Korean pop-up opens at now-defunct RepubLIC
Nov. 4, 2016 By Hannah Wulkan
Authentic Korean food is making its way in to Long Island City.
Katie Kim, the owner of a Korean fried chicken delivery business based in Hunters Point, is opening a pop-up Korean restaurant called Hansik today. Hansik, which refers to traditional Korean food in Korean, is taking up residence in the former RepubLIC 50 space at 10-09 50th Avenue for at least the next month.
“It seems like there is a lot of Chinese and Vietnamese food in the area but not Korean, but a lot of people want to know Korean food more,” Kim said. “I want to show people that there are options for authentic Korean food in LIC.”
The new pop-up restaurant will run for at least the next month, but if things go well, Kim said she might extend its run, or even open up a brick and mortar location.
She currently runs her delivery restaurant Korean Style Fried Chicken out of Bricktown Bagels at 51-06 Vernon Boulevard, but says it is difficult to make authentic Korean food when sharing space with another eatery.
Though her current business focuses primarily on fried chicken, she said the menu at Hansik would be more expansive, with many Korean specialties as well as cocktails.
The pop-up restaurant will be open for lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and for dinner from 6 to 12 p.m. each day, with prices ranging from $10 to $30.
