Welcome to FQ Eats, our latest series where our editors recommend the best restaurants and bars around Aotearoa. This week, Brand and Strategy Director, Bridget Yee, stops by Commercial Bay’s newest must-try restaurant – Chul’s.
Where
Commercial Bay has no shortage of vibrant dining destinations, but tucked among them is a place that feels instantly comforting and refreshingly genuine: Chul’s, a modern Korean home-style restaurant that brings everyday Korean dining culture to Auckland.
First Impressions
The interiors, designed with Studio Tatami, strike a balance between Korean soul and a clean, modern aesthetic, making the space inviting for a quick weekday lunch or a relaxed evening meal.
Behind it is hospitality veteran Rex Chang, who brings more than 19 years of experience to the table. With professional training in Japan and a portfolio that includes Yume Izakaya and Kome Sake Bar, Rex has built Chul’s around his long-standing passion for food and hospitality. His goal was simple but powerful: to recreate the warmth and approachability of Korean home dining, in a way that feels authentic yet accessible to all.
What We Ate & Drank
At its heart, Chul’s is about two things: set meals (baekban) and freshly rolled kimbap. These are the staples of Korean home dining, simple, wholesome, and full of flavour. The baekban sets arrive with generous sides that make you feel as though you’re being welcomed into a Korean home kitchen. The kimbap, with its fresh ingredients and just-right seasoning, is the kind of dish that works equally well as a grab-and-go option or as part of a shared table spread.
The Highlights
Versatility is key to Chul’s appeal. Office workers drop in at lunch for something quick, satisfying, and nourishing, while in the evenings, groups linger over plates that feel both casual and celebratory. It’s approachable but never ordinary, a cultural dining experience that resonates whether you’re Korean-born or discovering these flavours for the first time. Its presence in Commercial Bay feels like a welcome addition: a restaurant that blends authenticity with modern city living, and in doing so, makes Korean dining feel both fresh and comfortingly familiar.
Final Verdict
With Rex Chang’s wealth of experience behind it, Chul’s isn’t trying to be flashy or fine dining and that’s exactly why it works. It’s Korean food the way it should be: warm, versatile, and sincerely made. Whether you’re grabbing a quick kimbap between meetings or sitting down to a full baekban set, you’ll leave feeling nourished, both body and soul.
