My experience at Jua was stunning from start to finish, the bites were absolutely heavenly and perfectly cooked. It's definitely one of the more affordable Michelin options in the city, and for $200 (included add on for the uni kim) I was super full and satisfied. The jook porridge was so flavorful and incredible, I wanted to scoop every single bite it was so rich and the flavor was so unique I had never tried anything like it. The caviar kim was a heavenly little first bite! Salty and umami. The lamb was decorated with delicious sauces like an artists palette. The mulhoe really surprised me for a cold raw soup it was so tasty and tangy and lick your spoon clean good. I have never tried anything like mulhoe before and now it has shot up to favorite cold soup, gazpacho cannot compete. Really refreshing blend of spicy and sweet and sour flavors. Branzino skin was so crispy too! The two dessert dishes really surprised me, they were so delicate light and refreshing. The tangy citrus complimented the whole meal so well. The sesame ice cream was the most creamy luscious perfectly balanced ice cream I may have ever had. I loved my experience at Jua and would return again in a heartbeat! read more

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I had a delicious meal at Jua. Everything was cooked perfectly, and the service was great. They explained every course, and they were very attentive - my friend accidentally dropped his tablecloth and they immediately brought him a new one. My favorite dish from the tasting menu was the jook. It was a very unique take on congee - it had the consistency of chowder, and I could taste individual grains of rice. Congee usually has the consistency of thick, mashed rice, but this had a really smooth soup texture. There was a smokey flavor and a slight kick of spice. It smelled SO good from the ground sesame. My second favorite dish was the raspberry sorbet - it had a very interesting mix of textures due to the combination of sorbet, yogurt, and the top crunchy thing. It was very refreshing. I was surprised by how crispy the seaweed was for the caviar kim. The lamb dish was a little gamey but not too bad, and it was super tender. The banchan for the lamb was served in a very aesthetic way and paired nicely with the lamb in balancing the heaviness. The sesame ice cream with the sweet potato rice cake donut was a bit of a miss for me - the sesame ice cream had very strong sesame flavor, which I loved, but I thought that the donut was a little hard to chew. I don't know that it was worth the price, but all in all, it was a yummy meal and I'm glad I got to try it. read more

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KenScale: 8.5/10 Visit: June 2024 [Note: After some deliberations, I have decided to upgrade all restaurants receiving 8.5 or 8.75 KenScale to five Yelp stars from four.] As a Korean native, it has been truly heartwarming to see Korean restaurants make a huge impact in New York City's fine dining scene, with trailblazers such as Atomix changing the way American diners view Korean cuisine. For my wife Jun and I, what really stood out from this tremendous moment in time is how talented Korean chefs keep pushing the boundary beyond what people around the world associate Korean cuisine with (such as Korean BBQ, bibimbap, etc.) and develop their own unique vision to tell the story of Korea's rich culinary tradition. One restaurant that has done this very well in NYC is Jua, in which chef Hoyoung Kim (who worked at the OG Korean fine dining restaurant Jungsik) presents a wood-fired menu of modern Korean dishes. If you are judging Jungsik solely based on the number of dishes (seven, compared to a dozen or more courses) or the price point (it was $140 per person on our most recent visit, undoubtedly a bargain compared to $250+ you encounter at other fine dining places), the restaurant may seem like it has a more modest ambition. If, on the other hand, you evaluate the restaurant's worth based on the consistently amazing food coming out from the kitchen, you will soon discover that Jua is the real deal. We first visited the restaurant in fall 2020 (that's right, in the middle of the pandemic), and a few more times since then (the most recent one on our trip to NYC this past summer), and we have never had a bad meal at Jua. Jua's menu format has not changed since its opening. Do we sometimes wish the restaurant changed its dishes more often? Sure, but then you may miss a delightful bite of caviar kim (with generous servings of caviar on top of a seaweed roll). And I certainly wouldn't have been very happy if the menu didn't have the rice porridge (jook) that impressed us every time we tried it with its soulfully aromatic flavor (do yourself a favor and splurge on $20 extra to add the abalone, you won't regret it). On our recent visit, the kitchen presented refreshing sea bream mulhoe (think Korean version of ceviche), and for the seafood course we also had dover sole from Spain that was wonderfully grilled. The final savory dish is usually the highlight at Jua, with a rotating menu of different meal options, accompanied by a gorgeous looking plate of small side dishes (ban chan); I could tell that Jun, who is always picky when it comes to duck meat, was really enjoying the duck breast that displayed lovely juicy texture. The desserts at Jua are also fantastic. During last month's dinner, after a strawberry-based palate cleanser, we had sweet potato donut (goguma juak) along with brown butter ice cream and cookie crumble. I'm not much of a donut enthusiast or aficionado but this one was tremendously delicious and brought me to my childhood memories of sticky chapssal doughnuts made of glutinous rice. Getting a reservation at Jua may be challenging during the peak times on the weekend, especially given the relatively modest size of the restaurant, so booking in advance is always highly recommended. The sleek ambiance of the dimly lit dining room aligns very well with the modern sensibilities that Jua is looking to present to diners. One very underrated aspect of the dining experience at Jua is the beverage list. In addition to playful cocktails using ingredients and flavors familiar to Korean culinary culture, the restaurant also has a very good wine list featuring wines from all over the world designed to pair well with all the delicious food. In the constantly evolving restaurant scene, it may be ridiculous difficult if not impossible to maintain consistency of excellence and vision; if there is a restaurant that seems to espouse that word with effortless ease, Jua in my mind is most certainly one. read more

