Oct. 13, 2016 By Hannah Wulkan
Whether in the mood for something vegan or meaty, Korean or more Mediterranean, paleo or not, a new restaurant in Long island City has all tastes covered.
Katherine Oh officially opened the doors at The Green Street LIC at 10-39 47th Road on October 6, offering a paleo-friendly and health conscious twist on the traditional Korean barbecue experience.
Oh’s first job was working at her parents’ Korean barbecue and sushi restaurant in Flushing, so she learned at a young age how to run a restaurant. However when it came to opening her own place, she decided to put a healthy spin on it.
“So many things are already paleo in Korean food, and I realized if I switched up the sugars and I don’t use soy sauce but instead use organic tamari and made tweaks here and there, it easily becomes paleo friendly,” Oh said.
She found the storefront tucked away in to a residential area while attending a yoga class across the street.
Having worked in construction for many years, Oh said she walked in to the space and immediately knew what she wanted to do with it.
With wide aisles and high ceilings, the restaurant embraces the industrial aesthetic, though Oh made sure to add warm details to make it comfortable for the customer.
Oh got the inspiration to focus on healthy organic and paleo foods because she tries to eat healthy in her own life, she said.
Visitors to the restaurant will see Oh’s wide range in taste, as she not only takes her own twist on Korean barbecue, but also adds in some Mediterranean influence and dishes to her menu.
The menu includes dishes such as marinated eggplant and cauliflower in tahini sauce and grilled octopus, as well as more traditional bulgogi and meat dishes.
The restaurant also includes a juice bar and café in the front of the store, and has a fully stocked bar.
“There’s a little bit of everything for everyone,” Oh said. “If you want to eat vegan or paleo or if you don’t there is food for any taste.”
