"With its expertise in grilled shellfish, Goo Gong Tan expands the concept of Korean barbecue. Whole clams are placed on the grill slats, where they slowly open up. The liqueur starts frothing at which point the servers pick up each clam with gloved hands and shuck them open with tongs like Edward Scissorhands before placing them on the cooler, outer edges of the grill. There’s so much more to the grilled seafood menu: clams, scallops and mussels topped with a gochujang seasoning and shrimp, too. Pair those with fried dumpling squares with extra crispy edges and a crackly wrapper. It’s a dark, casual hangout kind of spot, so bring friends to share your soju." - Caroline Shin