Seoul Foodie Find: Hana “Japanese Cuisine since 1980. New York.”
Words by Celeste Maturen
Shot by Tom Bowen
Hana stands out against a slew of sushi joints popping up around the city of Seoul. The owner and culinarian, Hee Soon-moon, owes the success of her Japanese fare to her mentor who honed his craft in New York City. Pictures of Moon and her many loyal customers decorate the wood panelled walls of the cozy, two storey restaurant near Seoul National University. Unlike large, conveyer belt sushi restaurants, the atmosphere in Hana’s is one of friendliness and familiarity, and you’ll never get a frozen bite. The fish, fresh from the neighboring Noryangjin Fish Market, is paired with perfectly steamed rice. Hana’s chirashi is popular among SNU students but the real delight lies in the New York-style sushi rolls. The spicy tuna and the salmon rolls taste like they’re straight out of Manhattan’s SoHo neighborhood; the salmon “cado”, with fresh avocado and Norwegian salmon, is an absolute must. And you’d be wise to save room for Hana’s fried green tea ice cream, too.
856-5 Nakseongdae-dong, Gwanak-gu
02-876-4262
11:30 am – 10 pm everyday except Sunday