Wano: Kaiseki Cuisine in Samcheongdong

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Wano

Fresh Tofu Soup and Tapas

In the fashionable district of Samcheong-dong sits Wano, a kaiseki-style Japanese restaurant. The original hanok it sits in is over 90 years old, but it was recently renovated so only the original frame remains. The owner, Shim Jung-eun, lived in Japan over 10 years so the food is authentic and fresh. There is a sense of art and precision to each dish.

Kaiseki cuisine is considered to be one of the highest forms of cuisines in Japan and it should take the diner on a journey in order to showcase the fresh ingredients of the season and the skill of the chef.

Some of the highlights of the multi-course meal I enjoyed had steamed giant clam over seasoned eggplant; a barbecue course with shrimp, ginko nuts, and pork; various sashimi; broiled fish filled with eggs; silky, thick soba; and the meal was finished with fruit and a surprisingly sweet egg omelet with crunchy walnuts. The handmade tofu soup that simered throughout the meal was also a nice touch.

I would like to say that this place is a bargain for 50,000 won a person. I think there were 8 different dishes and each were distinctly different from each other. The setting in the hanok made the place romantic and homey. If you were looking for a quiet romantic dinner then I would recommend this place. They also have a sake and limited wine selection here.

Wano
Jongro-gu, Samcheong-dong 113-2
02-725-7881

Chilled Beef Salad with turnip and onions

Giant Clam over eggplant

Assorted Sashimi

Broiled Pregnant Fish

Grilled Course

Soba

Dessert: Sweet Egg with Walnut

Wano Interior

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About the Author

Daniel

Daniel Gray is a Korean adoptee that returned to Korean in 2005 because he wanted to try and find his birth mother and to learn about Korean culture. He started a restaurant review blog in 2007, www.seouleats.com, that became a local and international hit. He and his blog has been featured in the New York Times, Monocle Magazine, The Kimchi Chronicles, Bizarre Foods, Rudy Maxa, Olive Magazine, Euronews and much more. He now is a partner at O’ngo Food Communications (www.ongofood.com), which is a culinary tourism and consulting company that offers Korean cooking classes and restaurant tours to travelers. Their food tours and cooking classes are ranked as one of the top attractions in Seoul according to tripadvisor.