Somaek

What do Somaek and the Beetlejuice sequel have in common? We’ve been highly anticipating both for months, and thankfully, Somaek is finally open downtown on Temple Place. The space is spare and serene, with only the woven-looking lamps over the bar to briefly distract you from the excellent Korean food. Bring at least one other person with you and load up on the small plates—special shout-outs to the soothing cold noodles with boiled egg and gochujang and hot steamy mandu filled with pork, kimchi, and tofu. And all of the banchan, particularly the mu radish kimchi and the soy beef, make us happier than the fact that Michael Keaton is back reprising his lead role. The place gets busy, but the bar turns over quickly, so it’s easy to grab two seats without a lot of planning for an impromptu date night or casual dinner on a weeknight.

photo credit: Joe St. Pierre