Korean Diner with Hangul Signboard Opens in New York
Owners Aim to Offer Authentic Korean Cuisine and Culture
A diner with a Korean-language signboard has opened in the heart of downtown New York, drawing significant attention.
Media outlets such as The New York Times reported on the opening of the diner in the Lower East Side of New York. They explained, "In Korea, roadside restaurants catering to taxi drivers are called 'gisa sikdang'," and added, "Here, dishes like bibimbap, pork, or seafood are served with rice and side dishes." The reports continued, "All three owners-David Yoon Junwoo, Steve Choi Jaewoo, and Kim Yongmin-are originally from Korea," introducing the restaurant's vintage decor, which includes Korean calendars, wall-mounted fans, and a free coffee machine.
A diner opened on the 20th (local time) in the Lower East Side, New York, USA. [Image source=Google Maps]
The restaurant features Korean signboards such as "Dongnam Sageori Original Gisa Sikdang" and "Famous Gisa Sikdang Specializing in Set Meals." The official name of the restaurant is "Gisa Sikdang," and in English, it is written as "Kisa."
The menu offers Korean-style set meals and side dishes, including spicy stir-fried pork, barley bibimbap, and stir-fried squid. Side dishes include kimchi, braised potatoes, marinated shrimp, rolled omelet, roasted seaweed, mung bean jelly salad, and Sotteok Sotteok (skewered sausage and rice cakes). Each menu item is priced at $32 (approximately 44,000 KRW).
On its website, the restaurant introduces itself as "a laid-back Korean eatery that has catered to taxi drivers' tastes since the 1980s," and adds, "Famous for delicious and affordable meals, gisa sikdang offers authentic Korean cuisine that satisfies both the palate and the wallet."
Steve Choi Jaewoo, one of the owners who was born in Korea and moved to Atlanta as a child, told the U.S. food industry media outlet Eater, "Through Gisa Sikdang, we want to introduce casual Korean food and bring authentic Korean dining to New York." David Yoon Junwoo added, "Gisa Sikdang is more than just a place to serve Korean food-it will be a vibrant gathering space where guests can enjoy the spirit of Korea, set meals, and a love for Korean culture."
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