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Is the 4.9-Rated Korean Restaurant | Really That Good?

*(Conclusion: It is! I ate here half a year ago 😴, and just checked that the rating is still at 4.9. Impressive!)* I was looking for an Asian restaurant on the east side of Midtown and Google Maps recommended this top-rated place, KJUN. The restaurant is super small. When I saw the menu, I realized it’s Korean-American Southern cuisine. That explains the name… The chef is a short-haired Korean woman named Jae, who loves interacting directly with customers. She moved from New Orleans to New York and opened this tiny bistro in a half-basement. Judging by her storytelling skills and the restaurant’s positioning, she seems like the type of passionate chef who might get a Netflix documentary someday. 🍴 I ordered okra kimchi, seafood jambalaya, and pork ribs. The okra was pretty mild (compared to other versions I’ve had since), but it left a great first impression. The jambalaya and ribs were very flavorful. Southern cuisine is already soulful, and with the Asian twist (meaning sweeter and more refined), they were hard not to love. I wanted to try a dessert but was disappointed with the innovative cornbread. The traditional cornbread I was expecting was turned into an overly sweet Parisian-style mousse cube. After one bite, everyone fell silent and put down their spoons. The chef, with her keen eye, immediately came over and asked, “Don’t you like it?” We had to be honest, and Jae confidently explained her creative process. 🤷‍♀️ Fortunately, she offered to let us order a smaller portion. The fried chicken on every table looked amazing. If you have a good appetite, you should definitely get a basket. On a worknight, the restaurant was pretty busy, with each table having about 75 minutes for their meal. After paying the bill, the chef handed out business cards encouraging us to leave good reviews—very Asian! But a Korean restaurant with such personal flair and hands-on effort outside of Koreatown is definitely worth supporting. If you have the chance, try this clever fusion spot! 📍 **KJUN** #NYCFood #KoreanCuisine #NewOrleansFlavor #OasisInAFoodDesert #HiddenGems #GlobalFoodieSquad #PrivateRestaurant #ClearAlbum

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Faith Wood
7 months ago
Faith Wood
Faith Wood
7 months ago
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Is the 4.9-Rated Korean Restaurant | Really That Good?

*(Conclusion: It is! I ate here half a year ago 😴, and just checked that the rating is still at 4.9. Impressive!)* I was looking for an Asian restaurant on the east side of Midtown and Google Maps recommended this top-rated place, KJUN. The restaurant is super small. When I saw the menu, I realized it’s Korean-American Southern cuisine. That explains the name… The chef is a short-haired Korean woman named Jae, who loves interacting directly with customers. She moved from New Orleans to New York and opened this tiny bistro in a half-basement. Judging by her storytelling skills and the restaurant’s positioning, she seems like the type of passionate chef who might get a Netflix documentary someday. 🍴 I ordered okra kimchi, seafood jambalaya, and pork ribs. The okra was pretty mild (compared to other versions I’ve had since), but it left a great first impression. The jambalaya and ribs were very flavorful. Southern cuisine is already soulful, and with the Asian twist (meaning sweeter and more refined), they were hard not to love. I wanted to try a dessert but was disappointed with the innovative cornbread. The traditional cornbread I was expecting was turned into an overly sweet Parisian-style mousse cube. After one bite, everyone fell silent and put down their spoons. The chef, with her keen eye, immediately came over and asked, “Don’t you like it?” We had to be honest, and Jae confidently explained her creative process. 🤷‍♀️ Fortunately, she offered to let us order a smaller portion. The fried chicken on every table looked amazing. If you have a good appetite, you should definitely get a basket. On a worknight, the restaurant was pretty busy, with each table having about 75 minutes for their meal. After paying the bill, the chef handed out business cards encouraging us to leave good reviews—very Asian! But a Korean restaurant with such personal flair and hands-on effort outside of Koreatown is definitely worth supporting. If you have the chance, try this clever fusion spot! 📍 KJUN #NYCFood #KoreanCuisine #NewOrleansFlavor #OasisInAFoodDesert #HiddenGems #GlobalFoodieSquad #PrivateRestaurant #ClearAlbum

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