Amazing tasting menu here. Every dish was great. They only have two sittings at 6 and 8:30pm so everyone starts roughly around the same time. Surprisingly the dishes are spaced out nicely without a long wait so they must be doing some prep and coordination magic to ensure everything comes out at a steady pace. Servers are attentive and friendly. I would def come back here if they rotate the menu on a regular basis. read more

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Awesome spot with impeccable service, an amazing tasting menu and a fun vibe. Definitely earned their 1 star... highlights were branzino, a jook broth with abalone, and the caviar kim. Also the GOGUMA JUAK was epic. Overall a nice birthday treat. read more

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Hubs took me for my birthday dinner. I was most excited for the caviar and uni courses. The caviar course did not disappoint, but I was so shocked how much I enjoyed the congee dish (we added the abalone). It was so comforting. For the price, it was a very enjoyable tasting menu! read more

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This has been on my list for a while! The service was decent but not exceptional as other places with a Michelin star. They were accommodating when my friend had an aversion to lamb, but you do have to let them know any dietary restriction before you arrive for your reservations. It's a set menu so the dishes can't be modified unless told ahead of time. My favorite dish was the branzino and the jook. The branzino melted in my mouth. It was so silky. The Jook was great for a cold day. Honorable mention was the mandarin sorbet dessert. The tartiness made it a good palette cleanser. read more

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Jua is truly deserving of its Michelin star. From start to finish, the experience was exceptional. Everything was so thoughtful and incredibly delicious. The service was super attentive and and always explained what the dish was and how to eat which was so helpful. Caviar Kim: 5/5 - An amazing dish to start the meal. Such a refreshing bite and the crisp seaweed added great texture with the caviar. Mulhoe: 4.5/5 - I'm not the biggest fan of raw fish but this was delicious. The fish was so fresh and the sauce complemented the fish so well. Jook: 5/5 - Comforting and elegant, simple but executed perfectly. Super flavorful! Branzino: 4/5 - Delicately cooked with clean, refined flavors. Lamb & Chan: 5/5 - Hands down my favorite dish of the night. I've never had lamb this tender, juicy, and flavorful. Absolutely unforgettable. Mandarin: 4.5/5 - Light, refreshing sorbet and a perfect palate cleanser. Goguma Juak: 5/5 - One of my other favorites of the evening. So good--crispy, chewy, subtly sweet, and incredibly satisfying. Overall, an outstanding meal with incredible execution, standout dishes, and warm, attentive service. Jua absolutely lives up to the hype, and I can't wait to come back. read more

