The latest venture from Sacramento restaurateur Minnie Nguyen, owner of Station 16 and Firehouse Crawfish, is a playful take on Korean cuisine. Located on L Street in the space formerly occupied by de Vere’s Irish Pub, Seoul St is a restaurant and bar with a “fun atmosphere where people can grab a drink and some small bites and enjoy hanging out together and having a long conversation without being rushed,” says general manager Amanda Aldrich.
Nguyen remade the traditional pub interior into an industrial-sleek eatery where the bar remains the center of attention. “We wanted to pay homage to de Vere’s by keeping the front bar the main stage of the establishment,” explains Aldrich.
Signature cocktails—mostly clever riffs on the classics, like the Back to Seoul mule made with Jinro soju and yuzu juice—dominate the drinks menu. A small selection of Korean beers, including Cass and OB, are available by the bottle.
As for eats, Seoul St serves up Korean street food, often with a stateside twist. Think loaded bulgogi fries, galbi tacos and buffalo kimchi wings. Chimaek, the classic Korean combo of beer and fried chicken served with cubes of cool, crunchy daikon, is a happy hour must-have. Seoul St’s galbi bao, a boneless short rib tucked into a pillowy steamed bun, is “what you’d get if a White Castle burger and a taco had a baby,” quips Aldrich.
Most plates at Seoul St are made for sharing, which Aldrich says is by design. “We’re all about guests communing together and having a good time, sharing food and conversation.”
Seoul St
1521 L St., Sacramento;
(916) 292-9744;
seoulsteats.com
