HWARO - NYC Times Square
Fine dining restaurant · Midtown West ·
Korean fine dining tasting menu reimagined with charcoal grilling
Korean fine dining tasting menu reimagined with charcoal grilling
"Chef Sungchul Shim’s intimate, 22-seat counter within his Theater District steakhouse Gui leans personal and precise, using a custom grill to build 13-course tasting menus ($295)." - Tierney Plumb
"Reservations are live for a 22-seat, reservation-only chef’s counter tucked behind Gui’s dining room at 776 Eighth Avenue that marks Sungchul Shim’s most personal project yet, where he works beside a custom grill to assemble a 13-course, $295 tasting menu exploring Korean techniques like charcoal grilling and fermentation while pulling in broader East Asian flavors. Early highlights include golden eye snapper, squash blossoms, and Chungju consomme; a mushroom tart with porcini mornay; foie gras duck pastrami with fermented black rice; and cast-iron pot rice with pike mackerel. Set in its own theater-like room, the circular marble counter with brass detailing and underlighting puts diners in front of the kitchen, with mother-of-pearl inlays and custom ceramics underscoring Shim’s heritage and artistry, and drinks from bar manager Gelo Honrade riffing on Asian ingredients; reservations are required via Tock." - Melissa McCart
"Not just another tasting counter, this is chef Sungchul Shim’s most ambitious and personal project yet: a luxe 22-seat circular counter in the same Times Square spot that houses Gui, with custom mother-of-pearl inlays, custom ceramics, and a design meant to bring guests into the heart of the experience; the $295 tasting menu focuses on foundational Korean techniques like charcoal grilling, fermentation, and seasonal cooking, all executed in the center of seating in-the-round." - Melissa McCart
"From the chef behind Kochi, Mari, and Don Don comes Hwaro, a Korean chef’s counter in the Times Square space that also houses his steakhouse, Gui. The circular dining room, named after the term for a Korean stove, seats 22 guests for a 13-course tasting menu, priced at $295." - bryan kim, willa moore, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick
"From the chef behind Kochi, Mari, and Don Don comes Hwaro, a Korean chef’s counter in the Times Square space that also houses his steakhouse, Gui. The circular dining room, named after the term for a Korean stove, seats 22 guests for a 13-course tasting menu, priced at $295. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - Willa Moore