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It's closer to 4.5! Overall the experience was very good. I asked if I could switch out the lamb and they accommodated and gave me beef instead. My friend who tried both the lamb and the beef said my beef was better. I liked most of the dishes but wasn't a massive fan of the Jook and the mandarin dessert. The crispy part of the dessert kept cutting my throat...might have been my fault because I should have chewed it more but yeah that was uncomfortable. I also don't enjoy tart desserts so this wasn't my favorite. The jook while it tasted good I felt like it www very creamy and heavy and mushroomy. It was a bit too substantial for a dining experience like this. I'd prefer a smaller portion but an extra dish of something else :). They also did a small bday thing for my two friends with a candle and also gave me the same donut dessert (Goguma juak). It seems like it was part of the menu and not an extra item so the special part was the candle only. So at $140 per person it was a good experience but wasn't exceptional hence the 4.5 rating rather than a 5. The restaurant space and table arrangement also didn't feel as upscale but service and food definitely made it good. I didn't get to try their drinks but they seemed enticing so will try another time. read more

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Came here for a dinner for two. You can only do the prefix menu, but you can add on things. We chose to get the base menu without add ons. Really enjoyed all the dishes, but the favorite for me was the mulhoe, very refreshing and loved the Korean flavors on ceviche. The sweet potato mochi donut paired really well with the black sesame ice cream, and it was a combination I didn't expect. Service was prompt and great, every waiter took care to explain the dish and how to eat it. They were very attentive with the water and replacing the utensils as well. Inside is a nice dimly lit vibe, perfect for a date or an indulgent dinner with friends or family. read more

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Fantastic from start to finish. The standouts for me was the jook and the branzino. Just perfect rich flavors for both. The abalone was really tender as well as the branzino. read more

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My first Michelin star restaurant and it didn't disappoint! The restaurant is pretty small and intimate-- it's not overly fancy. At first I expected elaborate decor from a Michelin star place, but I think its ambiance is a nod to the fact that they aren't trying to be pretentious, and despite the high standards of the food, the feel of the restaurant and the staff is very welcoming. The servers are super nice and casual, although professional and gave great recommendations. The food was amazing all around. The caviar kim and uni kim were delicious and so fresh. My favorite dish was the jook--the ultimate comfort food on a cold day. I'd say the most underwhelming course was the dessert but I still enjoyed it. I know they switch their menus up so I would totally come back to try more! read more

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Wow I don't even know where to start! JUA was PHENOMENAL! One of my favorite Michelin restaurants I've eaten at! The courses meal made it feel similar to fine dining but was still pretty cozy. The service was great -- the waiters had wonderful attention to detail. The meal itself left me speechless. While certain elements of the menu rotates, there's a couple of staples. I literally had no notes. I was extremely satisfied and stuffed by the end of the meal! read more

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Dined in January 2026 during dinner with the 7 course tasting menu. We got the abalone supplement for the jook and a glass of wine. Food was all great and so was the service. It's very cozy inside. Memorable favorites include the caviar Kim, jook and dessert. read more

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We really wanted to love this due to many friends recommendations and reviews. Unfortunately we just didn't love it that much. The meal started out pretty good. The drinks were delicious and the kims were both really yummy. We added on the uni kim and it was my favorite bite of the night. Fish was fresh and the nori had such a nice crunch. The mulhoe was also pretty good. The kimchi sauce/soup that was poured over was sooooo delicious. Would recommend cubing the veggies and fruit to make it easier to eat. The next few dishes really took a turn. The jook was okay. We didn't think it was anything special and was a little on the saltier side for us. We did not add the abalone. The branzino was nice but the green sauce it was in was SO pungent and honestly tasted like what I imagine smelly socks would taste. I thought maybe it was just my dish but my partners was also not good. The fish itself was really flakey and the skin was nicely crisped. But the sauce was very underwhelming. The next dish was the lamb and chan. The lamb was very good and that's coming from someone who doesn't like red meat. BUT the chan was awfully salty. Aside from the fried lotus root bite, everything else was terrible. I had to wash down each bite with water. For dessert, the mandarin sorbet was okay. Nothing special and I thought mine was kind of tart but my partner enjoyed his. The last dish was really good though! The sweet potato item was chewy and flavor was on point. I would eat many of those. All in all, I felt like the menu had high highs but then low lows. Which was unexpected given all the praise we've heard about this place. The service was pretty good and attentive. On par with any other fine dining experience. Restaurant was clean and food came out at a good pace. We probably wouldn't be back just because the lows were quite low. read more

