Jua

"If you want to celebrate a special-occasion at a place where you don’t have to whisper or worry about sullying a pristine tablecloth, head to Jua. From the chef behind Moono and the group who brought you Ariari, Atoboy, and Her Name Is Han, this restaurant serves a seven-course, $140 prix fixe in a space with brick walls and scuffed concrete floors. Your meal will begin with a perfect bite of caviar and steak tartare wrapped in seaweed, then you might get some spot prawns served two ways, a smoky bowl of jook, or dry-aged duck with a modernist array of banchan." - bryan kim, hannah albertine

"Another spot with one of the best-priced tasting menus according to Ellen Hunter." - Michael He

"Chef Hoyoung Kim’s wood-fired Korean restaurant with a tasting menu has one star." - Eater Staff

"Several years in, and Chef Hoyoung Kim and his team continue to deliver their promise of a nicely poised, modern Korean prix-fix that is both familiar and substantial. Jook with smoked eel and sesame is as comforting as it is refined, while crispy seaweed cradling tuna tartare and rice capped with caviar is as luxurious of a start as one could hope for. Have you ever seen a banchan as minimalist and as impactful as this one? Probably not. Dinner typically ends with a glazed Korean-style donut and a silky-smooth orb of ice cream. All the while, this slim and sleek restaurant is right at home being in such close proximity to the Flatiron Building thanks to its soaring ceilings, sultry lighting and a packed dining room humming with energy." - Michelin Inspector

"Forget the soot-colored tabletop grill, the monotonous assault of appetizers, the insistent trail of meaty smoke of a typical Korean barbecue restaurant—as soon as you enter Jua’s dim, opulent interior, it’s clear that this is not that sort of place. With its high ceilings, polished concrete, and formidable vase of plum blossoms, the restaurant, in the Flatiron district, resembles an après-ski lodge for the modern aristocracy. This effect is enhanced by the well-heeled clientele, whose air of regal self-assuredness evokes the character of Jua as much as its spiced firewood fragrance does." - Jiayang Fan