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If you’re wondering where to buy Korean BBQ ingredients in Sydney, the answer is very different now than it was twenty years ago. Back then, I drove to Strathfield every weekend — it was the only suburb with a Korean grocery. I bought soy sauce in bulk because I didn’t know when I’d be back. I substituted Asian pear with apple for two years before I found a reliable source.
Sydney in 2026 is a completely different story. Korean groceries have spread across the city, mainstream supermarkets carry more Korean staples than ever, and online delivery has filled in the remaining gaps. Here’s exactly where to go for everything you need.
Table of Contents
- Where to Buy the Meat
- The Best Korean Grocers in Sydney
- What You Can Find at Woolworths and Coles
- Online Options for Hard-to-Find Ingredients
- Complete Korean BBQ Ingredient Guide
- Store Comparison by Ingredient Type
- FAQ
- My Thoughts
📸 The Korean grocery aisle at H Mart Eastwood — where I’ve been buying Korean BBQ ingredients in Sydney for over fifteen years.
Where to Buy the Meat
The meat is the most important ingredient and the hardest to source correctly. Korean BBQ requires specific cuts that most mainstream butchers don’t stock.
Juwon Butcher in West Ryde
Juwon Butcher — West Ryde. If you want the absolute best quality meat for your Korean BBQ, head straight to West Ryde. While supermarkets are convenient, Juwon Butcher is where many Sydney locals (myself included) go for premium cuts. They specialize in traditional Korean butchery, meaning the samgyeopsal (pork belly) is perfectly layered, and the flanken-cut galbi (beef short ribs) has just the right amount of marbling.
What sets them apart is the precision of their slicing. Whether it’s paper-thin chadolbaegi (beef brisket) or perfectly marbled bulgogi, the texture is always superior to pre-packaged options. If you’re hosting a larger gathering or looking for a specific premium cut of Wagyu, Juwon is the most reliable choice in the Northern Districts.
The Eastwood store is larger and tends to have better stock. If you’re planning a party and need a large quantity, call ahead to confirm availability, especially for galbi.
Korean Butchers in Strathfield
Strathfield’s Korean precinct has several dedicated Korean butchers that offer a wider range of cuts than those in West Ryde. If you’re looking for specialty cuts — chadolbaegi (thinly sliced beef brisket), moksal (pork neck), or dwaeji galbi (pork ribs) — this is where to go.
Mainstream Supermarkets
Woolworths and Coles carry pork belly, which works for samgyeopsal. However, it’s usually sold in thicker slabs that need to be sliced at home. Ask the butcher counter to slice it for you — most will do it if you ask. For galbi, mainstream supermarkets are not a reliable source. The flanken cut is rarely available outside Korean grocers.
The Best Korean Grocers in Sydney
If you’re shopping for your first home Korean BBQ session and don’t know exactly what to buy, our Korean BBQ at home for beginners guide has a full ingredient checklist alongside equipment recommendations.
S Mart (Eastwood)
The most comprehensive Korean grocery in Sydney. Stocks everything from fresh meat and produce to pantry staples, frozen goods, and Korean snacks. The banchan section sells ready-made kimchi, namul, and other side dishes if you don’t want to make everything from scratch. Prices are competitive and quality is consistently good.
Komart (Strathfield)
Strathfield’s main Korean supermarket. Slightly smaller than H Mart but well-stocked with Korean pantry essentials. Particularly good for Korean sauces, pastes, and condiments. The gochujang and doenjang selection is excellent.
Seoul Mart (Various Locations)
Smaller format Korean grocery stores scattered across Sydney’s inner suburbs. Good for pantry restocking — soy sauce, sesame oil, rice — but limited fresh meat selection.
Asian Grocery Stores (Cabramatta, Haymarket)
Not Korean-specific, but Cabramatta and Haymarket’s Asian grocery stores carry many Korean staples at lower prices than dedicated Korean grocers. Good for bulk buying soy sauce, sesame oil, and rice. Less reliable for Korean-specific items like gochujang or doenjang.
What You Can Find at Woolworths and Coles
Mainstream supermarkets have improved significantly in their Korean ingredient range over the past five years. Here’s what you can reliably find.
- Pork belly — Available, but usually needs slicing
- Sesame oil — Available, though Korean brands are better quality
- Soy sauce — Available (Kikkoman is fine for marinades)
- Asian pear — Seasonal availability, usually autumn
- Garlic and ginger — Always available
- Butter lettuce — Always available
- Spring onions — Always available
What you won’t find reliably: gochujang, doenjang, ssamjang, perilla leaves, flanken-cut galbi, or Korean-brand sauces. For these, you need a Korean grocer.
📸 Essential Korean BBQ pantry staples — gochujang, doenjang, ssamjang, and sesame oil — available at Korean grocers across Sydney.
Online Options for Hard-to-Find Ingredients
If you’re outside Sydney or can’t get to a Korean grocer easily, online ordering has become a genuinely viable option. Can’t decide which meat to buy first? Our comparison of samgyeopsal vs galbi covers the differences in cut, flavour, and preparation so you can make a confident choice before you head to the shops.
Amazon AU
Amazon Australia carries a growing range of Korean pantry staples with reasonable delivery times. The CJ Beksul Pork Bulgogi Spicy Sauce and CJ bibigo Mild & Sweet Bulgogi Sauce are both available and deliver Australia-wide. For pantry staples you can’t find locally, Amazon AU is a reliable backup.
