Sáng by Mabasa is a small family-owned business serving authentic Korean food but don’t be fooled, this isn’t your typical Korean restaurant 😉. What captivated our visit was their use of traditional Korean ingredient transformed into beautiful and delicious contemporary artworks.
Sáng offers a wide range of dishes on their à la carte menu under $20 for lunch and dinner. They also do weekly set menus: a $60 vegan set with 6 dishes and a $80 omnivore set with 8 dishes.
We ate here on Sunday night. Everything shown was shared between the two of us, except for the two soups.
Sáng offers a wide range of dishes on their à la carte menu under $20 for lunch and dinner. They also do weekly set menus: a $60 vegan set with 6 dishes and a $80 omnivore set with 8 dishes.
We ate here on Sunday night. Everything shown was shared between the two of us, except for the two soups.
Set 80
Our first dish was the banchan; a vegan serving of three typical Korean side dishes. Each one was simple in execution with delicious results. Rated ⭐ 10/10.
In anti-clockwise order, we had crown daisies with sesame seeds and chilli. This was a clean and aromatic bite. We’ve never had crown daises cooked Korean style before, only in a Chinese hotpot. This vegetable was steamed, strained dry and served cold. Its earthy taste was elevated by the roasted sesame and heat of the chilli.
Next was a typical favourite, kimchi. This kimchi tasted homemade because it was not as sour or drenched in pickled juices as the store-bought ones often used at other, larger restaurants. There was more salt and chilli sticking to the pickled vegetables. The moment we had a bite, we knew we’d be back for more 🤤.
The last one was white kimchi. This was steamed Napa cabbage, lightly pickled and served with chopped up chilli. This was another clean bite. I found it milder in spice than the kimchi.
In anti-clockwise order, we had crown daisies with sesame seeds and chilli. This was a clean and aromatic bite. We’ve never had crown daises cooked Korean style before, only in a Chinese hotpot. This vegetable was steamed, strained dry and served cold. Its earthy taste was elevated by the roasted sesame and heat of the chilli.
Next was a typical favourite, kimchi. This kimchi tasted homemade because it was not as sour or drenched in pickled juices as the store-bought ones often used at other, larger restaurants. There was more salt and chilli sticking to the pickled vegetables. The moment we had a bite, we knew we’d be back for more 🤤.
The last one was white kimchi. This was steamed Napa cabbage, lightly pickled and served with chopped up chilli. This was another clean bite. I found it milder in spice than the kimchi.
THIS WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF OUR NIGHT 😍. This was an extra dish we ordered from their ‘snacks menu’. It was the yang bokkeum, gochujang stir-fried tripes for $12. Rated ⭐ 12/10.
It was soooo flavorful and tender. The tripe didn’t have that overly chewy, odd texture that usually puts most people off. It tasted almost like meat!! It was very soft, requiring minimal chewing. They tossed the tripe on a pan so there were some irresistibly delicious charred pieces in the mix.
The gochujang flavour is a Korean sauce often used in KBBQ marinade. It has a mildly sweet and slightly chilli taste. When coated around every orifice of the tripes, it added a well-balanced flavour profile of spice, umami and sweetness. We’re so glad this was on their ‘snacks’ menu because it meant it would always be available to order 😆.
It was soooo flavorful and tender. The tripe didn’t have that overly chewy, odd texture that usually puts most people off. It tasted almost like meat!! It was very soft, requiring minimal chewing. They tossed the tripe on a pan so there were some irresistibly delicious charred pieces in the mix.
The gochujang flavour is a Korean sauce often used in KBBQ marinade. It has a mildly sweet and slightly chilli taste. When coated around every orifice of the tripes, it added a well-balanced flavour profile of spice, umami and sweetness. We’re so glad this was on their ‘snacks’ menu because it meant it would always be available to order 😆.
Ok, back to the set, this was the eohwe: diced raw kingfish on top of pickled garlic scapes and crispy quinoa-brown rice, with a touch of sesame oil and dried chilli. Rated ⭐ 10/10.
