Gold: Zoomak
Gold medal winner Zoomak bills itself as a modern Korean tavern—but the sophistication of the cooking goes far beyond bar food. “There’s definitely some serious cooking going on,” said one judge. Crisp-skinned pork bossam is served with housemade kimchi—kimchi that shines when served warm over simply steamed tofu, too. The Korean fried chicken and pork belly are also go-tos in this room with notably friendly and attentive service, but our judges had a tough time playing favourites: “It’s hard to choose a dish when everything is better than the last.” But even with the elevated food, the overall vibe is warm, and fun, with a price point and attitude that’s all about ease and accessibility.
52 Alexander St.
zoomakyvr.com
Silver: Ju
Newcomer Ju snags a silver for elegantly fusing Korean flavours with French culinary technique to create something truly unique with every edition of the chef’s tasting menu; the cocktail list is just as meticulously crafted.
UPDATE: After the voting period had ended, Ju sadly closed .
Bronze: Sumi Korean
Over on Victoria Drive, Sumi Korean earns bronze for its casual comfort food—combos of bulgogi, goonmandu, haemul pajeon, soontofudubu and more make for a quality family-style experience.
5628 Victoria Dr.
604-620-9235
Honourable Mentions
Kook
211A–2800 E 1st Ave.
kookbbq.ca
Sura Korean Cuisine
1518 Robson St.
surakoreancuisine.com