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This was the best meal I have had in a long time! Maybe the best of this year... We went for my birthday dinner with an 830pm reservation. The restaurant was crowded but still had the quaint and elegant vibe. The service was also great, very friendly wait staff and very polite. They served us on a rotation of a new server for every dish. I actually really enjoyed this it felt like a part of the experience. One server also recommended us this persimmon tea that was so delicious. Now onto the food. The first course was the caviar Kim, this lived up to the hype and was an exquisite and luxurious first step into the meal. The seaweed was crispy too which was a nice touch. Then the Mulhoe came which was one of my top dishes. This was a cold broth with a little bit of a kick with fluke and daikon and green onions. This was so unique and well delivered. Then we had the jook, a warm rice porridge with veggies and foie gras. The foie gras was well cooked and just added more depth of flavor. The only note I had on this was that the portion size was large in comparison to the rest of the dishes so you started to fill up a little earlier in the experience than expected. Then we had the branzino which was delicious and another top bite. My favorite was the lamb and banchan that followed. The lamb was perfectly cooked, like I've never had before. And all the banchan looks underwhelming but all were packed with flavor. The zucchini and rice wrapped seaweed surprised me with so much flavor. Then we moved toward desert, a mandarin palate cleanser sorbet and the sweet potatoe donut with vanilla bean ice cream, the donut was phenomenal and crispy. Great way to end the meal and they brought it over with a candle! Truly loved this meal so much. Would highly recommend and would love to return for another special occasion in a new season (the menu highlights seasonal ingredients, so slightly changes). read more

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Cuisine: 9 Service: 8 Decor: 7 Value: 10 Overall: 9 For NYC fine dining, JUA is one of the best bang for your buck imho. I was looking g at a return visit soon when I realized that my review is a three years overdue. However, I noticed that the latest 2025 tasting menu is still at a reasonable $140 for 7 courses, only $10 more than my meal in March 2020. Though three years removed, I remember the dinner quite well, here is my thoughts on each course. CAVIAR KIM - Their signature item is certainly one of the best bites of the evening. The generous amount of briny caviar, tender wagyu tartare, sweet Korean pear, and warm rice, all wrapped inside a neat crunchy seaweed package is absolutely outstanding. UNI KIM (supplement) - Very expensive add-on, but a must experience for those who love uni. Creamy and sweet, imported from Hokkaido, this version of gunkan sushi with uni was spectacular. BANG-EO - This was the only dish of the evening that I felt missed a mark a bit. While the Yellowtail was nicely smoked, there was too much going on with the creamy sauce and the marinated beets. JOOK - I want this dish everyday if I could. It is the ultimate comfort food, kicked up a few notches, and simply divine. The combination of flavors from eel and foie gras still resonates me as maybe the best congee/porridge I ever had. Wow! BLACK COD - Not sure I remember what made this entree Korean in any way, but it's hard to mess up a delicious piece of Black Cod. The parsnip puree underneath offers a delicate creamy touch. GALBI & CHAN - Perfectly medium rare A5 wagyu strip loin served with 8 interesting pairings. Tasty and fun at the same time. Not a bad way to end the savory portion of the meal. GOGUMA - This palette cleaner made with sweet potato, vanilla ice cream, and a chocolate twill was absolutely delicious. HOTTEOK - Essentially a pipping hot doughnut with pieces of walnuts and honey drizzled on top. A fancy take on a traditional street food that provided a nice sweet ending to our meal. I can't wait to go back. I am studying the menu and coordinating my schedule. Looking forward to another meal at JUA real soon. read more

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A single bite from this meal made up for what was just an ok experience. For me that bite was the very first course, the caviar kim. The crispy seaweed wrap giving way to what tasted like the ocean's most luxurious caviar, an umami explosion that I still dream about months later. Everything else about the seven-course tasting menu was solid, but that opening bite set a standard the rest of the meal, which didn't quite live up to my expectations or price point. We came for my partner's birthday, and JUA did more or less feel like a proper special occasion restaurant, even accommodating my no-red-meat diet by swapping out the lamb course for fish with no fuss. Their take on jook with foie gras was another really good course. It was filled with a deep umami flavor that made me nearly close my eyes. I liked the wine selection, but stick with wine because the cocktails were not as impressive. Decor wise, the place is a little bare-bones, just like the service mostly felt. We waited a solid 40 minutes for our first course with no explanation from our server. You're definitely paying for the food, not the ambiance or theater. But actually when that first bite of caviar kim hits your tongue, you'll think the meal was worth it. It kinda carried the entire experience, even when the service and setting didn't quite match the price point. read more

