Craving Korean? This Ponsonby joint has all the classics, served in the coolest way

Yet another restaurant adding to Ponsonby’s already-packed arsenal of great eats, Ockhee is a refreshing take on Korean food with a kiwi twist.

Some staples on the menu include bibimbap (a mix of staple Korean ingredients over rice), and japchae (kumara noodles). They may sound like simple dishes, but as the good saying goes: the devil is in the details. Small tweaks to the traditional recipes transform each item from a simple meal to a modernised fusion of flavour with homestyle undertones – delivering deliciousness for both Korean and kiwi palates. 

Some of our favourite must-try dishes are BBQ dak gui, bite-sized chicken (or tofu) pieces with rice cakes simmered and coated in sticky, smokey bbq sauce, the bul baek (hand-cut pork), and potato jeon which is a gloriously generous portioned Korean-styled potato fritter served with pickled onion sauce – perfect for a shared dish amongst the table. Additionally, Ockhee’s Korean fried chicken never goes amiss with a deliciously saucy serving arriving hot and crispy.

Namesake mascot Ockhee is proclaimed by owners Minkyu and Lisa Lee to be a 70’s diva, ‘putting the soul from Seoul’ into every dish. One thing to say for sure is that they have definitely made 2022 their year, collaborating with Still Life to make their own wine, and opening their sister-eatery, Swings, a new Korean toastie establishment on the top of Kitchener Street.

You could definitely say the team at Ockhee are fans of collaborations. Once you walk in, the first thing you might notice is a customer or two decked out head-to-toe with Ockhee’s very own merch. This restaurant has a dedicated customer base, which is hard to resist becoming a part of once you get a taste of the food – a definite sign of a good time. 

Occkhee was one of the first Asian-inspired eateries to really take off in the Ponsonby suburb, and they’ve definitely kept up with the times since their grand opening in 2020. Minkyu and Lisa both work hard to fill every dish with special care, and special menu items taking weeks – or even months – to prepare before hitting the popular specials board. Whether it’s for their one-of-a-kind wine on tap, Seoul-ful food, or just to cop some cool merch, Ockhee is well worth a visit in our books. 

You can find Ockhee on 171 Ponsonby Road, open ‘every damn day but Sunday’, find all the opening times and book your table right here!