Outside Star Chef seems a little nondescript. It’s a plain building behind the Holly’s Coffee and down a little side street. A neat aspect to the building is the open air patio that opens into the restaurant. The space itself is small, but intimate, though I would definitely recommend reservations as the hostess just barely managed to squeeze us in before the next customers who had reservations were due to show.
Right off let me tell you that the menu isn’t as extensive as some other comparable restaurants. Yet, it doesn’t need to be because what Star Chef may not have the dozens of dishes other places serve they make up for it with sheer unadulterated deliciousness. Chef Kim Hu-nam has crafted a menu of flavorful Asian and Western dishes and given them his own personal twist.
We started off with the organic beef and mushroom vegetable salad which had to have been the best salad I’ve had ever. It was sheer perfection. The beef was tender. The mushrooms divined. The roasted garlic cloves provided just enough contrast to keep it all interesting without overwhelming the other ingredients. That salad was the winner at the table and the goodies had just begun to arrive. Before we knew it the next plate arrived and we found ourselves transported to Germany with the orgasm sausages and potatoes with sauerkraut. Next we moved on to the million won Samgyeopsal with aged kimchi. Delicious doesn’t begin to describe the spicy pungent kimchi married to pieces of tender pork.
Food this good comes at a price and believe me you will pay for every single delectable morsel. It’s so worth it. Dishes start around 15,000Won and move upwards to 20,000Won to 30,000Won.
Take exit four of Maebong station. Walk straight cross the first street. Turn left and then turn right you should see the back of a Holly’s Coffee on your right. Star Chef is the next quick left.