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Had the September 2025 menu I liked the tasting menu at Jua- lots of different flavors and textures without being overwhelming and I left with my stomach (and heart) full. My favorites, ordered from most to least, were the Jook, Mulhoe, and Uni Kim. Jook- I don't go out of my way to eat Jook but this was one of the better ones I've had. Nicely seasoned with a little bit of spice and I thought the foie gras was a nice addition. Regret not doing the abalone add on Mulhoe- Fish is what you would expect in a ceviche at a nicer restaurant but what caught my attention was the sauce, was really zesty and I thought it went well with the fish and veggies. I did think it was weird how the veggies were prepared/presented. They're served in strips and I would've liked them diced or in thin circular slices Uni Kim- Don't get me wrong, it was good uni but it wasn't mind-blowing. Still a must order for me I thought the branzino was a bit too salty and I'm saying this as someone with a high salt tolerance but it was otherwise perfect- the skin was a bit crisp and the meat was very tender, yum. Lamb in the Lamb & Chan (forgot to take a picture) was good, it wasn't gamey at all and was well seasoned but I couldn't fully appreciate the chan. Not a huge caviar fan so no comment on the Caviar Kim. There was also Goguma Juak (sweet potato donut + black sesame ice cream, I think. picture did not come out nice so not posting that one) which I thought was alright I had the non-alcholoic Jeju Sunrise which was nice but way overpriced imo. Hype for this place is well deserved. Would return in the future read more

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Excellent food. Ordered both add-ons, the wine pairing, and a cocktail. The Caviar Kim remains one of my favorite bites in the city, and the balance of the meal is likewise exceptional. read more

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This place really lived up to the hype (if that's the right descriptor - word of mouth recommendations is probably more accurate). We heard nothing but amazing things about Jua heading into our meal, so we tried hard not to overhype it in our heads and soiling expectations. Fortunately, the meal really did live up to any preconceived notions we had going in - it started strong with caviar kim, and had excellent pacing throughout the night, end ended with a lovely glazed donut dessert. Service was excellent and each of our servers were attentive and friendly. Ambiance was nice and intimate, clean, sleek, elegant. This is a meal that will live up to whatever occasion you choose to celebrate. Tho heads up - while the meal was fulfilling flavor-wise it won't leave you stuffed. Some drinks beforehand (or even an app) before the meal won't soil the evening. Even so, we can't wait to be back. read more

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We love the sister restaurant, Moono, so we had to try Jua! It was a pretty casual space with a bar at the entrance. We liked the banchan which was presented beautifully, but you only get a taste of each one. Overall, it was a nice meal and leans a lot more towards fusion. read more

JUA - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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Really delicious and memorable meal. Faves were the caviar kim and the lamb & chan. For the caviar kim I was impressed by how much flavor and ingredients are packed inside! I thought all of the "chan" components were pretty and done quite well. The lamb was cooked really well; I'm not a big red meat diner, so if you told me that the lamb was steak, I would've believed you lol. It really showcased Jua's wood-fire techniques well with the great char on the lamb. The desserts were solid, but honestly not my faves of the night. You get 2 dessert courses. I would've enjoyed one more savory over one of the two desserts. The ice cream was delicious while the sweet potato donut for me just tasted like sweet potato. But the donut and the ice cream were, of course, beautifully presented. I just was so much more blown away by all the other courses that came before the desserts tbh. Service was great. The staff is exceptionally nice - shared the different ingredients and components of the dishes, even if we asked a second time after we finished the course. It was a good place to celebrate a special occasion. read more

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Honestly one of the best uni I've ever tasted - so fresh and the seaweed wrapping was perfectly crispy! We ordered the wine pairing with the tasting menu and loved every selection. Our waitress was incredibly friendly and even asked the chef to prepare an extra plate of uni for us since it was my friend's birthday - such a thoughtful gesture! The only downside was that for a Michelin-starred restaurant, it was a bit too loud (we could clearly hear neighboring diners discussing their personal lives, which was somewhat distracting). However, overall we had a wonderful experience and would definitely recommend this place. read more

