Joo Ok (Korean: 주옥; lit. precious gem[1]), also spelled Joo-Ok,[2] is a Korean restaurant in Koreatown, Manhattan, New York City, United States. It first opened in 2016 in Seoul, South Korea.[3] Its Seoul location received one Michelin star from 2018 to 2020. It received two stars from 2021 until 2023.[4] In 2022, it was ranked 18th on the Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list.[5] The restaurant then closed in December 2023, and announced that it would move to New York City.[4][6] Around half the employees of the Seoul location went to New York City.[7]
| Joo Ok | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2016 |
| Head chef | Shin Chang-ho |
| Food type | Korean cuisine |
| Rating |  (2021–2023, in Seoul) |
| Street address | 22 W 32nd St, 16th floor, New York City, NY 10001 |
| Coordinates | 40°44′51″N 73°59′13″W / 40.7475°N 73.9869°W |
| Website | www |
The restaurant is headed by Shin Chang-ho (신창호).[6] Shin studied cooking in the United States beginning in 2013, in his mid-thirties, at the recommendation of Mingles chef Kang Min-gu. He worked at the Japanese restaurant Nobu in Miami. He reportedly decided, while at Nobu, to focus on Korean food, as his colleagues were curious about the cuisine. He began preparing for the move to New York in 2021,[7] in part due to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea,[1] and after observing the increasing acceptance of Korean cuisine in the city.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "[INTERVIEW] Joo Ok looks to bring next-level Korean cuisine to New York City". Korea JoongAng Daily. December 21, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ "Joo-Ok". Joo-Ok. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ "주옥, 내년 3월에 뉴욕으로 이사갑니다". Michelin Guide (in Korean). Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ a b Fortney, Luke (February 6, 2024). "A Seoul Restaurant With Two Michelin Stars Is Opening in Manhattan". Eater NY. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ "Joo Ok | Asia's 50 Best Restaurants 2022". 50B - Restaurants - ASIA. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ a b "Seoul's Joo Ok Restaurant to Relocate to New York in March". Michelin Guide. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ a b c 송, 정 (July 1, 2023). "서울 단 8곳 '미쉐린 2스타' 떠난다…'주옥' 뉴욕행 결심 이유 [쿠킹]". JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved August 22, 2024.
External links
edit- Homepage (in English)