The first time walking past CJ lunch bar was on the way home one evening after eating too much for dinner at a location nearby that shall remain anonymous. Even with a sickly feeling in my stomach, where ordinarily the sight of food and people eating would repulse, CJ still surprisingly intrigued, as me and my fellow dinner companion from that night slowed our walk to see what was going on as we passed by. I suggested we should return another time as it looked like a fun place and it appeared people were having a good time. On returning another night a week later there were a number of people hovering around the street outside the restaurant, presumably waiting for a table. A couple of suits slid in front of us as we were entering to get a table but it was too ambiguous who was there first to confront them about a line cut. They had a look inside and their only remark was«that’s intense» and so they left. No loss. The wait for a table was less than 5 minutes and we were seated in the middle of the restaurant. Cool. You order and pay at the same time at the counter which fits in with their no nonsense vibe. Everything that we ordered was pretty faultless for the cost~ the spicy cheese chicken seems notorious and covered my dinner companions face with steam when it was brought out which was a funny added bonus. They also enjoyed getting steamed which was lucky. The music was also good but suspect that it could be up to who is in control of that on the night(could be wrong). The place understandably gets busy but seems is worth it for quite a few reasons. I would have to agree with the suits initial response, that CJ was intense, but I would contentedly argue it’s the good kind where there is a lot happening around you that it consumes the whole place and results in less pressure or awareness of your own presence while dining. This was a nice feeling and would strongly recommend. 5 stars. if you’re in the mood. Not playing.
Sam K.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Melbourne, Australia
Always jam-packed with little room to move, the food is delicious, service is quick, prices are low. I wouldn’t recommend it for a dinner place, or if you want a quiet chat, but for a quick and tasty lunch with friends or colleagues it’s a total winner. I love that the staff are nice despite being so busy, unlike lots of places in Chinatown for example. If you’ve never had Korean before, it’s a good option because there’s a lot of choice on the menu and you can get a taster for not a lot of spend!
Ian K.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Melbourne, Australia
It’s tiny, affordable and almost always packed with people who look like they know their kimchi from their dubu. Delicious Korean food without the hype and accompanying inflated prices. You’ll just have to put up with being squeezed in if you want to eat it.
Samantha O.
Rating des Ortes: 3 Melbourne, Australia
The $ 8(lunch) — $ 10(dinner) bento boxes are a decent price for the quality and quantity you get. Mains are $ 13+ if you want something more substantial. If you’re a student tired of Don Don all the time, its a good alternative that’s just a few minutes away.
Nathan G.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Melbourne, Australia
Chicken and Cheese. A Must. Come here so often just for that dish.
Josh K.
Rating des Ortes: 4 St Kilda, Australia
Cheap and tasty food, made to order and served sign a bit of spice and sometimes heaps of cheese.
Alexander Y.
Rating des Ortes: 4 Melbourne, Australia
Tucked away on Hardware St, this hidden gem is guaranteed to satisfy those looking for great value lunch deals and don’t mind self-service or sharing squashy tables with strangers. Most importantly, the food is delicious & servings generous. The waiters are friendly too.