Hwaro

“A truly outstanding dinner. I had a high expectations and it exceeded all of them. The technique on every dish was masterful and the flavors were diverse, rich and original. The fire cooked seafood plays the solo while all the other ingredients help move each dish forward. Another outstanding restaurant by this chef that I won't get tired of recommending. The counter seating is upscale yet relatively relaxed, and the staff is charming.”

“An impressive tasting menu presentation from Chef Sung. We were also delighted to see Chef Jiho Kim, who previously did an outstanding job at the Michelin level restaurant Joomak. The signature abalone sandwich was an easy 10/10, and the white asparagus sabayon course was another standout. Overall, my wife and I had an amazing anniversary dinner at Hwaro. The combination of creative execution, refined flavors, and warm hospitality made for a truly memorable evening.”

“My wife took our family there for my birthday. We were very familiar with Gui, the Korean steakhouse and its delicious prime rib. The 22 person oval shaped dining table counter was full of celebrants. Each dish was better than the other. The chef's stints at Per Se, Le Bernardin and others really shine through in his precision and construction of the dishes. The dishes are artistically and colored into beautiful pieces. The best thing about the chef is he finds the freshest ingredients and lets their flavor shine. The sauces, the spices, the brining and the dry aging only help to enhance the already pure flavors of the ingredients. We had foie gras, abalone, black truffle, crab, lobster and caviar combined in with Korean spices and its renderings. In the past few year I've been to Quintonil, Le Bernardini, Le Cou Cou, the Modern, Atomix, Jean Georges and Mirazur. This restaurant most definitely belongs with that illustrious company. I fully expect the next Michelin guide to reveal this as NYC's newest two star restaurant. Run there before that happens while can still get in.”

“My favorites were the mushroom pie and the foie gras. The mushroom pie had a deep truffle aroma and rich flavor that made a strong first impression, but it started to feel a bit too intense and overpowering the more we ate. Foie gras is usually not my go to (I’m sensitive to the scent), but here the strawberry pairing balanced it beautifully and made it super enjoyable. A lot of dishes incorporated fruit, which I didn’t expect but it added a nice brightness overall! The dishes weren’t the prettiest visually, but flavor wise they delivered. The jook was another personal favorite as the jjajang pairing worked surprisingly well and felt comforting. Several dishes felt fried or oily, so the meal got a bit greasy midway. And desserts were the only real letdown and they didn’t quite live up to the rest of the menu. Overall we loved the food and all the staff and chef were so nice and super welcoming as well :)”

“One of the more special meals I’ve had in a long time. The Korean fine dining scene in nyc is definitely giving the Japanese ones a run for the money. Everything was meticulously done but not stuffy, it was a fun/lively atmosphere. Every dish was well thought out and assembled before the diners like a dance. Flavors meshed well together. There were rich and exotic sauces, paired with expensive ingredients. A super lovely meal. Highly recommended.”