Octo Restaurant — Restaurant in New York

TLDR: K-Town gets an elevated Chinese/Korean concept. Unique offerings but I would stick to the jjampong and the shrimp toast personally. Good lunch/dinner sets.

I thought I had written this awhile ago but apparently not. Octo is a newer restaurant in the K-Town area, same owners as Kunjip/Wonjo. Elevated Chinese/Korean cuisine, something I've only really seen in Korea.

First time I got the lunch set. A small cucumber salad, refreshing, garlicky. A small portion of fried pork, much more modern presentation. Lightly coated in the sticky sauce, blueberries and dragonfruit unlike the typical chunky pineapple, peppers and onion. Jjampeong, chicken broth, very flavorful but the portion was a bit small. The noodles are not the standard almost caution-tape yellow I'm accustomed to but bouncy nonetheless. A bit thinner but still enjoyable. I thought the lunch set could be bigger because I ended up getting the mini shrimp toast to get myself over the line.

Came back again but got a full-size jjampong this time. Again, I love the flavors - it's not quite as oily as "heavy" as most but more refined and clean. Noodles are good but a las, I still felt the full size portion could use some more substance. I expect to be crawling out when eating a full-size Chinese/Korean. It's Korean comfort food meant to be heavy, hearty and heart-warming.

On my last visit I did the dinner experience. We got the set that came with the Peking Duck, the Duck Ssam, the shrimp toast, fried pork, fried shrimp and jajangmyeon. The duck was good and while it wasn't the best Peking Duck I've had - it was solid. I felt for a whole duck though, there should have been a bit more meat to eat through. I understand some of it went to the duck ssam which while unique, I probably prefer it at a standard Cantonese restaurant. The shrimp toast was good but we only got one piece each, disappointing because I think that's the best dish next to the jjampong. Fried pork was fine but I'd have liked it a bit more tender, avocado shrimp was interesting. Like a more avocado-ey take on a walnut shrimp. Jjajangmyeon was flavorful but the noodles (yes, those same thin noodles) I felt were too thin for this dish. I love the chew on the noodles but because of how thing they are - I felt that failed to grip the onions, the sauce, the meat. It just kind of all slipped out. Maybe we need a thicker noodle or a more starchy noodle to better carry that jjajang.

Overall I like Octo and I think they have lots of potential. Certainly there's plenty of pedigree behind the restaurant. Maybe just some tweaking on a few things and we might have a new restaurant that corners a niche concept we have too little...

Octo is a Korean-Chinese fusion restaurant located at 1 E 33rd St in Manhattan’s Koreatown. Established by the team behind New Wonjo, the oldest Korean BBQ spot in Manhattan, Octo brings a unique blend of Korean and Chinese culinary traditions to New York City. 

Cuisine & Highlights

Octo’s menu offers a variety of dishes that showcase the fusion of Korean and Chinese flavors. Signature items include: • Peking Duck: Available in half or full portions, this dish is noted for its juicy and tender meat.  • Jajangmyeon: A Korean-Chinese noodle dish with black bean sauce, praised for its generous portions and balanced seasoning.  • Glazed Orange King Prawns: Large, succulent prawns with a crispy coating, highlighted for their flavor.  • Hot Garlic Chicken: Deep-fried chicken served with leeks, lettuce, and pepper, offering a satisfying combination of textures. 

The restaurant also offers a selection of creative cocktails, such as the “Spicy Szechuan,” made with chili-infused tequila and Szechuan bitters, and the “Lichi-Tini,” featuring lychee puree. 

Ambiance & Service

Octo features a two-level dining area with a functional yet elegant design, including a small bar, booths, and tables in a well-lit space adorned with colorful murals. The service is described as attentive, with dishes arriving promptly and staff ensuring a pleasant dining experience. 

Octo has received positive reviews from various sources: • Eater NY: Described Octo as “the best Korean Chinese restaurant in Koreatown,” highlighting its refined flavors and top-notch preparation.  • The Infatuation: Noted that while some dishes like the black truffle duck may not be essential, the restaurant is a great spot for group meals, especially for those working in Midtown.  • Reddit Users: Opinions vary, with some praising the Peking duck and unique offerings like Hot Chili Oil ice cream, while others found certain dishes like tangsuyuk to be less impressive. 

Practical Information • Location: 1 E 33rd St, New York, NY 10016  • Cuisine: Korean-Chinese fusion  • Price Range: Moderate to high, depending on selections • Ideal For: Group dining, lunch specials, and exploring...

Still annoyed by how bad this dinner was. I came after a brutal work day needing a W for a meal. Instead, I paid way too much to consume dish after dish of Ls.

First, our entrees came first because they forgot our salad until the end. So we began with the well-roasted but utterly unseasoned Half Peking Duck. Do you like crisp skin and juicy meat that has the flavor of water? Well, then, you'll love Octo's duck. Were you expecting some Korean embellishments given how Octo bills itself as Korean-Chinese fusion? Well, you expected wrong because all you'll get is fowl that tastes like nothing. It's perfect for Korean and Chinese food lovers who've lost all their taste buds.

I will give them points for the duck ssam, which had actual flavor. Too bad it was about two bites' worth.

The Scorched Seafood Rice Hot Pot delivered just as much disappointment. The menu description promised baby cuttlefish, shrimp and squid on the seafood side. What we got were some tiny slivers of scallop and a couple of small, sad-looking shrimp. I'm gotten more seafood at a steakhouse. And these leftovers of sea life were drowning in a "broth" I can only describe as the brown sauce from Panda Express-style Chinese-American spots (i.e. soy sauce + corn starch) but without any of the fun MSG cottonmouth.

And finally, the biggest L of the night: the Jellyfish Salad. Do you like black vinegar? I do. But do you like black vinegar when it's not balanced by anything else, resulting in a mouth full of pungent astringency? Cool, then this dish is for you. If you've ever wanted to ruin $50 worth of jellyfish, simply prepare it Octo-style by drowning it in said vinegar with no other seasoning. For bonus marks, add wood ear so diners can't tell whether the crunchy awfulness in their mouths comes from trees or seas.

Oh, and as at least one other reviewer noted, we also had stomach issues within half an hour of dining at Octo. Pretty sure it was the black vinegar waging war on...