Jayu

It had been a long time since I found myself going “oooh” and “oh wow” so many times over dinner.

This time I’d been invited, and to be honest, I didn’t really know what I was walking into — until I arrived and realized it was described as a “performance.” That threw me off a little. I had just planned on going out to eat. But don’t worry, this was nothing like theater.

Here, the performance is all about the play of curtains — sometimes creating an ultra-intimate vibe, other times opening up into a shared experience, as if you were dining with the entire room. The chefs use those moments to introduce the menu, while we get to watch every single one of their moves.

As for the food, it was simply incredible from start to finish. Think grilled mackerel straight off the barbecue, ramen served in a chilled broth, and slow-cooked pork belly that was just out of this world. Everything came with a sharp, mixed pairing — wine, Korean fermented drinks, beer, and non-alcoholic options.

It was such a special evening, and I loved the experience from beginning to end.