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I am a regular here and every single time I come by they are just amazing in food and service as they never seem to have a bad day! Just remember to make a reservation as they only have two seating times and they run like a well oiled car. They update their menu per the season which is expected and keeps things fresh while also keeping some year round popular items. I practically have had everything they have to offer here to list them all would be a scroll. Ambiance wise is clean modern and somewhat long. Seating wise once its full sometimes it's hard to get in out of your seat if your on the long cushioned row. You can come here for all dinner reasons like just wanting a good meal with your friends, to celebrating something, or intimate. It's a all good rounder so don't feel intimidated! read more

Amazing experience and meal from start to finish. Service was consistent and prompt throughout the whole meal. Really appreciated that. Every course had amazing flavors, perfect cook/preparation, and beautiful presentation. Standouts were the porridge with abalone and the dessert. Everything was so good though!! Great pricing for a wonderful meal that'll have you full afterwards. JUA is a must-try. read more

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This meal changed my life (and got me really into fine dining LMAO), so freaking ' good. I was afraid it would feel overhyped as I'm not really impressed by expensive places (at some point they all just taste the same...) but Jua was fantastic-- unique Korean fusion dishes that all tasted delicious, worth every penny. It seems like the dishes slightly vary by year or season besides the first and last course. Each course complimented each other so well, one after the other, and I never felt rushed nor like I was waiting too long in between courses. With their strict reservations and only 2 service times, getting seated right away was seamless. Service was great throughout the entire meal, and the interior was elegantly rustic whilst still intimate. My favorite items included: Caviar Kim (beef tartar with avocado and caviar wrapped with crunchy seaweed)- probably my fav, crisp first appetizer with great mix of flavors! Galbi & Chan (substitute for lamb because my mom doesn't eat lamb) - SO GOOD Goguma Juak (sweet potato mochi donut w/ brown butter ice cream) - perfect end to the meal, phenomenally paired, heavier than the first pallets cleanser dessert to kind of fully fill you up lol note - I posted this on beli a few years back + changed some notes to match pics from my second visit. read more

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My favorite meal of 2025! (Well, 2 more weeks until end of the year.) Often pick a nice place to eat when I swing by NYC to see my brother. Excellent service with tables right away and great answers to all food questions without feeling lectured. Also shared a wine tasting as we have a party to go afterwards. Ambiance is nice for dates and larger parties. What's to be expected or a one star Michelin Tips: Probably can save money skipping abalone but pay for the caviar and uni kim Food highlights: Caviar Kim: must have, it is very good and do add the Uni Kim that is also very much a good addition! Jook - i like it a lot but the abalone addition abalone does not add that much Branzino - well seasoned and perfectly cooked but don't recall ant standouts Lamb & Chan - just remembered that it us delicious and would love more bites. Goguma Juak: the best donut for a long mile though other best pastry shop offers something different; i guess also available in S Korean at good quality without a michelin star tag read more

Came here to celebrate and it could not have exceeded our expectations more. The tasting menu itself was great, we truly enjoyed everything we ate and it was well worth the pretty reasonable (for a tasting menu) price. The lamb & chan was such an interesting dish and a delight to eat. The jook was also easily a highlight and more flavorful than I would have expected. But truly there were no misses and each dish was its own very interesting time. The service was so attentive and so friendly and much more approachable than you may expect from the ambiance, which created a nice experience. read more

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Came here for a birthday meal a while back and the service was 10/10. They give you a menu showing their course of the day and it changes seasonally! I think the main one that stays is their signature caviar Kim and the jook. The courses came out at a good pace and presentation was top notch for each of the dish! Everything tasted really good and I honestly really like the jook a lot!! With the amount of caviar they give def worth the price! read more

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The food was alright - I'd much prefer "Jungsik". This place reminds me of a "mini" version of Jungsik. Obviously found out it was one of their sou chef opened from the taste of food. Really loved the caviar appetizer. However, other than that, most of them tasted similar and only the presentation changed a bit. We would probably not come back! Ambiance is alright too read more

