Hangawi
Hangawi
12 East 32nd Street - Map
Between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue
(212) 213-0077
Korean Vegan
Ok, I must say that of all the vegan restaurants I have patronized, this is in my Top 5. In fact, it makes my all around Top 5 Restaurants list.
Upon first approaching the restaurant, the large, wooden double-doors already leave a lasting impression, offering a mystique of what the interior may be like. Once you cross the threshold, you are definitely not disappointed with the decor and general zen-like feeling to the ambiance. The overall general level of noise is kept down to a minimum, with some light ethnic music in the background. You are immediately greeted by a well-groomed, polite-mannered Korean waiter, respectfully requesting you remove your shoes and place them in one of the vacant provided cubbies. You are then escorted to be seated on their raised platform. Cushioned with plushly-decorated pillows, you sit down on the "floor" of the raised platform, where a table is erected over the enclosure where you place your feet (which, by the way, is carpeted).
The settings are neatly placed in front of each individual, with a wooden spoon and a pair of wooden chopsticks, a napkin, of course, is also provided along with a placemat. After they leave their menus, they return to their post, allowing you to peruse their offerings. Being that it is a vegan restaurant, don't expect to find any animal by-product such as meats or dairy products (cheese, milk, etc). In fact, I don't even think that honey is on the menu either. If a question should arise, one of the wait staff is immediately available for answers. They are quite knowledgable, and while their accents may be a bit heavy, for native New Yorkers used to all sorts of accents, it shouldn't be too difficult to understand what they say. And please, don't hesitate to ask one of them to recommend something from their extensive menu.
Their entire menu is all very tempting, but for first-timers, or for couples, I highly recommend one of their prix fixe menu options, titled Chef Special Emperor's Meal with Steamboat (priced $37.95/person with a minimum of 2 people). It's a whole 8-course meal, which begins with a choice of 2 porridges (both of which were superb), followed by a salad, and then 3 appetizers (one of which includes their Emperor's Roll appetizer), a choice of one of the 2 entrees offered (again, both delicious, one is a mushroom dish, the other their todok - a mountain root - dish). The entree is served with a soup in a wonderful apparatus where it's mounted over a tea light to keep it warm until you have a chance to savor it, as well as kimchi - a side dish that is primarily made of cabbage prepared in various ways - that is paired with the entree of choice.
Once dinner is over, the very attentive, yet not overwhelming, waiters approach with dessert, a tofu-lemon pudding with toasted pine nuts. The combination of flavors and textures synergize in your mouth in complex overtones so delicious, they play out like a well-performed play, one act and scene after the other, seemlessly! To accompany dinner, I had also ordered their lychee wine, which comes served in one of their beautifully crafted bottles, and is poured into tiny, shotglass-like glasses, for you to sip while enjoying your meal.
Overall, the experience was superb, and this restaurant should be an example for others to follow. The attentiveness of the waiters, while not intrusive was refreshing and polite, the superiority of the food, in terms of culinary display and balance of flavors was executed to perfection. The decor and ambiance sets a wonderfully calming mood, with slightly dim lighting, and a lit candle at every table. Please, all, even those that don't believe in eating vegan food, find the time to have dinner at this wonderful midtown establishment!
