one:
- Take a fresh lettuce leaf as your base.
- Add a piece of grilled meat straight from the BBQ.
- Top with a dab of ssamjang (Korean BBQ sauce), maybe some kimchi, garlic or sliced chilli.
- Wrap it up into a small parcel and eat it in one bite.
The combination of smoky meat, crunchy lettuce and bold sauces is what makes Korean BBQ so addictive.
5. Don’t forget the cooked dishes and comfort food
Korean BBQ is the star at Geonbae, but there’s much more on the menu. Signature dishes like Japchae (stir‑fried glass noodles), Bibimbap (mixed rice with vegetables and sauce), premium Wagyu and crispy Korean Fried Chicken are all worth trying. If you’re dining with someone who doesn’t eat much meat, they can still enjoy plenty of cooked dishes, soups and rice bowls.
At Hastings, many of these dishes appear on the buffet line, so you can sample a little bit of everything alongside your BBQ meats.
6. Make the most of the experience
Korean BBQ is meant to be shared. It’s ideal for family dinners, birthdays, date nights and catch‑ups with friends. To make your first visit to Geonbae even better:
- Book ahead, especially for weekends or buffet nights.
- Try a mix of meats—mild, marinated and spicy—to discover what you like.
- Share dishes and banchan across the table so everyone can taste a bit of everything.
- Raise a glass and say “Geonbae!”—Korean for “cheers”—to complete the experience.
By the end of your first Korean BBQ at Geonbae, you’ll not only be full—you’ll also understand why so many people fall in love with this hands‑on, social way of dining.
