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Restaurant

Assah

51 Johnston St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

Recommended by 58 people

Updated

Find Assah

51 Johnston St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia

Directions ↗
+61 7 5532 0891
HoursMonday: Closed Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Thursday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Friday: 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Saturday: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM Sunday: 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM, 5:00 – 9:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Visit website

About Assah

Tucked onto Johnston Street in Southport, Assah bypasses barbecue spectacle for restorative Korean homestyle cooking. Local diners drop in for bubbling tofu stew, bibimbap, and paper-thin, egg-battered beef pancakes rarely spotted elsewhere. The real insider tell is the banchan—scratch-made side dishes and house-fermented kimchi so balanced that customers routinely raid the takeaway fridge to stock home pantries. No mid-afternoon closure either; the kitchen runs straight through the 3 PM lull. Order the brisket cold noodles alongside house-brewed ginger rice punch, and finish with complimentary crisp apple slices brought straight to the table.

  • House-Made Banchan & Takeaway: Scratch-made side dishes and house-fermented kimchi served at the table and stocked in a dedicated retail fridge to take home.
  • Everyday Korean Staples: Comforting classics anchored by spicy tofu soup, sizzling bibimbap, and paper-thin, egg-battered beef pancakes.
  • House-Brewed Sikhye: Traditional sweet fermented rice punch brewed from scratch with ginger rather than poured from commercial cans.
  • Continuous Afternoon Hours: Stays open straight through the midday lull without the typical 3 PM to 5 PM afternoon shutdown.
RestaurantKoreanRestaurant

What's On at Assah

Upcoming events, special menus and other reasons to plan a visit.

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Dine at Assah

Experience unpretentious homestyle Korean cooking, scratch-made banchan, and welcoming service in Southport. Visit the website to explore the full menu and plan your meal.

  • Uncompromising Scratch-Made Cooking

    Every dish is prepared from scratch with quality ingredients and deep traditional care rather than reliance on quick commercial shortcuts or mass-produced recipes.

    I just wanna say this restaurant serves real food.

    sooyoung cheon

  • House-Brewed Traditional Beverages

    Traditional refreshments like sweet fermented sikhye rice drink and spiced cinnamon punch are brewed in-house from authentic recipes rather than sourced from cans.

    the fact that they make their own kimchi and sikhye rice drink blew me away

    Bruce Carnegie

  • Genuine Taste of Home

    Diners experience the warmth and nostalgia of a traditional Korean family kitchen, with familiar classics that replicate the genuine comfort of home cooking.

    Tastes just like the kind my mom used to make at home!

    chrissy L

  • Warm and Attentive Hospitality

    Guests are welcomed with thoughtful, attentive dining service and complimentary extra touches like freshly sliced fruit to conclude their meal.

    At the end, they gave us some apple slices. They were sweet, juicy and refreshing. Such a nice little extra.

    Lung Shun Chan

  • Dedicated Takeaway Banchan Fridge

    A dedicated takeaway refrigerator allows customers to purchase freshly made kimchi, specialty side dishes, and complete home meals for their own pantries.

    They have a takeaway fridge, we had to buy some for at home :).

    J V

  • Continuous Afternoon Service

    Unlike many local dining spots that observe afternoon closures, Assah stays open continuously through 3 PM to 5 PM for late lunches and flexible dining.

    thank goodness this Korean restaurant doesn't close between 3 and 5 like it seems every other one in Southport does.

    Clint Palmer

Customer favorites rooted in authentic homestyle Korean cooking

  • House-made Kimchi

    The kimchi was so good that I kept ordering more. I could eat it all day, honestly.

    Clint Palmer

  • Bibimbap

    The Bibimbap was so delicious; it comes with 3 sides of veggies and some spicy sauce, and all were great additions.

    Anna Banana

  • Cold Noodles

    Noodles were just nice. Cooked with the right amount of chewiness. Broth is seasoned just right not too salty nor strong.

    Kaonashibal

  • Sikhye (Traditional Rice Drink)

    their sikhye (fermented rice drink) is my fave drink to get there as it's sweet and gingery.

    Tyler C

Other favorites

Traditional house-brewed refreshments, side retail, and thoughtful complimentary touches.

  • Sikhye (Fermented Rice Drink)

    their sikhye (fermented rice drink) is my fave drink to get there as it's sweet and gingery.

    Tyler C

  • Traditional Cinnamon Punch

    Make sure you order the traditional Cinnamon punch. It will knock ✊ the taste buds flying.

    Paul Cranch

  • Takeaway Banchan Fridge

    They have a takeaway fridge, we had to buy some for at home :).

    J V

  • Complimentary Apple Slices

    At the end, they gave us some apple slices. They were sweet, juicy and refreshing. Such a nice little extra.

    Lung Shun Chan

Beyond the menu

Thoughtful hospitality and scratch-made homestyle care—visit our website to plan your visit.

  • Complimentary Fresh Fruit

    Meals conclude with a complimentary offering of crisp, sweet apple slices or fresh mandarins brought to the table without charge.

  • House-Brewed Traditional Beverages

    Instead of commercial canned soft drinks, the kitchen crafts traditional sikhye (fermented ginger rice drink) and spiced cinnamon punch from scratch in-house.

  • Dedicated Takeaway Banchan Fridge

    A dedicated takeaway refrigerator allows guests to purchase freshly prepared kimchi and rotating banchan side dishes to take home.

  • MSG-Free Broths with Tableside Seasoning

    Dishes are made without MSG, and traditional long-simmered soups like Gomtang arrive unsalted so diners can calibrate salt and pepper to their exact dietary preference.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you buy house-made kimchi and side dishes to take home?

Yes, Assah prepares homemade kimchi and banchan on-site and maintains a dedicated takeaway fridge where you can purchase side dishes, kimchi, and packaged meals to take home.

Does Assah offer Korean tabletop BBQ?

Assah is a traditional Korean homestyle kitchen rather than a Korean BBQ restaurant. The menu focuses on homestyle dishes like stews, bibimbap, kimbap, savoury pancakes, noodles, and fried chicken.

Are traditional Korean house-made drinks available?

In addition to standard beverages, the kitchen brews traditional Korean drinks in-house, including sweet fermented rice drink (sikhye) and spiced cinnamon punch (sujeonggwa).

What are the portion sizes and complimentary extras like?

Portions are generous and well-suited for sharing. Main dishes typically arrive with rice and complimentary traditional side dishes (banchan), and staff frequently offer complimentary fruit slices, such as apple or mandarin, at the end of the meal.

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