Dam Da

At Dam Da, Korean food takes centre stage. The centrally located Tauranga restaurant has been open since May 2023 and offers a wide range of tantalising Korean flavours in a highly accessible and more-ish way.  

The space is welcoming, casual and warm. The indoor foliage provides a feeling of calm, and the counter is happily cluttered with menus, sweet treats from ‘Too Sweet To Coffee’ and authentic Korean snacks. 

The menu offers a creative mixture of traditional Korean delicacies and innovative fusion dishes, ensuring that it caters to a wide range of palates. It was carefully developed to ensure that Korean food would be accessible and enjoyed by New Zealanders. There’s a whole menu dedicated to noodles, with ‘japchae’ (Korean glass noodles) being a particular favourite. Best-selling dishes include the ‘jjamppong’ (spicy seafood ramen) and steamed pork backbone soup. In one of many examples of fusion, there are udon noodle dishes (which are traditionally Japanese) with a Korean twist. 

As for drinks, there’s something to satisfy all cravings. With Korean coffee brewed on site (comparable to a sweet latte) and an expansive bubble tea menu, all the Korean basics are well covered. The bubble brown sugar and tiramisu bubble teas are must-tries for those after something both delicious and interesting.

As Dam Da continues to deliver on the Korean goods, it hopes to continue growing its reputation and one day open more Korean restaurants in the wider Tauranga region.