Restaurant

DooBoo Melbourne

261 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Recommended by 15 people

Updated

Find DooBoo Melbourne

261 Swanston St, Melbourne VIC 3000, Australia

Directions ↗
HoursMonday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM Tuesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM Wednesday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM Thursday: 11:30 AM – 10:00 PM Friday: 11:30 AM – 11:30 PM Saturday: 11:30 AM – 11:30 PM Sunday: 11:30 AM – 9:00 PM

*Opening hours may differ during holidays.

Book Now

About DooBoo Melbourne

Zero pretension and hearty Korean comfort on Swanston Street—anchored by bubbling bowls of spicy tofu stew and individual stone pots of rice. Diners crowd the tables for the house ritual: scraping up the crispy nurungji from the base once the broth settles in. Portions run huge. CBD regulars round out the table with pork neck and baskets of half-and-half fried chicken, flanked by free refills of side dishes the second a bowl empties. Peak hours get loud and hurried, but the steam coming off the stone bowls makes the wait irrelevant.

  • Individual stone pot rice: Individual stone pot rice arrives alongside bubbling tofu stew, leaving crispy scorched rice to scrape clean at the finish.
  • Free banchan refills: Bowls of seasonal Korean side dishes are replenished upon request throughout the meal at no extra charge.
  • High-volume value sets: Lunch combos and dinner sets pack generous portions of pork neck galbi, kimchi stews, and fried chicken for CBD value.

What's On at DooBoo Melbourne

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

No events or specials listed right now.

Why Diners Choose DooBoo Melbourne

From bubbling soondubu jjigae to sizzling sotbap and free-flowing banchan, discover authentic comfort on Swanston Street—reserve your table now.

  • Fresh Stone Pot Rice & Stews

    Signature soondubu stews arrive alongside individually cooked stone pot rice, giving diners both fluffy steamed rice and crispy nurungji.

    Loved that it came with a stone pot rice, so I could enjoy both the fluffy rice and the crispy nurungji.

    jea a
  • Free-Flowing Banchan Refills

    Main courses are accompanied by delicious traditional Korean side dishes that the team happily replenishes upon request.

    The banchan is delicious, and they happily offer free refills.

    Amanda G
  • Deeply Comforting Broths

    Hearty, bubbling stews deliver restorative warmth and nourishment whenever you need a comforting physical boost.

    They're my comfort food, especially on a cold day or when my body just needs an extra comforting health boost.

    Hanna M
  • Generous Portion Satisfaction

    DooBoo consistently satisfies hearty appetites with substantial portion sizes that ensure standout value for money.

    For the price, you’re getting a lot of food, making it a very good deal overall.

    Anh Quân Lê
  • Shelter from Melbourne Rain

    When Melbourne turns damp and chilly, DooBoo provides immediate warmth with piping-hot stews brewed for rainy afternoons.

    super hearty and warm when it was raining that day.

    Hai Lin
  • Cold Winter Night Refuge

    Swanston Street’s go-to late-day refuge for diners needing intensely piping-hot comfort to combat winter cold.

    Great place for a hot bowl of tofu stew on a cold winter night.

    Joh

Other favorites

Beyond the sizzling stews, these complementary sides, house drinks, and shareable extras round out the table.

  • Bomb Steamed Egg

    Another favourite is the Signature Soon-tofu with a Bomb Steamed Egg for sharing.

    Joh
  • House-Made Peach Ice Tea

    The house made peach ice tea is incredible.

    Luke Mai
  • Coleslaw with Orange Sauce

    We loved the coleslaw with the orange sauce

    Cielo Marie Lucmayon
  • Complimentary Banchan Refills

    The banchan is delicious, and they happily offer free refills.

    Amanda G

Frequently Asked Questions

How large are the portion sizes?

Portions are very large, with items like the King Donkatsu and stew sets providing enough food that diners often have leftovers to take home.

Does the soft tofu stew come with stone pot rice?

Yes, stews come with individual stone pot rice (sotbap) that lets you enjoy fluffy rice and crispy nurungji (or congee-style scorched rice by adding hot water).

Can you get free refills on the side dishes?

Yes, side dishes (banchan) are complimentary and staff will happily provide extra servings when requested.

How long should you expect to wait for food during busy times?

Freshly made stews and hot stone dishes typically take 15 minutes or longer to prepare, and peak rush periods can involve a queue to be seated.

Can you book a table or walk in?

The restaurant spans multiple floors and accepts both walk-ins and table bookings.

Explore more places in Melbourne

Find familiar flavours, neighbourhood favourites and somewhere new in Melbourne.

Discover more in Melbourne

Explore another side of the city's food and drink.

Browse all Melbourne venues