Circle Group partners Joseph Ko and Bobby Kwak (Noksu) are opening Ahgassi at 1 East 32 Street NYC in the space that housed Baekjeong Korean BBQ since 2103. Ahgassi is a traditional Korean Barbecue restaurant with the addition of Gopchang (small and large beef intestines). The decor is a modern vision of traditional Korean design done in bright pastels for a more feminine feel and decorated with traditional Korean folk art using artful room dividers as wall hangings.
The pair had plans to bring Ahgassi to New York in 2020, but the original space was lost due to the pandemic. After 10 years Baekjeong not only needed a facelift, but a larger location to accommodate the constant and growing demand. Ko and Kwak had the opportunity to take the former KumGangSan space at 49 West 32 Street which gave them the opportunity to open Ahgassi in their current location.
The Ahgassi menu features combo plates such as Modeum Combo, which includes Beef Intestine, Beef MountainTripe, Beef Large Intestine, and Beef Abomasun in portions for 2 – 4 people; Ahgassi Combo of Brisket, Pork Belly, Pork Collar or Jowl and Marinated Short Rib;and the Gopchang Combo of Beef Intestine, Rice Cake, Mushroom, Onion Potato and Fried Rice; in addition to la carte cuts of Beef, Pork, and Beef Offal.
The space features 180 seats on two levels and private rooms for events. Ahgassi hours are Monday – Sunday 5pm – 12am, from 2/20 – 2/29. Starting March 1 hours will be 11:30am – 12am Sunday – Thursday and until 3am Friday and Saturday.
Scheduled for opening in November 2024, the new Baekjeong will be called Baekjeong Black, an updated version of the original with high-end cuts of meat added to the menu. With 300 seats on two floors and a bar and cocktail lounge area it will be the largest Korean Barbecue restaurant in New York.
Also, in early to mid 2025 the pair will open Garden of Eve a 6000 sq ft multi-kiosk indoor Asian focused dessert hall, cocktail and beer garden. Located at 49 West 32 Street the space was a Prohibition style theater and nightclub and will be decorated in a motif suggesting the outdoors.
