The K-restaurant that captivated New York with its seven-course meal appeared on 'Crazy Rich Koreans.'
On the episode of KBS 2TV's 'Crazy Rich Koreans' that aired on the 20th, the show visited a restaurant located in downtown New York. This restaurant, which gained fame in Korea after broadcaster Kian84 visited it right after participating in the New York Marathon last year, has captured the taste of locals with the most Korean flavors and emotions, establishing itself as a 'New York hot place' within just one year of opening.
As the footage of the restaurant appeared, Jun Hyun-moo said, "This place is amazing. Americans are lining up to eat. Kian84 waited, too!" affirming the restaurant's hot popularity. The MCs could not hide their surprise upon learning that global celebrities such as actor Steven Yeun, Jake Gyllenhaal, and designer Alexander Wang also visited this place.
The founding members of the restaurant, led by CEO Yun Jun-woo, moved efficiently in their respective positions as soon as they arrived at work, showcasing a 'restaurant Avengers' vibe. Comprised entirely of members from the MZ generation, they greeted customers with exceptional energy and enthusiasm.
In particular, the retro interior of the restaurant, which gives the feeling of traveling back to 20th-century Korea, caught the MCs' attention. When the management mentioned they were looking for additional cuckoo clocks, Jun Hyun-moo promised, "I have one at my house. I'll bring it," while securing a free pass to the restaurant, which elicited laughter.
Additionally, when the restaurant's generous seven-course Korean meal, which is hard to find abroad, appeared on screen, the MCs exclaimed, "I want to try it," and "It looks delicious," salivating. Local guests appeared satisfied with the hearty main dishes such as potato soup, pork cutlet, stir-fried pork, and stir-fried squid, and after finishing their meals, they enjoyed nostalgic vending machine drinks like job's tears tea and cocoa, completing the perfect full-course experience of K-restaurant.
The management showed their thorough preparation by continuing to educate employees about Korean culture even during break time. When CEO Yun Jun-woo taught about Korean drinking culture and used a slightly old-fashioned toast, Jun Hyun-moo made the scene awkward by suggesting, "It's now 'Park Bo-gum.' Let's give a round of applause to you who worked so hard."
As the one-year anniversary of the restaurant's opening approached in a week, the management team decided to showcase a special menu of rice cake soup to the guests. Not stopping there, CEO Yun Jun-woo proposed making thin rice cakes himself, surprising his colleagues, while Park Se-ri expressed concern, saying, "Making rice cakes won't be easy."
Finally, on the day of the one-year anniversary, CEO Yun Jun-woo prepared a dramatic performance with a knife for cutting the rice cakes, allowing guests to experience Korean culture. With Yun Jun-woo's mother visiting the restaurant to celebrate the anniversary, guests showed explosive interest in tasting the rice cake soup and trying the cutting experience of the thin rice cakes for the first time. As the event they had worked hard to prepare was a great success, the management could not hide their pride.
Yun Jun-woo, a first-generation immigrant who came to the United States with his parents at a young age, has steadfastly carved out his own path without losing his identity as a Korean. Thanks to his obsession with 'Korea,' he has been able to run a restaurant in the heart of New York, and because of continuous research, various challenges, and close teamwork with colleagues, he has succeeded in making it the best restaurant in New York.
Meanwhile, 'Crazy Rich Koreans,' a human reality entertainment program highlighting the lives, philosophies, and passions of world-class Koreans who have succeeded in various fields, airs every Sunday at 9:20 p.m. on KBS 2TV.
[Photo] Still from 'Crazy Rich Koreans'
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