Raon- NYC

I haven’t seen any discussion on Raon – a newish (opened March 2025) Korean tasting menu in midtown Manhattan.

To preface, we really, really love Korean food and have eaten at every 1/2/3* in NYC. Raon doesn’t have any stars yet, but it was on par with, and fell between Joomak and Meju in terms of vibe. The food preparation had quite a lot of French/western influence like Joomak, but focused on high quality fermentation like Meju. My husband likes flavors that punch you in the face while I prefer simplicity with a focus on texture so Raon is right in the sweet spot for us. We thoroughly enjoyed every course (couldn’t pick a favorite) and hope that they get the recognition they deserve!

1. Dungeness crab with cucumber kimchi. Super refreshing cold starter with a great balance of texture.

2. Tuna and white kimchi.

3. Bo (seafood) Kimchi. Interpretation of the chef’s family recipe from North Korea. Broth was particularly good and reminiscent of mul naengmyeon which I am a slut for.

4. Sea urchin kimbap w/ caviar supplement ($30). The supplement made sense here and added a nice saltiness to the sweet urchin. The seaweed wrap was softer than usual which made the dish more comforting.

5. Doenjang scallop and tomato kimchi. The doenjang is actually vegan, and Raon is the only restaurant in the USA to have access to this particular 7 year aged Buddhist variety. I usually prefer scallop with lighter flavors but this changed my opinion as it paired well with the funky sweetness of the jang.

6. Halibut and radish kimchi. Tender, rich and flaky, definitely one of the more western influenced dishes.

7. Foie gras mandu and mukeunji. Not just foie gras, but a variety of cuts from the duck made up the filling and broth.

8. Galbi, sotbap (not shown), turnip kimchi. The sotbap was the star- it contained a variety of fungus and was finished off with a savory and slightly spicy sauce. Best rice dish I’ve had at a restaurant.

9. Pear and makgeolli. Well balanced and refreshing.

10. Sweet treats. My favorite was the persimmon and walnut slice!