This was unexpectedly delicious, with fragrant flavours and contrasting textures. The small bite-sized kingfish had a fresh and clean taste. The coating of sesame oil brought out an aromatic layer of the fish, making it a little oily. We could distinguish the soft garlic shoots, the subtle saffron, and the beautiful crunchy elements of the roasted quinoa rice.
This was unexpectedly delicious, with fragrant flavours and contrasting textures. The small bite-sized kingfish had a fresh and clean taste. The coating of sesame oil brought out an aromatic layer of the fish, making it a little oily. We could distinguish the soft garlic shoots, the subtle saffron, and the beautiful crunchy elements of the roasted quinoa rice.
This one was for the bland palates 🙋🏻♀️. The mooneo-juk was a gluten-free octopus porridge with chunky octopus pieces, spring onions and seaweed.
There was a moderate amount of chunky octopus pieces with an enjoyable bouncy bite to them. The pepper garnish and earthy spring onions elevated the porridge well. It was more of a loose porridge than a chunky one. I was suffering from a dry throat that night so this was so comforting to slurp down. ⭐ I rated it 9/10, Mick said 7/10.
There was a moderate amount of chunky octopus pieces with an enjoyable bouncy bite to them. The pepper garnish and earthy spring onions elevated the porridge well. It was more of a loose porridge than a chunky one. I was suffering from a dry throat that night so this was so comforting to slurp down. ⭐ I rated it 9/10, Mick said 7/10.
Mick loves Korean fried chicken, especially with snow cheese. Unfortunately, our expectations were set too high so when yangnyeom KFC arrived, the results were a little underwhelming. Rated ⭐ 8/10.
This KFC was a tender chicken wing, fried in batter and glazed with a sweet honey sesame dressing. Th meat was tender but a bit of gnawing was needed to get it off the bone. The aromatic sesame seeds and spice lingered throughout the bite. It was good but not our favourite flavour of KFC (Team Snow Cheese 😅).
This KFC was a tender chicken wing, fried in batter and glazed with a sweet honey sesame dressing. Th meat was tender but a bit of gnawing was needed to get it off the bone. The aromatic sesame seeds and spice lingered throughout the bite. It was good but not our favourite flavour of KFC (Team Snow Cheese 😅).
Ooft, this yassam was one of the best palate cleansers we’ve ever had. It was pickled white radish wraps with cucumber, nashi pear and shredded perilla leaves. Rated ⭐ 11/10.
This vegan dish was so damn yummy 🤤🤤🤤. The sticky, sweet yassam sauce masked the strong earthy taste of the perilla leaves. It was also very addicting to lick.
This yassam sauce was emphasised by the charred sesame seeds and refreshingly sweet nashi pear and cucumber. We were very impressed with the choice of this dish post-KFC because it really did restart our palate for the next one.
This vegan dish was so damn yummy 🤤🤤🤤. The sticky, sweet yassam sauce masked the strong earthy taste of the perilla leaves. It was also very addicting to lick.
This yassam sauce was emphasised by the charred sesame seeds and refreshingly sweet nashi pear and cucumber. We were very impressed with the choice of this dish post-KFC because it really did restart our palate for the next one.
The smell wafting from the grill was mouthwatering. If you’ve ever walked past a KBBQ restaurant, you’d know what we’re talking about 👌🏻🤤.
The so-galbi was a fine-as-fuck piece of char-grilled riverine short ribs, served with pine nuts and spring onions. This one rib was shared between the two of us. We rated it 9.5/10 ⭐. It was glazed with a sweet soy marinade, making it very sweet and delicious, especially with those charred edges 🤤.
We really appreciated the cut of the meat too. Unlike regular KBBQ where they prepare scraps of the cow, this galbi rib was picked out carefully and prepared into a tender cloud of beef.
