Brian Kim and Tae Kyung Ku in June (Photo: Nicole Disser)
Way back at the start of the summer East Village staple and Quentin Tarantino’s favorite restaurant, Dok Suni, closed its doors. Back in June, B+B got a chance to speak with the two guys that will be taking over the space. As of today when we walked by, the defunct restaurant’s original sign hung in the door, but construction was in high gear. The owner says the place should be open in 3-4 weeks and that a full menu is forthcoming within the week.
Friends and former roommates Brian Kim and Tae Kyung Ku grew up in Korea, and will be keeping with Dok Suni tradition in serving Korean fare. Though not finalized yet, the owners told us back in June they do have an idea of what their menu will look like– small plates of both traditional Korean cuisine and their own creative spins on classic dishes.
The co-owners and chefs met at the Culinary Institute of America and have plenty of experience in the business. While Kim honed his knife skills at Bouley, Ku worked at Gramercy Tavern for a time. Ku said his family in South Korea has been in the restaurant business for over 40 years, and he spent 10 years at the helm of the family restaurant before moving to the United States.
Kim and Ku estimated that dinner will cost $40 to $45 per person for two or three small plates. We’ll keep you updated as the place gets closer to opening.