Korean fine-dining restaurant Joo Ok is making its debut in the heart of Manhattan this fall, when it relocates to Koreatown. Originally founded in 2016 in Seoul by Chef Shin Chang-ho, the 11-course tasting menu features dishes that exemplify creative ingenuity using the freshest seasonal ingredients and Korean seasonings along with the fermentation of ‘jang’, which serves as the foundation to the menu.
With accolades from MICHELIN Guide Seoul, La Liste, and Asia 50 Best, dishes on the menu fuse contemporary cuisine with the seasonality of Korean ingredients. To develop the menu for each season, Chef visits local markets to hand select ingredients as well as sourcing from the restaurant’s farm, located in Upstate New York. Similarly to when located in Seoul, many ingredients will be grown at the restaurant’s farm, including the perilla oil used in Joo Ok’s signature dish, Perilla Seed Oil with Caviar.
The Joo Ok team has a dedication to providing a healthy menu and comfortable atmosphere. The first course is served with a vinegar drink, created with local ingredients and then fermented for five months, to help with digestion, boost appetite, and promote comfort after the meal. Additionally, Joo Ok is a zero-waste, eco-responsible, and sustainable establishment, sourcing ingredients locally and from their farm to reduce carbon mileage as well as utilizing nearly every part of each ingredient to avoid food waste. Seasonal summer dishes include shrimp and local vegetables in pine nut sauce and seafood with smoked soy sauce.
“My team and I are grateful for the opportunity to present authentic flavors of Korea made with American-grown ingredients,” said Chef Shin Chang-ho in a statement. “Joo Ok has been improving every season since its opening in 2016, and we’re focused on keeping the vision and sincerity that Joo Ok has grown upon.”
Joo Ok is accessible through a freight elevator which will transport guests into a thoughtfully designed space with a signature modern Korean aesthetic. The interpretation of the traditional Korean house (‘Hanok’) unfolds before them, revealing an interior garden (‘Madang’) with a ceiling window framing the Empire State Building. The ‘Madang’ features candid industrial elements of concrete floors, columns, and ceilings along with a showcase of displays of Korean art creating a dynamic fusion of cultures. Additional spaces include the dining area (‘Sarangbang’), as well as a small, lifted area below the glass ceiling (’Maru’).
Joo Ok is located at 22 W 32nd St. #16 New York, New York, offering seasonal tasting menus priced at $180 with seating times at 5:30 PM and 8:30 PM for dinner daily.
