Still dreaming of the decadent dishes we had at Jua...
When I first entered, I remember thinking that the restaurant seemed a tad unassuming but intimate - dimly lit with a touch of bustle as tables all around were filled with people dining late on a Sunday night. My party of 3 was seated immediately, and the service was pristine from the get-go. Our waitress was super friendly and cheerful, and all the staff seemed passionate as they brought out each plate / drink.
Pro tip: You can order additional courses a la carte, but you need to tell the resto while you make the reservation because they prepare just the right amount of food the day of and nothing more.
// Caviar Kim - Crunchy from the nori shell, fatty from the tuna, umami from the caviar, and the perfect amount of herbal tanginess from the greens to balance the fattiness. Chef's kiss.
// Mulhoe - literally means "sashimi" in Korean (or so I'm told). Thin slice of tomato on top, balanced by raw sea bream and other veggies, in a kimchi-like broth that was just the right mix of acidity and spice.
// Jook - a mix of traditional congee and a seafood chowder. The rich ingredients - scallop, mushroom, foie gras, chicken stock, and cream - make for a hearty, steaming bowl of rice porridge. Loved this!
// Black cod - Wrapped in greens, this cod was so tender, slightly sweet, and melts in your mouth. The broth was a coconut-base and had a kick from the chili oil. The only thing that I had to ding it for was that it was lukewarm by the time it hit the table.
// Chicken chan - Tender, juicy chicken with banchan on the side. It was very fun to try all the banchan, but if I had to pick, this was probably the least favorite out of all the dishes tonight. Still great though.
// Strawberry - A strawberry sorbet with whipped cream, hidden under a thin sugar shell. Fun to eat and quite tart.
// Green tea bingsu - I'm not often amazed by desserts on tasting menus, but this was really blew me away. The bingsu felt like it had DEPTH - so hard to describe but it basically didn't melt immediately and had such a strong matcha substance to it. Underneath the mountain of bingsu, you'll find watermelon, crumbled cookies and almonds. Nutty perfection.
All in all, I would totally come again as the menu changes with the seasons. For $135, this is so worth it.
