Hanok is a Korean bar and eatery in Jing’an, located on Maoming Lu in the former Shake space. It’s a new concept from Jacob Ju, owner of popular Korean barbecue restaurant Fafu.
About Hanok
The space really makes a strong first impression.
The bar takes center stage, a heavyset granite table framed by blue bubbling walls of water. Wooden beams and pillars frame the corners of the room, creating little nooks of tatami seating by the windows and booths under curved wooden roofs. A few dining tables are strategically placed in front of the bar area, and there’s also a private room.
It’s all very visually stimulating, a design that pays homage to its namesake: Hanok is the term for traditional Korean houses.
The Drinks
Hanok is a drinks-first establishment. The menu emphasizes house seltzers (¥88), house cocktails, and Korean spirits. Korean liquors start from ¥188/bottle, and feature soju, but also rarely seen (in Shanghai at least) varieties of munbaeju (pear liquor), rice wine, and ginseng liquors. They also serve everything in between, including a large selection of whisky, gin, tequila, champagne, and wine.
Of the seltzers, the Berry Much, made with a whisky base, was very enjoyable and gives a fresh burst of berries with each sip. It’s an easy-going drink and one that lives up to its name.
Signature cocktails (¥128) highlight Korean spirits or flavor profiles like ginseng liquor and banana milk. The Tofu cocktail is made with tofu, soju, dried orange peel, coconut, and taro. It’s milky and silky, light-bodied, and has a little tang.
Korean Bites
As for food, there are currently about a dozen dishes, mostly snacks, but ones that are very satisfying. Word is more dishes will be added soon. Also, each guest receives a little welcome bite. In this case, it was a yummy little bowl of chestnut milk and honey porridge.
Small plates see Octopus Muchim, an octopus salad dressed with tangy-sweet plum sauce, paired with water parsley, fresh apple, and perilla. The squid is both crunchy and tender, making it a fun and tasty snack with drinks.
A snack menu at a Korean establishment would not be complete without fried chicken, and My Honey Chicken hits all the notes. The batter is crunchy yet light and not at all stodgy, coated in just the right amount of sweet honey sauce.
Then, there’s a jeon, a Korean-style pancake loaded with plump pieces of chicken thigh, chilies, and veggies, topped with a sweet-savory soy sauce.
Borrowing from its sister venue, the Fafu Pork Kimchi Egg Roll is a comforting and satisfying dish. It’s pork and kimchi rolled up into an omelet, doused in mayo and Bull Dog sauce.
For something even more substantial, there’s the Jang Kalguksu, a fiery bowl of soup noodles made with gochujang, Korean chili paste. The addictive spice will have you wolfing down the noodles in a heartbeat. I’d say 8/10 spice in case you want to check your tolerance.
In Summary
Hanok is popular with a young and sophisticated demographic heading in for pre-dinner cocktails and a bite, followed by a mixed late-night crowd. Dinnertime is easy-going.
Hanok
Address: 3/F, 46 Maoming Nan Lu 茂名南路46号3楼
Tel: 18016260120
Hours: Daily, 6pm-2am