Asian Grocery Online Stores
Several Sydney-based online Asian grocery stores deliver Australia-wide. Search for “Korean grocery online Australia” — there are several well-reviewed options that carry a comprehensive range of Korean ingredients including fresh produce in some cases.
Complete Korean BBQ Ingredient Guide
Here’s a complete list of everything you need for a full Korean BBQ spread, with notes on where to find each item in Sydney. Once you have your ingredients sorted, the galbi marinade is a great starting point. Our recipe for galbi marinade from scratch uses ingredients you can source from most of the Korean grocers listed above.
Meat
- Samgyeopsal (pork belly) — H Mart, Korean butchers, Woolworths/Coles (needs slicing)
- Galbi (flanken-cut short ribs) — H Mart, Korean butchers in Strathfield
- Bulgogi beef (thinly sliced) — H Mart, Korean butchers
Marinade Ingredients
- Korean soy sauce — H Mart, Komart (or Japanese soy sauce from any supermarket)
- Asian pear — H Mart, some Woolworths (seasonal)
- Sesame oil — H Mart, any supermarket (Korean brands preferred)
- Mirin — H Mart, Japanese section of any supermarket
- Gochugaru (Korean chilli flakes) — H Mart, Komart
Banchan Ingredients
- Napa cabbage (for kimchi) — H Mart, Asian grocers
- Bean sprouts — H Mart, most supermarkets
- Spinach — Any supermarket
- Glass noodles (dangmyeon) — H Mart, Asian grocers
- Pickled radish (danmuji) — H Mart (pre-made)
Ssam Ingredients
- Butter lettuce — Any supermarket
- Perilla leaves (kkaennip) — H Mart, some Asian grocers
- Ssamjang paste — H Mart, Komart
Store Comparison by Ingredient Type
| Ingredient | H Mart | Woolworths/Coles | Amazon AU |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samgyeopsal (sliced) | ✅ Best option | ⚠️ Available, needs slicing | ❌ Not available |
| Flanken-cut galbi | ✅ Best option | ❌ Not available | ❌ Not available |
| Gochujang / Ssamjang | ✅ Full range | ❌ Not available | ⚠️ Limited range |
| Korean BBQ sauces | ✅ Full range | ❌ Not available | ✅ Good range |
| Sesame oil | ✅ Korean brands | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Asian pear | ✅ Reliable | ⚠️ Seasonal only | ❌ Not available |
| Perilla leaves | ✅ Fresh | ❌ Not available | ❌ Not available |
| Butter lettuce | ✅ Available | ✅ Best option | ❌ Not available |
FAQ
Is H Mart the same as a regular Asian grocery store?
No — H Mart is a Korean-American supermarket chain that specialises in Korean and Asian products. The Sydney locations stock a much more comprehensive range of Korean ingredients than general Asian grocery stores, including fresh Korean-style meat cuts, a full banchan section, and a wide range of Korean pantry staples. If you’re serious about Korean BBQ at home, H Mart is worth the trip.
Can I substitute regular pear or apple for Asian pear in marinades?
Apple works as a partial substitute but is less effective as a tenderiser. Asian pear contains higher concentrations of proteolytic enzymes than regular pear or apple. If you can’t find Asian pear, kiwi fruit is a better substitute — use half the quantity. In a pinch, omit the fruit and just marinate longer.
Where can I find perilla leaves outside of Korean grocers?
Perilla (also called shiso in Japanese cuisine) is occasionally available at Japanese grocery stores and some Vietnamese grocers. It’s also surprisingly easy to grow at home — seeds are available online and it grows well in Sydney’s climate. I’ve had a pot of perilla on my balcony for three years.
What’s the difference between Korean soy sauce and Japanese soy sauce?
Korean soy sauce (ganjang) is slightly less salty and has a more complex, slightly earthier flavour than Japanese soy sauce (shoyu). For Korean BBQ marinades, Korean soy sauce is preferred. If you’re using Japanese soy sauce, reduce the quantity by about 15–20% to avoid over-salting the marinade.
My Thoughts
Twenty years ago, sourcing Korean BBQ ingredients in Sydney felt like a treasure hunt. Now it feels like a Tuesday afternoon errand. That shift — from scarcity to abundance — has genuinely changed how I cook and how connected I feel to Korean food culture while living in Australia.
H Mart Eastwood is my second home. I know which aisle the doenjang is on. I know which staff member to ask about the galbi stock. I know that the banchan section is best on Friday afternoons when everything is freshly made.
If you’re new to Korean cooking in Sydney, start with H Mart. Walk every aisle. Ask questions. Buy things you don’t recognise and figure out what they are when you get home. That’s how I learned, and it’s still the best way.
Can’t Get to a Korean Grocer? Order Online
For pantry staples you can’t find locally, CJ Beksul Pork Bulgogi Spicy Sauce and CJ bibigo Mild & Sweet Bulgogi Sauce are both available on Amazon AU with Australia-wide delivery. → Check CJ bibigo on Amazon
Related Links
If you found this article helpful, you might also enjoy these related guides:
- Korean BBQ at Home for Beginners — What I Wish I Knew Sooner — Once you have the ingredients, this guide walks you through everything else you need to know.
- How to Make Galbi Marinade from Scratch — The best use for the ingredients you just bought.
- The Ultimate Korean BBQ Party Guide for Hosting at Home — How to scale up your ingredient shopping for a group.
- 5 Korean BBQ Dipping Sauces You Need to Know — What to do with the gochujang and doenjang you just bought.