EziStreat

"Life's too short to eat boring food!" Seyun Kim exclaims with a laugh, standing amidst the bustling energy of EziStreat.

EziStreat is a North Melbourne food hall, beer garden and cultural hub, open since September 2022. It’s a place that celebrates culinary diversity and offers up-and-coming chefs a chance to test out their ideas and businesses in a fun atmosphere.

For Korean-born Seyun, EziStreat's journey began way back in 2006, when he came to Australia as a backpacker with just $500 in his pocket.

"I ran out of tuition money, but luckily I got a job at the college where I was studying,” he recalls. “That changed everything, because I got sponsored by my college and decided to stay in Australia. From that start I built a student accommodation and property business."

The uncertainty of COVID-19 led to an audacious pivot.

“As you can imagine, during COVID a business serving international students really suffered,” he reflects. “But I realised that people were still eating, drinking and ordering food delivery.”

This observation sparked the idea for EziStreat.

Initially envisioned as a cloud kitchen concept - that is, food preparation facilities for delivery-only food services - at the last minute Seyun made a bold decision to transform EziStreat into something more.

“I believed that the pandemic had to end at some stage, and at that point people would crave social connection. They’d want to go out to eat and drink together.
“So my vision for EziStreat changed to become a communal meeting place for people to gather with unique food, drink and cultural experiences.”

EziStreat is also unique in its mission to be a space that fosters entrepreneurship.

"Say there’s a talented chef who doesn't have enough capital or initial investment," he says. "We provide the space, the infrastructure and supporting expertise in marketing, tech and operations. Everything is all-inclusive, so it's like a co-working space for food entrepreneurs."

This innovative model has allowed a melting pot of flavours to thrive under one roof, from Japanese to Colombian, from authentic ramen to tacos.

The selection of cuisines isn't random - it's a deliberate nod to Melbourne's diverse cultural heritage. Combined with a calendar of popular cultural events, such as the Seoul Sunday Market, today EziStreat fulfils Seyun’s vision - to bring people together, celebrate diversity and create memorable experiences.

Words by Joyce Watts & Photography by Anna Encio