Odre opens in the East Village
A new spot for stunning Korean fare serves an affordable prix fixe menu
Chef Changki Kang and HAND Hospitality are opening the Korean restaurant ODRE today in the East Village. While Korean food may not be new to you, the concept here is a bit different in a couple of ways.
First, the chef is doing a highly seasonal menu in a $42 prix fixe format that will lean into family traditions and include dishes like Cuttlefish Hwe, Shrimp Jeon, Spicy Beef Jjim, and Bansang.
But the other difference is more personal. Chef Kang, who has been part of the menu development culinary team for other HAND Hospitality restaurants such as Her Name is Han, Chodanggol, and Take 31, says the inspiration for Odre is his family, and he pays homage to culinary traditions with ‘gamasot’ or cauldron cooking. He’ll have three large gamasot set up on the bar so you enter the restaurant, so it feels almost like walking into grandma’s house, with bubbling, steamy pots or cooked rice and soup welcoming you.
“Growing up, my grandmother cooked rice in a gamasot, and I experienced a strong sense of nostalgia from the smell of freshly cooked rice and soybean paste stew,” said Chef Kang. “In Korea, meals often transcend their basic function to symbolize care and connection. We’re looking forward to incorporating these Korean elements into the New York City gastronomic landscape and bringing the community closer together.”
In addition to the gamasot, Chef Kang will also highlight a roster of his own very personal banchan, what he believes are the most important element to Korean cuisine. I don’t know about you, but I love banchan and looking forward to getting over here to try his. The restaurant is modern and spare in design, and will also use Korean-style pottery and will feature art by up-and-coming Korean artist HyeSeong Kwon.
ODRE is located at 199 2nd Ave, New York, New York, and will offer dinner during the following hours:
Tuesday - Thursday, Sunday: 5 pm-10 pm
Friday - Saturday: 5 pm-11 pm