When it comes to Korean cuisine in Paris, most people are familiar with bibimbap, bulgogi, kimchi... and that's about it. So, if you'd like to broaden your horizons and discover recipes not so often found on the menus of the capital's Korean restaurants, head for Mugung, a new Korean restaurant that recently opened its doors in the Sentier district.
At the helm of the kitchens is a genuine Korean chef, and that's a good sign. On the advice of Isabelle and the lovely waitresses, we dive straight into the menu. At first glance, it appears to be very extensive, but in reality it's divided into several easy-to-understand sections.
Starting with the two lunch menus, bibimbap (15€) or wings (15€), and the summer menu of light dishes, such as the Bingsu Noodle (18€), which has been so successful in the summer months that it's about to be added to the restaurant's permanent menu.
Of course, Mugung also offers a range of dishes to share with guests, including Korean-style wings, with or without bones, spicy or caramelized (€7.50 for four each), a farandole of Korean pancakes (12.50€) prepared by the chef to the highest standards, just the right amount of crispiness on the outside, but absolutely melt-in-your-mouth on the inside, with seafood, beef, chives or kimchi.
Ravioli and other spicy kimchi (€6.50), Korea's culinary treasure trove, round out the menu, in generous quantities for the price. But what interests us most are the little-known dishes that can't be found anywhere else, such as the army fondue (36€ for two), which takes its name from the ingredients inside, left behind after the war and blended with local dishes to create this recipe.
Equally impressive is the Korean fondue (38€ for two), with marinated beef in a fruit broth that adds just a hint of sweetness, and an array of vegetables - Chinese cabbage, peppers, onions, carrots, zucchini, mushrooms - as a shot of comfort.
And cheese lovers won't be outdone, as Mugung offers an atypical dish that we wish we'd tried earlier in our lives: corn cheese chicken (€36 for two people), a dish of melted cheese served in a cast-iron casserole dish, with tender pieces of chicken, corn and a very special technique for eating it without getting it all over yourself, which the waitresses are happy to teach you.
And to cool down, there's nothing like a sip of one of their yuzu or plum iced drinks (6€).
There's no doubt about it, Mugung has chosen to focus on lesser-known dishes, and after all, that's what you're looking for when you try a restaurant serving cuisine from elsewhere: great discoveries, carefully taught techniques for eating as tradition dictates, recipes and exciting encounters.
Mugung is all of these things. So we promise to come back and try the other marvels on the menu, while toasting with soju. Geonbae!
