The new three-part Korean dining complex in Koreatown includes beef barbecue restaurant Howoo and tofu restaurant DubuHaus, but it’s worth heading downstairs for the subterranean cocktail and seafood bar Musaek.
Musaek is anchored in Korean seafood — the menu includes a map detailing where everything is sourced in the country, such as soy-marinated shrimp from Yeosu. The project is run by Urimat Hospitality Group, part of the NYC Korean restaurant and bar company KTM Group.
The clarified cocktails are some of the best I’ve had in a while, with clear flavors that aren’t overpowering. I enjoyed my tomato and white kimchi ($18), a gin drink made with capers, fino cherry, and celery, popped up with a cherry tomato garnish. The yuzu and seaweed cocktail ($22) was an everything-all-at-once concoction of gin, Korean pear, and lychee milk — I liked dipping the nori sheet garnish into the drink for nibbling.
There’s a decently priced happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday with $16 cocktails and $14 wines by the glass.