The newest addition to Momofuku’s ever-expanding Asian-centric network of restaurants, is Kāwi, a Korean-inflected dining room that’s headed up by executive chef and Korean native Eunjo Park, who was formerly at Momofuku Ko.
Located in the behemoth that is Hudson Yards, Kāwi reflects Park’s experience in fine dining and cooking with Momofuku don David Chang both in its design and offering. Conceived by the Canadian firm Design Agency, which has recurrently collaborated with the group, Kāwi's dynamic interior muddles materials like dark stained oak, textured glass, glazed green tiles and satin brass finishes. In the bar and restaurant, geometric millwork and a wood trellis ceiling, arranged in a triangular pattern, creates a memorable atmosphere. The mood relaxes somewhat in the 69-seat main dining room, where red leather banquettes, floral wallpaper and an open plan kitchen set a more convivial tone.
In such a spacious, non-traditional setting, diners can enjoy equally refreshing riffs on Korean staples, with several lesser-known additions as well. Expect small plates like white pepper wings and madai snapper tartare on toast, alongside wagyu ragu rice cakes and spicy Cornish hen stew.
Another nod to Asian tradition comes in the form of the restaurant’s private dining room which will open this summer. Fitted with karaoke capabilities, it comes armed with a 14-seat capacity to suit all myriad of occasions. An infinity mirror running the length of the room gives a feeling of spaciousness while a vibrant mural from the artist Alex Proba and a discreet carousel window allows for uninterrupted service.
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
20 Hudson Yards
Fifth Floor
PHOTOGRAPHY
Bob Gundu
-
Brunello Cucinelli’s festive takeover of Harrods turns the department store into a cashmere wonderlandUnveiled this morning, the Umbrian fashion house has taken over the store’s iconic Brompton Road windows, celebrating the spirit of its home town of Solomeo in fantastical fashion
-
Each mundane object tells a story at Pace’s tribute to the everydayIn a group exhibition, ‘Monument to the Unimportant’, artists give the seemingly insignificant – from discarded clothes to weeds in cracks – a longer look
-
Discover The Legacy, Hong Kong’s eye-catching new condoThe Legacy, by ACPV Architects Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, is a striking new condo tower that aims to ‘create a sense of community and solidarity among people’
-
The W New York, Union Square gets a grown-up revamp by Rockwell GroupThe noughties hotspot has reopened with a more mature – yet never muted –new look. Wallpaper* checks in
-
An around-the-world art tour with RosewoodFrom London to New York, Amsterdam and São Paulo, the hotel group showcases curated art that reflects the unique local context
-
Dior’s new Beverly Hills dining salon raises the bar for couture cuisineFrom Peter Marino’s onyx bar and faceted mirrored walls to Nicole Wittenberg’s vast, immersive botanical canvas, Dior’s first restaurant outside Paris is here
-
This new Los Angeles restaurant is a mischievous blend of dive bar and 'psychedelic honky tonk'At Marvito, small-batch tequila and a classic rock soundtrack create a delightfully nostalgic night out
-
Fantasy – and incredible seafood – await at Carbone Riviera, now open at the Bellagio in Las VegasInterior design powerhouse Martin Brudnizki drew on the Côte d'Azur and Picasso’s ceramics for Major Food Group’s latest Sin City outpost
-
At Café Zaffri in New York, history is served with a rebellious streakThe team behind Raf's unveils a new Union Square haunt that dishes up redefined Levantine cuisine in a reimagined Old New York dining room
-
Welcome to Polymath Park, where you can spend the night in a Frank Lloyd Wright masterpieceA pair of determined Wright devotees have turned four endangered modernist houses into an overnight design retreat
-
Faena New York just landed in the Big Apple – and it's an excuse for a good timeArgentine hotelier Alan Faena’s first New York address serves up high-octane hospitality with a dash of leopard print
