This is Park Bong Sook in Lidcombe. Although the brand has multiple locations across Sydney, each appears to operate under separate franchise ownership, resulting in differing base prices and a rotating set of store-specific menu items.
As with their Eastwood branch, the Lidcombe outlet offered an extensive range of banchan (clockwise from bottom left):
- Gochujang
- Chilli, spicy soybean paste, and garlic
- Salted krill, a seasoning that continues to stand out for its concentrated savoury depth
- Seaweed marinated in mirin
- Japchae, well seasoned with a pleasing springy texture
- Cabbage kimchi
- Soy-preserved quail eggs, dense in texture and not especially appealing
- Tteok and sausage, offering a rich, buttery note, with the tteok dense and chewy alongside the savoury sausage
- White kimchi, providing a lighter, saline contrast to the spicy version
Pork Trotters Set ($27.00)
The jokbal was tender and flavourful, comparable to Eastwood’s version, though the blowtorching here was more restrained, yielding a subtler smoky profile. The cabbage kimchi portion was noticeably reduced and supplemented with a sizeable radish kimchi component, which D preferred. The serving of meat was larger overall. This iteration was favoured by D, though the preference was not tied to its higher price.
Raw Beef Bibimbap ($28.00)
A Lidcombe-exclusive item, this bowl was markedly satisfying, both in flavour and textural contrast. Fresh ingredients were generous, making it one of the strongest bibimbap offerings encountered in Sydney. The carrots, kimchi daikon, and cucumber delivered crunch; shiitake mushrooms contributed umami; and the egg yolk added richness and cohesion. The dish suited warm weather and was anchored by rice with an ideal texture—neither wet nor dry—and capable of holding structure beneath the toppings.
Overall, a location distinguished by its breadth of banchan, generous portions, and a standout bibimbap, with minor inconsistencies across franchises but strong execution at this branch.
Park Bong Sook is located at 48 Joseph St, Lidcombe NSW 2141.