ZARI is a modern Korean bistro by chef-founder Rosie, a proud advocate for Korean cuisine who’s garnered plenty of accolades for her diverse expertise in the field.
Chef Rosie has opened a handful of restaurants in Shanghai and often hosts private dinners, and was the co-founder for Halu Bistro (now moved to Shaanxi Lu).
The Space
The dining room at ZARI is smart and stylish, worlds apart compared to the mom-and-pop shops on Jinxian Lu. It still has a casual ambiance, one that’s often lively, fueled by the chatter and clinking of glasses from die-hard followers of Chef Rosie.
The Food
On the menu are Korean favorites with a contemporary spin, mostly in presentation. The signature here is the octopus and beef intestine hotpot, a hotpot of tender octopus, beef intestines, shrimp, glass noodles, and a hefty scoop of house gochujang. Most, if not all tables will have one of these bubbling away next to a wall of Cass beers.
Once you’ve eaten most of what the pot has to offer, it is customary to add in rice to soak up the remaining stock and to let the rice sizzle and crust up. It’s delicious and it really maximizes the dish.
I would order a bucket load of these marinated crab and a whole pot of rice if I could. Raw crabs marinated in a soy-based sauce with rice wine and aromatics, served cold. The crabmeat cooks in the brine, retaining a deliciously custardy texture imbued with the savory sauce.
Scoop rice into the shell and eat it by the spoonful. This is an off menu seasonal dish. Call to inquire if you really want it.
Other staples include Scallion & Seafood Pancake (¥68), an egg-based pancake laden with octopus, shrimp, charred scallions, and onions, Squid and Pork Belly (¥88), featuring thin slices of pork belly and tender squid tossed in a fiery gochujang-based sauce. Best enjoyed with a bowl of rice.
Don’t miss the Fried Chicken — chunky chicken thighs with a shatteringly crispy crust, served alongside deep-fried noodles and a spicy-vinegary dipping sauce.
To beat the heat or to cool down your palate, the Kimchi Cold Noodles (¥68), Korean-style cold noodles in an icy broth flavored with kimchi.
For dessert, I recommend the Hotteok (¥48), Korean sweet pancakes, a popular dessert and street food that’s usually topped or filled with cinnamon, brown sugar and nuts. It’s crisp on the outside with a tender and chewy interior. Served with ice cream, cookie crumble and chocolate shavings.
For drinks, start with a bunch of Cass beers (¥33/500ml), then move along to soju, bottles from ¥238. There’s also wine, house red or white for ¥60/glass, and bottles from ¥198.
