We know Manoj Sharma for his fabulous Indian dishes on the Jugaad menu, but now we're discovering the chef in a completely different register, that of Korean cuisine. It was in the company of his wife Sangmi Lee, herself ofKorean origin, that the chef opened Seoul Mama in 2018 in the 15th arrondissement. Today, the couple unveil a second Seoul Mama in Paris, this time a stone's throw from the Luxembourg Gardens.
In a peaceful, minimalist atmosphere, this Korean bistro with large bay windows, bathed in natural light, invites discovery. There's no Korean barbecue or banchan here, just Korean cuisine that pays homage to its origins while emphasizing a French-style approach, with perfectly sourced meats and local vegetables.
Seoul Mama showcases fine meats - Black Angus beef, Iberian pork (€24) - ingeniously matched with Korean flavors and preparations, here a ssamjang sauce (a typical Korean condiment made from spicy soybean paste), there a gochujang vinaigrette (a fermented Korean chili paste). The way the meats are prepared is reminiscent of Jugaad's: perfectly grilled on the outside, they reveal an intense tenderness at their core. And let's not forget the prime rib (23€), cooked at a low temperature in the style of a pot-au-feu; the perfect link between French and Korean cuisine.
Likewise, if when you hear Korean cuisine mentioned, you immediately think of bibimbap, then you won't be disappointed. This Korean classic is well and truly on the menu at Seoul Mama. Known as dupbap, it comes in beef (19€), pork, chicken and vegan versions with tofu and avocado; just like the famous Korean curry. Composed of rice, a multitude of colorful vegetables, egg yolk, sauce and, above all, generous chunks of the chosen meat, Seoul Mama's dupbap is one of the best we've had in a while. Hearty yet light, tasty and colorful, we'd love another one right now!
For starters, Seoul Mama has chosen to showcase Korean street food, too often confined to tteokbokki, as delicious as these spicy rice cakes are, and bung'eoppang, the famous fish-shaped cakes filled with sweet red bean paste. Instead, Manoj Sharma and Sangmi Lee decided to come up with some original and frankly naughty street food dishes.
These include, for example, incredible kimchi balls (€10.5), fried balls of rice, kimchi, shrimp and mozzarella, to be dipped happily in a spicy wasabi mayo; Korean ravioli; smoked eggplant ; the must-try Korean Fried Chicken, as well as egg gochujang (9.5€), a reworking of a French classic, the egg mayo, with smoked bacon and a good dose of gochujang; proof, here again, of Manoj Sharma and Sangmi Lee 's desire to link the two gastronomies on the plate.
In addition to this perfectly delightful food menu, Seoul Mama Luxembourg invites you to toast with an expertly crafted cocktail menu that borrows the most famous Korean spirits, led by soju and makgeoli, and slips them into new recipes. Here, for example, you can sip the soju mule (soju, lemon juice, cucumber, ginger ale; €12), or the shiso nunchi (gin, yuzu syrup, tonic, red shiso leaf, lime juice; €13) with delight.
Definitely the very good Korean address that's been missing from the 5th arrondissement!
Location
Seoul Mama Luxembourg
245 Rue Saint-Jacques Bis
75005 Paris 5
Official website
seoulmama.fr