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Came here for my husband's birthday. He picked this place since I always wanted to try a Michelin star restaurant, and enjoy Korean food. Service: 5/5 - was friendly and quick! The servers all explained what each dish they served were which was helpful (especially when you come without looking too much into it). Each silverware and plates were taken away after each course. The best part - no judgement when I asked if I could take something to go because I couldn't finish it. They even packed it for me and brought it in the end. Ambiance: 4.5/5 - wasn't anything fancy. Since it is a Michelin star restaurant, you may think it's big and spacious, but it's the opposite. It's pretty narrow/small and you are seated close to the other guests. Reminds me of a small sushi restaurant. Food: 4.5/5 Most of the bites were very unique. We had the October 2025 menu. Caviar Kim was delicious. It was crunchy and delicious. I would not have tried it if I saw it because I get squeamish with caviar but figured I be adventurous that night. Was the best bite! We also got one Uni Kim (extra charge). Husband enjoyed it but I didn't find it very special. Mulhoe was tasty - Fish was soft and calm compared to the sauce which was sour due to the kimchi but I enjoyed it. Jook was creamy and savory. Branzino sauce was buttery which I liked. The fish melted in your mouth. Lamb and Chan - I wasn't a fan of this (but that's just because I don't like the taste of lamb). The background taste of the lamb was subtle but still there so I couldn't finish it. However, I was able to bring it to go! Got my parents to try it and they loved it. Mandarin - this was a sobert with caramel on top. Nothing special but tasty regardless. Goguma Juak - tasty dessert ...was a sweet potato doughnut - perfect texture. It came with sesame icecream. I would give it 4.7/5. Some flavors weren't unique and the price is a little steep for what it is. We ended up spending about $500 due to the extra items we got (uni, drinks) + tip. However, it is much more affordable than other Michelin star restaurant so rounding it to 5. read more

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I came back to Jua for my birthday two years later. I enjoyed everything on the menu. My favorite dish was the lamb & chan. I am not a fan of the lamb due to its strong odor and game taste, but the chefs at Jua know how to execute the lamb as if it was a tasty steak! I would say my least favorite dish was the goguma juak (donut) because it was sticky and challenging to eat it. When I ate it, it was too tacky which clung to my teeth. Overall Jua's service and cleanliness of was wonderful. They added a candle in my black sesame ice cream scoop. Jua is a wonderful Korean Michelin star rated restaurant to check out. I highly recommend it! read more

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As a Korean, I'm no stranger to the flavors of my heritage. I will say though that upscale Korean cuisine is far from ubiquitous in the East Bay where I come from. I arrived with high expectations (especially with the previous experience at their sister restaurant, Moono), and I was not disappointed. Opened with the famed caviar ggim, a dish that definitely reads indulgent on the menu and tastes better on the tongue. Toro and caviar are rarely subtle bedfellows, but the bite truly was a cohesive, delicious whole. The nori even comes wonderfully toasted but not too firm. I can see why this dish comes with the internet acclaim and strong online presence. Probably one of the finest bites I've had in NYC, and that's no small statement given the abundance of culinary excellence here. Each subsequent course delivered too. But, another standout was lamb accompanied by "inventive" banchan. It's not your halmeoni's kimchi and sprouts, but every accompaniment was deftly executed. Each small banchan had a distinct flavor profile that transformed with every bite of lamb which already is strong in flavor. For dessert, my friend and I unanimously agreed that the sweet potato donut was the victor of the two desserts served. It's soaked in syrup much like yakgwa but still incredibly balanced. Paired with the black sesame ice cream, the sweet donut is simply perfection. The wine is also impressive. I've always was under the pretense that Riesling like moscato were always sweet wines. But, the one our server suggested was dry to my surprise and quietly complex. Prob the best white I've had in recent memory. At $140, Jua is undoubtedly a splurge but an experience that you won't feel bad whipping out the wallet for. It's not a temple to traditional Korean cuisine, and it doesn't pretend to be. Not pretentious but still unfussy elegance. read more

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Fantastic meal. Every course was amazing. The seafood was so fresh and often combined with a sauce that was so delicious I was scooping up every last drop. The last dessert was also a stand out amazing--the texture and taste of the donut was so good. Service was impeccable and every plate was plated beautifully. read more

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We did the seven course tasting menu. Boy was it fabulous! My friend made the reservation. I don't know the logistics, but it's a small restaurant so make sure you set your alert to make the rsvp when the dates open. I think it opens a few weeks beforehand. The restaurant is pretty but not overly fancy. The food speaks for itself. We did the seven course menu. The service was attentive but not too annoying (iykyk). My favorite bite was the first and third bite! read more

