JuDam

A newly opened hip restaurant & bar in ktown. It's a Korean fusion style high end bar concept, and I was there for both dinner and drinks. Great food, drinks, and ambience. All very clean and unique. I should revisit to try the remaining dishes on the menu I didn't have last time.

If you’ve been to Asia especially Seoul then you know the iPad service and Korean style western food is very much authentic—this is not traditional Korean food with banchan. The vibe is like upscale bar food (think: Galbijim, fishcake soup, rose pasta, tteokbokki). The cocktail menu was good, and the sake and Korean beers listed were impressive. I also love makgeolli but I wish the house made makgeolli was stronger and smoother. We got the tartare, perilla noodles, clams, and chicken pancake. The tartare (only 4 pieces of nori??? Really???) and perilla noodles on their own were underwhelming but they tasted really good when you ate them together. The clams had some sand and were underwhelming, wish we hadn’t ordered it. Chicken pancake was the best; couldn’t believe how juicy the chicken was. I would come back to satisfy my curiosity about how good the fishcake and Galbijim are but otherwise didn’t really find this to be a new go to spot of the sort.

I recently checked out the newly opened JuDam, and wow—what an experience! First off, the interior has such a warm, cozy vibe, and with the music and the food, the whole atmosphere just hits perfect harmony. There were so many dishes you’d never find in New York that I honestly struggled to decide what to eat. But my #1 pick? The pork jowl sujebi I already love pork jowl more than any other cut, and sujebi is my absolute favorite noodle dish… so having both in one? A total dream combo 🤣 You eat the boiled pork first, then tear off your own sujebi dough and cook it right in the broth underneath—chewy, bouncy, and just chef’s kiss. Marinated Shot Rib risotto I don’t even know how to describe it. Truly something else. Highly, HIGHLY recommend! They also have a great variety of sake, and the servers bring out a basket of different sake cups for you to choose from. Picking your own cup makes the whole experience even more fun. And the Daegu-style grilled chicken—completely on a different level. They’re apparently opening a handmade oden bar soon too, and I’m already excited. Just writing this review is making my mouth water all over again… Can’t wait to go back!

The service was great and the staff was really nice. Since this was a brand new restaurant it was still relatively empty when I went for dinner. So when you sit down the menu is on the tablet at the desk and it was not explained to us properly. There really was limited options on what was on the menu. The risotto was really cheesy and the meat was really good however I believed there could have been a little bit more meat. The chicken pancake was actually surprisingly good, the meat was a lot more juicy than I expected. First time having chicken instead of seafood. My only takeaway for that plate was that there could have been a little bit more sauce or if they had soy sauce on the side to dip it in.

Judam isn’t just an upscale Korean restaurant; it’s a revelation. From the moment you step inside, you feel the harmony between elegance and warmth. The minimalist décor, the glow of soft lighting, and the calm confidence of the open kitchen create an atmosphere that’s both refined and inviting. Judam manages that rare balance of sophistication and soul, offering a dining experience that feels intimate, intentional, and quietly extraordinary. The menu reflects a deep respect for Korean culinary tradition while embracing modern creativity. Each course is composed with precision: flavors layered thoughtfully, textures contrasted beautifully, and presentations that feel artful without ever drifting into pretense. You can taste the craftsmanship behind every detail, from the first bite to the last. Service is pitch-perfect; attentive without intruding, genuinely warm without rehearsed formality. The staff moves with a sense of pride and purpose, creating the feeling that you’re being guided through a curated, seamless experience rather than simply served a meal. The beverage program is equally impressive, offering pairings that enhance and elevate the entire evening. Whether you choose wine, cocktails, or Korean spirits, everything feels expertly considered. Even the final course, often overlooked in upscale Korean dining, receives the same level of care and creativity, ending the meal on a lingering, memorable note. In a crowded culinary landscape, Judam stands out effortlessly. It’s the kind of place where you can celebrate a milestone, impress a guest, or treat yourself to an evening that feels indulgent in the best possible way. Judam isn’t just worth visiting; it’s a place you’ll find yourself thinking about long after you’ve left.

