K-Pop Tycoon Opens Innovative New York Restaurant

[dipropylene]

The pop music tycoon Park Jin-young has opened a Korean restaurant named Kristalbelli in Manhattan, New York. At a press conference in New York, Park said, "I think the image of Korean food is as important as its popularity. To give foreigners the impression that Korean food is fine cuisine, we need to target trend-setters."

Located on 36th Street near Korea Town, the 600 sq. m restaurant is as luxuriously decorated as any fancy bar.

The pièce de résistance is convex mirror-shaped crystal grill developed by Park himself. Park said people in his management agency JYP Entertainment opposed the plan, warning him against stepping into a field he is not familiar with, "so I made drawings for the grill myself. I invested W30 million (US$1=W1,135) of my own money, and had them broil meat on the grill and eat it. Then they agreed to the plan."

He said meat cooks faster on crystal grills than on metal ones and is cooked through because of far-infrared radiation. Although it is a barbecue restaurant, the smell of meat doesn't get into clothes because the smoke is sucked in under the grills.


The interior of Kristalbelli /Courtesy of Kristalbelli

Park said he decided to open a restaurant because he found there were not many Korean restaurants overseas where he could take people. "I've met a lot of people in showbusiness overseas, and they often asked me to recommend a Korean restaurant, saying that they heard Korean food is good, but I couldn't think of any I would confidently recommend," he said.

He plans to open branches of Kristalbelli in Los Angeles, Beijing and Shanghai, Tokyo and Seoul, choosing cities where Korean pop culture enjoys great popularity. Park learned how to broil meat, going around the country, and has written a manual to teach restaurant staff.

source: The Chosun Ilbo


How about you concentrate on your artists?

Also, now I wanna eat yukgaejang.

Comments

[crystalheng.livejournal.com]

Dang, the tables look small.

[the-erotomanic.livejournal.com]

those tables are small and kinda low. it looks more like a bar than a restaurant.

[valieleen.livejournal.com]

It really does look like a bar at first glance.. But it looks like there's another sitting area in the back, perhaps the tables there are a bit more spacious.

[off-my-socks.livejournal.com]

looks like a strip club tbh. mad tacky.

[anconeous.livejournal.com]

Lord, crystal grills seem so tacky and ostentatious, yet I'm dying of curiosity if samgyupsal tastes any differently when cooked on those. LMAO.

[hellicoptajuuce.livejournal.com]

those tables....so low...back pain o ma gawd

JYP i know you like em young hooker thangs but still fucking do some Wonder Girls promo at least ffs

[evivante.livejournal.com]

Don't care for this. I just want some Korean BBQ in my system now.

[uledy.livejournal.com]

that's the bar area...right? i hope so. honestly, one of the best things about eating at korean restaurants is how down to earth the places are- it's homey and inviting. honestly when i grill meat (or at least watch my friends since i'm vegetarian), i don't want to do in on crystal ...

uh, jyp, i hope you know what you're doing. it's extremely hard to keep restaurants in business in large cities in the us, especially in nyc....

i'll make sure to stop over for lunch during my internship at YG

[crinkledpaper.livejournal.com]

I think that picture is just the upstairs bar b/c he tweeted pictures of the actual tables with the grills and they're a lot bigger.
Excited for him though, I hope it's a success.

[hpn88.livejournal.com]

That's the lounge area, there is a more traditional restaurant eating/grilling area.
It's getting decent reviews from some NYC food blogs, so I hope it stays open :)

[honeebs.livejournal.com]

This is cool and I would luv to go there. When and if I ever make it to NY.
Buttt... I enjoy sitting on the floor with my tongs in hand waiting for my meat on a reg grill thanks.
I don't need food to be fancied up for me to think of trying it. Those that will rave about this place will definitely be missing out on real Korean BBQ. IMO I do wish him well he will probably smash it, coming in on the ground floor many will copy.

[x-taehee.livejournal.com]

I thought it was a bar.

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

It looks like some sleazy bar tbh

[jsham89.livejournal.com]

Looks like there is a seating area, if you look to the light in the back of the photo, lol

I'll definitely try to check this place out. Looks good and I guess JYP will only have high quality foods^^

The gourmand in me is happy~~~

[bluvsjaejoong.livejournal.com]

I wonder if everytime someone opens the door ... instead of some bell or whatever ... it's JYP!!!! LOL

[lysblack.livejournal.com]

How about you concentrate on your artists?

he already does that tho plus what's the problem of him opening a new business that is not related in any way to his artists? other producers and ceos do it, it's no problem and don't take time away from their company. restaurateur jyp doesn't get in the way of the producer. plus it's his own money not jype's he's using.

also I wish there was korean restaurants in my town, I always wanted to try Korean food.

[hipployta.livejournal.com]

A lot of Japanese and Chinese restaurants also have Thai and Korean menus depending on who is running it. At least that is my experience in Philly, NYC, and Miami.

[hileahrious.livejournal.com]

talented oppa

[samunin.livejournal.com]

i wish seattle too XD lol but if i ever go to LA again..i'll stop by it..whenever it is built there XD

[purkin.livejournal.com]

can't recommend korean restaurants in the states?

MAKE MY OWN

[trowa.livejournal.com]

the tables are too small. Where are they going to put all the banchan?