HYUN is a Korean barbecue restaurant, which is located in New York City’s Koreatown. This journalist had the opportunity to dine for dinner on Thursday, August 15th.
It is a Michelin-recognized restaurant, and it features a Japanese wagyu beef Korean barbecue, and it is comprised of several courses (in a dining experience that normally lasts anywhere from 60 to 90 minutes).
The first course featured 12 daily fresh cuts of beef from Executive Chef/Owner, Jae Kim’s, proprietary wagyu butcher shop, The HYUN Premium Butcher Shop, which were selected by the chef.
These included striploin, culotte body and short rib, followed by the next course of “Marinated Wagyu” (the portions were based on our table of two). The meat was tender and soft.
Equally noteworthy was their “South Korean Imsil cheese,” which was expertly grilled.
Each table had his or her own personal server, and they were given a extra course of the patron’s three favorite cuts.
“Sot-Bap” translates to “pot-rice.” This pot-cooked rice was topped with Japanese Uni and seasonal truffle; moreover, it was a savory accompaniment to the Japanese wagyu meat.
At HYUN, one should leave some space for dessert. These include their “Shiso Sorbet,” which is homemade, and their “Hojicha Ice Cream,” the latter of which was scrumptious.
Side dishes
As part of the “HYUN-makase” experience, we were served house-made side dishes such as “Kimchi,” “Apple Vinaigrette Salad,” “Romaine Lettuce Head,” and “Spicy Scallion Salad.”
For spices, the table had wine infused salt, truffle salt, and Wasabi (Japanese horseradish) for dipping.
The Verdict
Overall, HYUN is a high-end and trendy Korean barbecue restaurant in Koreatown. The wait staff is cordial and knowledgeable about the different meats, ingredients, spices, and foods that they are serving.
Watching the personal servers cook the meats from scratch in front of you is quite the spectacle.
It is highly recommended that one checks HYUN out whenever they are in Manhattan, especially those that enjoy Korean barbecue.
HYUN has a warm and pleasant atmosphere, and their cuisine offers a modern and creative approach. HYUN garners 4.5 out of 5 stars. Well done.
To learn more about HYUN in Koreatown, check out its official website, and follow the eatery on Instagram.
