“Nongshim Opens 'Forest Kitchen,' a Vegan Fine Dining Restaurant”

Opening on the 27th at Lotte World Mall, Jamsil, Seoul
Fine dining concept with a single course... Alternative meat used in 3 dishes of the course

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Nongshim announced on the 25th that it will open a vegan restaurant, ‘Forest Kitchen,’ at Lotte World Mall in Jamsil, Seoul, on the 27th.

Unlike most existing vegan restaurants that operate as casual dining offering burgers, pasta, etc., Forest Kitchen will be run as a vegan fine dining restaurant. The strategy focuses on providing a unique experience and improving awareness of vegan food. Forest Kitchen plans to offer various vegan menus as a single course meal. Ten dishes will be served for dinner and seven for lunch, with three of these dishes using alternative meat.

A Nongshim official explained, “Recently, fine dining and omakase have become popular among the 20s to 40s age group because they tend to seek unique experiences even if it costs more,” adding, “Forest Kitchen is a special space where you can enjoy premium dining while practicing value consumption that considers the environment.”

Nongshim developed the menu by combining the technology accumulated through developing alternative meat with the expertise of Executive Chef Kim Tae-hyung, who worked at Michelin 1 and 2-star restaurants in New York, USA. The signature dish is ‘Little Forest,’ the first course of the meal and the restaurant’s namesake, which features bite-sized seasonal vegetable dishes, soy custard, and soy skewers served on a tray decorated like a forest. Additionally, Nongshim carefully selects seasonal vegetables in cooperation with local farms and focuses on maximizing the harmony between the natural flavors of ingredients and alternative meat, embedding stories into each dish to enhance the dining experience.

Furthermore, Nongshim practices reducing carbon emissions by installing induction cooktops instead of gas burners. The interior design is inspired by forests and nature, creating a comfortable space primarily using natural materials. The restaurant also promotes eco-friendly consumption throughout its operations, such as using linen napkins, aiming to exert a positive influence not only through food but throughout the entire space.

Kim Seong-hwan, Executive Director of Nongshim’s Food Service Business Team, stated, “We plan to focus on providing a new vegan dining culture experience,” and added, “We will grow into a leading brand that sets trends in the vegan dining industry.” Nongshim Forest Kitchen operates on a 100% reservation basis and can be booked through the application ‘Catch Table.’ Prices are 55,000 KRW for lunch and 77,000 KRW for dinner.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.