Chef Mingoo Kang’s modern Korean restaurant will switch over to much larger premises and offer an updated and expanded menu this August 2021
Hansik Goo by chef Mingoo Kang was one of 2020’s most highly anticipated openings, as well as one of the most high profile launches to happen in the midst of a pandemic. From hosting daily Zoom calls with his Hong Kong team while in Seoul to having his team dream up creative ways to pivot to takeaway and delivery (Hansik Goo’s now-iconic fried chicken bucket was a staple among food lovers in the know), Kang has been through a most unusual, yet oddly rewarding year.
On July 3, the restaurant on Lyndhurst Terrace went through one final service before shutting the doors on the place the kitchen team called home for the first year. The new Hansik Goo will re-open in a new space a short walk away at The Wellington this August (joining new openings Whey and Wing), with an updated look that will be inspired by bu-eok, or the traditional Korean kitchen and hearth; Korean studio Area Plus have been tasked with bringing Kang’s vision for Hansik Goo v.2 to life, one that encapsulates a feeling of cosiness, with a down-to-earth elegance to contrast with the more renegade approach to the food.
See also: Korean Chef Mingoo Kang On Opening A Restaurant During The Pandemic
With the new location and visual identity also comes a refresh of the menu, which Kang describes as being “one level up” from their original mission to spotlight traditional Korean cuisine—this time, they’ll be more audacious when it comes to adding creative touches to dishes, and refining their interpretation of classic flavour profiles, thanks to an upgraded kitchen and expanded culinary team. Kang, who was able to come to Hong Kong late last year to oversee the development of his first restaurant in the city, aims to make another trip to get hands on with Hansik Goo’s reincarnation. We spoke to the chef about the year past, what’s ahead for Hansik Goo, and what to expect when the restaurant reopens in August.
Since opening Hansik Goo, what have been the highlights as well as the unique challenges you and your team(s) have faced?
Having to make decisions without being physically present was a foreign experience for me. That said, the process of communicating with the team remotely was not as difficult as I would have otherwise expected. From our partner ZS Hospitality Group and the team of chefs from Korea to the Hansik Goo team we met in Hong Kong, everyone showed great teamwork. I learned how to trust the team and learned how to divide labour without meeting physically in person. It was a new experience, working through remote communication.
Now that the HK public has had time to understand your story of Korean cuisine with Hansik Goo, how are you going to push that knowledge with the upcoming new dishes? What facets of Korean cuisine are you excited to share with HK?
As expected, Hong Kong has an amazing food culture that respects and enjoys originality. From this one-year experience, we realised there was no need for us to twist our food in order to suit the local palates at all. We were able to keep the authentic taste of Korean dishes with Hansik Goo’s own sensibility and wit added. Fortunately, our guests in Hong Kong appreciated it a lot.
Moving forward with Hansik Goo 2.0, I would like to introduce more diverse Korean culture. Korean barbecue, chicken, seafood, dessert, coffee, etc—there is so much more to explore in the rapidly changing Korean food scene. I hope to showcase the charm and depth of authentic Korean food through our brand, rather than just seeing it as a trend.