OBP, A New Korean Bar By The 11 Westside Team, Opens In Soho

Headed by Daniel Eun, the new drinking and dining destination on Old Bailey Street pays homage to the Korean sool-jip experience

South Korean culture has definitely had its year globally, from the triumphant crowning of Parasite director Bong Joon-Ho at the 2020 Oscars to runaway hits Crash Landing On You and Itaewon Class, and the meteoric rise of BTS and Blackpink. In Hong Kong, it’s also been heating up on the culinary front with the opening of Korean restaurants Hansik Goo, Soil To Soul, and the soon-to-launch Mamalee by chef Song Haseullam.

Above Westside Hospitality's beverage director Daniel Eun (Photo: Courtesy of OBP)

Above Chef Joonwoo Choi previously worked at Jinjuu and Bib N Hops (Photo: Courtesy of OBP)

Just in time to round off 2020 is a new venture by the team behind Mexican restaurants 11 Westside and Westside Taqueria, headed by Korean-American beverage director Daniel Eun. OBP is a brand new Soho dining and drinking destination on Old Bailey Street inspired by the iconic alcohol houses (sool-jip) found all over South Korea, with an extensive food menu by former Jinjuu chef Junwoo Choi matched with cocktails designed by Eun, whose well-known CV includes the original PDT in New York City.

Naturally, the drinks pay respect to South Korean spirits, from oft misunderstood soju to makgeolli, and lesser seen cheonggamju and baeksaeju (both glutinous rice-based), which find themselves in creations such as the Dokdo Gimlet, Dream Highball and Red Devil 02. You can also sample more esoteric Korean alcohols such as jaju (a spirit distilled with honey and black pepper), bokbunja-ju (a fruit wine made from Korean black raspberries) and even oak-aged soju.

Above Boneless fried chicken (Photo: Courtesy of OBP)

Above The Red Devil 02 cocktail fuses Bols genever, persimmon, ginger, cinnamon, Mulassano sweet vermouth and bitters (Photo: Courtesy of OBP)

Snacks and mains make up the food menu, which skitters between traditional kimchi pancake, Korean fried chicken and spicy rice cakes to creations such as corn “ribs” glazed with honey butter and parmesan. The showstopper dish is bound to be the spicy braised pork rib, which features some table-side raclette action to top off the warming assortment of pork, potatoes, carrots and onions.

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The interiors of OBP offer a respite from Soho, with calming wood furniture, art-deco-esque stone archways filled with greenery and a living garden wall. It sends a message, perhaps: that this is is the place where Seoul food will nurture your soul.

OBP doesn’t take reservations and is currently operating according to government restrictions on opening hours (12pm to 6pm daily); in future, they hope to operate between 6pm and 2am.

OBP, 3-5 Old Bailey Street, Central (enter via alleyway behind Old Bailey Street), Hong Kong

Topics

Korean Westside Hospitality 11 Westside Westside Taqueria Soho bar Daniel Eun

Tatler Asia

OBP, A New Korean Bar By The 11 Westside Team, Opens In Soho