Hangawi

"Beyond an ordinary façade lies this serene, shoes-off Bib Gourmand with traditional low tables, Korean artifacts and meditative music. While wine and beer are available, a pot of royal green tea from Mt. Jilee is a more apt pairing considering the soothing setting." - MICHELIN Guide

"Hangawi, opened in 1994 by Terri and William Choi, is the first upscale Korean vegetarian restaurant in Manhattan. Known for its beautiful interior space rich with Korean cultural motifs and artwork, Hangawi received two stars from New York Times food critic Ruth Reichl within months of opening. It attracts celebrities and takes pride in its ingredients sourced from Korea. Over the years, Hangawi adapted its menu and seating to cater to its diverse clientele while maintaining its unique offering as the only Korean vegetarian restaurant in the country."

"Beyond an ordinary façade lies this serene, shoes-off retreat with traditional low tables, Korean artifacts and meditative music. While wine and beer are available, a pot of royal green tea from Mt. Jilee is a more apt pairing considering the soothing setting. HanGawi is a soft-spoken, vegetarian-only restaurant that cares about what you eat and how you feel. The ssam bap offers a fun DIY experience with a long platter of fillings. Dark leafy lettuce and thin, herbaceous sesame leaves are topped with creamy slices of avocado, crunchy bean sprouts, pickled daikon, carrot, cucumber, radish and three rice options—white, brown and a nutty, purple-tinged multigrain. Topped with miso ssam sauce, each bite is a fresh burst of uplifting textures." - Michelin Inspector

"At Hangawi, you’ll take your shoes off at the door, then sit on a floor pillow next to your table. That’s only one way in which this  Koreatown restaurant feels homey and unique. The extensive menu is entirely vegetarian, with dumplings, kimbap, rice cakes, and a bunch of other things like bibimbap and a spicy tofu hot pot. There's a prix fixe option for $89, but we recommend going the à la carte route so you can customize your meal. Bring a few in-laws for a nice meal, or stop by for a quiet date night. Socks aren't required, but they're highly recommended." - neha talreja, kenny yang, carina finn koeppicus

"For most people headed to Koreatown, the plan will likely involve Korean BBQ. However, William and Terri Choi had a vastly different concept in mind when creating HanGawi. Since they’re both vegetarians, they wanted to open a Korean restaurant that highlighted the environmentally friendly, delicious, and healthy ways people could enjoy vegetables. When you walk in, you’re asked to remove your shoes, there’s calming meditative music playing in the background, waiters are dressed in traditional Korean threads, and there are recessed tables that are low to the ground with room for your legs to stretch. I can’t stop thinking about their crispy mushrooms. Eating this dish, made up of sweet-and-sour-sauce combined with the texture of the shiitakes (both crispy and tender) is like downing a whole bag of chips - once you start, you can’t stop." - esther cho, with warm welcome