Journey to the west

Look forward to a new pocket-friendly restaurant in Jurong West, Na Oh, with seasonal menus crafted by top Korean Chef Corey Lee.

- STEPHANIE ZHENG

Jurong West’s street cred just went up. At the Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Center Singapore (HMGICS), a state-of-the-art vertical farm operated by giant robotic arms has sprouted, alongside Na Oh, a Korean restaurant that promises a unique and innovative farm-to-table dining experience. This restaurant marks the first collaboration between Hyundai and renowned three-Michelin-star chef Corey Lee.

Na Oh translates to "moving from inside out" in Korean, and hints at the heart behind the dishes. Chef Lee’s menu, which will be updated every season, takes the essence of Korean hansik cuisine and elevates it with modern techniques and presentations, creating dishes that are both familiar and refreshingly new.

Bridging traditions with modernity

As the meal proceeds, it is clear that dishes are crafted with the same meticulous attention to detail one would expect from a Michelin-starred chef. On the seasonally updated menu, expect a four-course fixed meal featuring appetisers, a Jinjitsang (Korean meal setting served with a variety of accompaniments), and dessert. This season’s Jinjitsang lineup consists of three selections: the Samgyetang, young chicken stuffed in glutinous rice; Golden Queen Rice and Butterfish Gamasot, clay pot rice with fish; and the Pyongyang-Style Cold Noodles, a cold buckwheat noodle with sea-salt cured beef loin.

According to Chef Lee, honouring traditions and allowing for the precision and consistency of modernity go hand-in-hand.