I haven’t seen any discussion on Raon – a newish (opened March 2025) Korean tasting menu in midtown Manhattan.
To preface, we really, really love Korean food and have eaten at every 1/2/3* in NYC. Raon doesn’t have any stars yet, but it was on par with, and fell between Joomak and Meju in terms of vibe. The food preparation had quite a lot of French/western influence like Joomak, but focused on high quality fermentation like Meju. My husband likes flavors that punch you in the face while I prefer simplicity with a focus on texture so Raon is right in the sweet spot for us. We thoroughly enjoyed every course (couldn’t pick a favorite) and hope that they get the recognition they deserve!
-
Dungeness crab with cucumber kimchi. Super refreshing cold starter with a great balance of texture.
-
Tuna and white kimchi.
-
Bo (seafood) Kimchi. Interpretation of the chef’s family recipe from North Korea. Broth was particularly good and reminiscent of mul naengmyeon which I am a slut for.
-
Sea urchin kimbap w/ caviar supplement ($30). The supplement made sense here and added a nice saltiness to the sweet urchin. The seaweed wrap was softer than usual which made the dish more comforting.
-
Doenjang scallop and tomato kimchi. The doenjang is actually vegan, and Raon is the only restaurant in the USA to have access to this particular 7 year aged Buddhist variety. I usually prefer scallop with lighter flavors but this changed my opinion as it paired well with the funky sweetness of the jang.
-
Halibut and radish kimchi. Tender, rich and flaky, definitely one of the more western influenced dishes.
-
Foie gras mandu and mukeunji. Not just foie gras, but a variety of cuts from the duck made up the filling and broth.
-
Galbi, sotbap (not shown), turnip kimchi. The sotbap was the star- it contained a variety of fungus and was finished off with a savory and slightly spicy sauce. Best rice dish I’ve had at a restaurant.
-
Pear and makgeolli. Well balanced and refreshing.
-
Sweet treats. My favorite was the persimmon and walnut slice!
by eloisecupcake