Cork and Chopsticks logo

Trid: Chef Kang Seung-won’s Culinary Journey

This is the restaurant of Chef Kang Seung-won, who honed his craft at Benu and Mosu. He also gained widespread recognition a few years ago after placing third on the Netflix series Culinary Class Wars (Black and White Chef). On the show, he earned strong support for his solid fundamentals and meticulous attention to detail.

The restaurant is currently one of a number of establishments attempting a fine-dining reinterpretation of Korean cuisine, in line with the current trend in Seoul’s fine dining scene. Since I visited for lunch, I wasn’t able to experience the chef’s full tasting menu. For that reason, I do have some hesitation about whether it’s fair for me to render a full judgment on this restaurant’s cooking. Still, for what it’s worth: the food is delicious and inventive, but it seemed to fall short of what would be needed to reach for a second Michelin star. That said, given the restaurant’s pricing, it’s an entirely understandable trade-off.

On the day I visited, apart from my own table, nearly every table in the restaurant was occupied by foreign guests. The staff handled service in fluent English throughout. On that front, I’d give the service high marks

Wine is not something to expect much from at this restaurant. The list isn’t especially deep, and the pricing isn’t particularly reasonable either. I wasn’t able to find a satisfying bottle on the list, so for this visit I opted for the 3-glass pairing instead.

Boutillez Marchand Blanc de Blancs Premier Cru
Josmeyer Riesling Le Kottabe 2024
Chateau Moulin Saint-Georges 2015

I’ll leave the judgment to those reading this.

Reservation:
https://www.catchtable.net/shop/trid

Reservation Difficulty:
Reservations have become considerably easier than they used to be. On the 1st of every month, bookings open for the following month. If you log on right around that window, there’s a good chance you’ll land the date you want — but miss that window, and you may not get your preferred date at all.

Cost :
Lunch 150,000KRW (~100USD)
Dinner 240,000KRW (~150USD)
Wine pairing 85,000KRW (3Glass ~55USD) 95,000KRW (4 glass ~60USD)

A small yellow glass bowl with a wavy striped pattern, containing a clear liquid, placed on a white surface.

Welcome drink : limoncello cocktail

A gourmet dessert featuring a spherical dark chocolate creation placed on a bed of cacao nibs in a white bowl.

A dish that visually embodies a natural truffle.

A small serving of finely chopped fish garnished with green herbs and yellow zest, presented in a minimalist white dish.

Seasonal fish caprese with Korean melon

A gourmet dish presented in a white bowl, featuring a mix of colorful ingredients including small pieces of tomato, green herbs, and a light foam, surrounded by a drizzle of oil and sprinkled with black powder.

abalone onion dish

A close-up of cooked spaghetti noodles served in a white bowl.

Noodle from native wheat with yangnyeom-gejang (marinated crab)

A plated dish featuring sliced meat with a glossy sauce, accompanied by various garnishes including a green leaf, dollops of creamy sauce, a piece of golden vegetable, and a red condiment on a white plate.

Hanwoo(Korean beef) steak & seasonal vegetable

A dessert served in a pale blue bowl featuring a spherical scoop of pink sorbet, garnished with mint leaves and small red fruit, resting on a bed of tapioca pearls.

Watermelon Sorbet

A gourmet dessert presented on a white plate, featuring a spherical white dessert surrounded by pieces of bread, colorful garnishes, and a light foam. Decorative elements include herbs and edible flowers.

black rice & vanilla ice cream

A gourmet dessert plate featuring a round, orange pastry and a small, dark-brown cake on a textured, metallic serving platter.

Canule, fingerfood and tea

Leave a comment