Restaurant
Assah
51 Johnston St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia
Find Assah
51 Johnston St, Southport QLD 4215, Australia
Directions ↗*Opening hours may differ during holidays.
Visit websiteAbout 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.
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
Most popular items
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.
Before you head over
Practical advice on timing, house drinks, and takeaway sides to make the most of your visit—head to their website to plan your meal.
Visit During the Mid-Afternoon Lull
While many Southport restaurants shut down between 3 PM and 5 PM, Assah remains open throughout the afternoon. Dropping by for a late lunch also offers easy street parking right outside and lighter dining room crowds.
Order House-Brewed Traditional Drinks
Skip standard canned beverages and order the traditional drinks prepared from scratch in-house, such as the sweet, gingery sikhye (fermented rice punch) or the traditional spiced cinnamon punch to balance rich or spicy dishes.
Pick Up Side Dishes from the Takeaway Fridge
Before paying your bill, check the dedicated grab-and-go takeaway fridge to buy packed tubs of the restaurant's house-fermented kimchi and assorted banchan sides to stock your fridge at home.
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