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Every year Cathie and I have a special anniversary dinner. Last year it was Jungsik. And as a bonus, we also went to Atomix and Cote last summer. So it was only natural that we continued the Michelin Star Korean restaurant odyssey this year. Off all of these, Jua was my favorite!! Unlike Jungsik and Atomixc the dishes at Jua are a little more faithful to Korean cuisine. This is interesting because the chef was the executive chef for Jungsik for years. While the caviar Kim and uni Kim do not taste like Korean kimpap, the striped jack clearly had tones of Korean seaweed soup (myuk guk), and a lot of the chan accompanying the duck had clear connections with Korean banchan. The jook seemed like an elevated jook. And the goguma jauk reminded me of Korean goguma mixed with mochi. Maybe as I am South Korean, being more faithful to Korean cuisine goes a long way to separating Jua from the rest. The space is not big so don't expect a lot of privacy and make reservations. Our waitress Lyndsay was very nice and provided detailed descriptions of each dish. I am not a huge fan of uni so originally, only Cathie got the uni kim add on but she made the mistake of letting me take a small bite, and I realized I needed my own dish! It is a must get. The uni was very buttery and the crisp seaweed with a slightly sweet pickled veggie on top of the rice made for a couple of amazing bites. I actually liked it more than the caviar Kim, which was still good in its own right. The rest of the dishes were all very good and surprisingly filling. We both got the abalone add on to the jook, which we both enjoyed but probably not a must get. When I looked at the menu, I thought I might need to hit a pizza shop on way back but after the duck, I was almost full. Fortunately the desserts were not super heavy (at least by my standards), so I was able to polish it all off and even helped Cathie with a few bites. What is a good husband for? We may need to come back with our daughter because I think she would love the striped jack, which reminded me of ceviche, which is one of her favorite dishes. Just need to find the right occasion because she needs to appreciate how special a $172 meal should be (unfortunately she loves uni too). read more

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Hubby grabbed a resy for our anniversary. Because he loves food, we do tend to go to a lot of nice restaurants throughout the year but we try to save the ones we especially look forward to for our anniversary since we always forgo celebrating Valentines. The tasting menu is not long so hubby already had planned to grab something else after to fill him up. Yes, on first look the menu seems short compared to other tasting menus. There were only 7 items total, 5 savory, 2 sweet(ish) but the jook is sizable and filling so I was already full by the time we got to the Duck and Chan. My favorite was the Uni Kim add-on. The price was high at $32 for a 2 bite taste but the uni was unbelievably creamy and not fishy tasting at all. The crunchy texture of the kim and all the yumminess beneath the uni made those 2 bites perfection. We did not do the wine tasting but I did order the coco 4 lychee. I am a sucker for lychee cocktails. The edible flowers were pretty in the drink but I wished there were actual lychees...I did still enjoy the drink so ordered two! The mandarin was served with a slice of candied goodness over a small scoop of sorbet with bits of mandarin oranges. It was refreshing and not overly sweet. I am not going into detail about the other dishes but everything was cooked well and seasoned perfectly. Our server, Lindsay, and the other waitstaff took the time to describe each dish. The space is narrow but long and most tables were set for 2 with not a lot of space in between. You can see the fire blazing out of the oven which they use to get the smoky flavors. The part I loved best was that this was the first "Korean" Michelin star restaurant in New York that we went to (and this was the 4th that we tried) in which I really felt the Korean flavors were truly represented throughout the menu. Hoping we will be able to snag another resy again soon! I would love to go back! read more

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The caviar Kim. The hype is real and that truly is the standout from this phenomenal tasting menu. I came here to celebrate my husband's birthday and the entire meal was outstanding but I have to shoutout the caviar Kim. It melts in your mouth and there's so much depth of flavor. I'm sitting here at home dreaming about it wondering when the next time I can have it is. Other standouts were the branzino and the lamb. Can't wait to come back here. read more

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excellent! depth of flavor for every dish was amazing -- i especially loved the tender, creamy branzino with leek oil, the lamb with a fun variety of banchan, and the tart mandarin palette cleanser ! would definitely come back again for another special occasion read more

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