UNIQUE. DELICIOUS. FAVORITE. Honestly the 3 words I could use to really describe what JuDam's first impression was for me. When a restaurant typically opens, there's always "lag time" for when the food quality and the service quality has to adjust, being a new restaurant and all. But this is one of those rare occasions where the stars must have aligned for them and they knocked it out of the park! Restaurant's always have to adhere to the 4 pillars of hospitality, food, interior, service, and ambience. I felt that the owners must have pondered deeply on how to execute these pillars to perfection. WHAT I ORDERED: Paddle Seaweed Truffle Oil Riceballs: Rich, perfectly seasoned, and the mentaiko mayo on top really brought it to life. Paddle Seaweed is considered the "luxury" seaweed and it blends harmoniously with the truffle oil and rice. Score: 9.5/10 Daegu Style Chicken: I honestly never heard of this before but apparently, its pretty popular in Korea. The Mexican inspired DIY platter really highlights the marinade of the chicken. I love Korean-Mexican fusion food so this one may be a BIT biased. Score: 9.7/10 Braised Spicy Pork Bones: You know when you go to a famous Southern BBQ restaurant and they let the meat fall right off the bone? That 100% happens with this dish, the server comes and breaks up the meat from the bone and you can tell its just going to melt in your mouth. It is a spicier dish so if you cant handle spice, I wouldnt recommend! But for me, it was tender, savory, the tiniest amount of sweetness, and that kick! Score: 9.4/10 Yes, I will be coming back

Went right before the dinner rush, and was pleasantly surprised! Atmosphere and music choices were right up our alley. Our server was super attentive and helped us with the sujebi (so good, but I’m biased toward pork jowl). I get that it’s technically a talk and drink spot (hence the name)- but the food is AMAZING. Definitely a great date spot, and I definitely will be back to try drinks for my birthday.

Stumbled into this place and honestly had an amazing experience. The black sesame soju and braised beef were incredible.

Very solid Korean spot which is open late in Korea town. Prices and service are very good. I got the marinated beef risotto which was galbi. The risotto was fresh and flavorful but the meat was a little old tasting which was unfortunate but otherwise a solid experience. At around 29 dollars you can go wrong give them a try they are open late. I went around 1 am.

Food was great, we got the Short Rib Risotto and the Pork Jowl Sujaebe. I would still come back for the food. But the overall experience was very odd and kind of baffling. We walked in around 6:05pm on a Saturday and there was no host for a good 5 min - there were about 8 people just standing in the front waiting to be seated. I booked standard seating on Resy but we were seated at the bar due to no table availability, which is fine, but just note that they aren't differentiating bar and table seating on Resy. However, the bar stools don't have back support, there are no hooks below the bar, and the restaurant doesn't have coat check - so you need to awkwardly hold your coat on your lap throughout the entire meal (like where do we put our napkin!). As other guests got seated next to us, they were asking about where to put their coats too and surprised that there were no hooks (again, as the bar seats are just stools). Our beef risotto came and after we were halfway through the meal, the waitress said that we needed to move from the bar to a table because we ordered the soup (which has to be boiled at the tables), and asked us to bring our cups and silverware - so we lugged those, our coats, and our bags over to the other end of the restaurant in the middle of the meal. Again, food was as great. But I think more thought can be had for the guest experience. An easy fix would be replacing the bar stools for chairs with back support. And then planning the seating better so guests don't need to be moving their stuff and tables in the middle of a meal.

I went to JuDam for dinner this weekend and despite the good service and ambiance, I would give it 3 stars for the food. We had short rib risotto, perilla pasta, and beef stew. Everything was just okay. The short rib was marinated well and reminded me of Rib No. 7 which was their previous restaurant, but the risotto had an extremely sharp garlic bite while also being very creamy - a heavy combination of flavors. If you want to try a good perilla pasta, I suggest you go to 8282 or Hojokban instead. The beef stew was the best dish we tried. Sadly I didn't think any of the dishes stood out much. They were all slightly elevated but uninspired Korean bar food. I gotta say I will really miss Rib No. 7. Their concept and the consistently high quality for price of their KBBQ was the best in Ktown in my opinion.