Also, normally at KBBQ, I would spit out the piece sticking to the bone because of how difficult it usually is to chew through but Sáng’s rib was soft and gelatinous. This was a well-executed KBBQ.
We really appreciated the cut of the meat too. Unlike regular KBBQ where they prepare scraps of the cow, this galbi rib was picked out carefully and prepared into a tender cloud of beef.
Also, normally at KBBQ, I would spit out the piece sticking to the bone because of how difficult it usually is to chew through but Sáng’s rib was soft and gelatinous. This was a well-executed KBBQ.
Next was the on-myeon, a beef-bone noodle soup with shiitake mushrooms, egg, mungbean pancake. Rated 6/10 ⭐.
As Vietnamese, we’re used to our 12-hour deep beef broths so this dish was a little bland for our liking. There was a dominant vermicelli favour in the soup and the beef flavour was subtle. It lacked salt (and maybe some fish sauce 😋). However, this is a Korean dish so we might be comparing pears to apples. It does remind us of the Korean hangover soups, often served in stone pots. The mung bean was neutral and compact.
As Vietnamese, we’re used to our 12-hour deep beef broths so this dish was a little bland for our liking. There was a dominant vermicelli favour in the soup and the beef flavour was subtle. It lacked salt (and maybe some fish sauce 😋). However, this is a Korean dish so we might be comparing pears to apples. It does remind us of the Korean hangover soups, often served in stone pots. The mung bean was neutral and compact.
Finally, a pat bingsu for dessert. This famous Korean dish was iced milk cream with red bean and with soybean powder. ⭐ Rated 9/10.
We loved it. The iced milk cream had a more creamy and smooth texture than the hard, icy shards we’re used to. It was also light and not overly sweet. We thought it was a perfect way to end the meal.
We loved it. The iced milk cream had a more creamy and smooth texture than the hard, icy shards we’re used to. It was also light and not overly sweet. We thought it was a perfect way to end the meal.
Drink
Mick ordered a ginger tea. It was very herbal and strong, soothing the chi of the body 😂.
I had a pea butterfly soda. It was mildly sweet. Great for digestion.
I had a pea butterfly soda. It was mildly sweet. Great for digestion.
Service
Their service was impeccable 👍🏻. They replaced our cutlery, plates and napkins where needed. They provided detailed information about each dish. And they were always topping up our table water. The food arrived at a steady pace. It was service comparable to Michelin star restaurants.
But that was not the impressive part….
But that was not the impressive part….
We were seated at the bar so we observed everything. In a tiny 2×1 square metre kitchen, this family cooked up every dish of both set menus without trampling over each other. They also hand washed the dishes as they went because there was no dishwasher and not enough cutlery/plates for the entire menu 🥺.
We were honestly amazed at how organised and clean they were, despite being back-to-back and elbow-to-elbow with one another. They deserve so much more for delivering affordable and delicious Korean food 🥺🥺🥺.
We were honestly amazed at how organised and clean they were, despite being back-to-back and elbow-to-elbow with one another. They deserve so much more for delivering affordable and delicious Korean food 🥺🥺🥺.
Review
We loved our dinner!! It was such a unique and delicious meal. There is currently an oversaturation of Japanese fusion restaurants in Sydney so seeing a Korean attempt at the contemporary space was so refreshing.
Every ingredient was carefully chosen and cooked and presented with such good intention. Just a cute, small family trying to deliver their authentic home food to meet Australian standards, aww 🥺.
The food was absolutely delicious! Please give it a go if you want to try something new.
Thanks for reading friends. Happy eating! 🤤 (P.s. I’m blonde now hehehe).
Every ingredient was carefully chosen and cooked and presented with such good intention. Just a cute, small family trying to deliver their authentic home food to meet Australian standards, aww 🥺.
The food was absolutely delicious! Please give it a go if you want to try something new.
Thanks for reading friends. Happy eating! 🤤 (P.s. I’m blonde now hehehe).
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