Incheon Restaurant
Annandale / Fusion / $$$$*
For decades, Annandale has been K-Town, home to Korean restaurants that range from the traditional spots for a kimchi jjigae to new-school entries with fusion dishes like bulgogi pizza. But one thing that I never expected to pop up was the kind of tasting menu restaurant one might find in a far larger city.
Thank chef Justin Ahn and co-owner Brandon Kim for their boldness in trying something utterly unexpected in Annandale—a $60 round of fusion plates, along with cool cocktails and interesting wines and beers.
Though Ahn kicked off the menu with Korean fusion, he says that he’ll cook more from other traditions as the restaurant progresses. Look to dishes on his initial menus for a preview of what that might mean. For example, a Korean steamed-egg dish is showered with prik nam pla, a chile-filled Thai sauce.
You never know exactly what will spring from Ahn’s mind to your plate. But chances are, it will be something new that you wish you could have again.
See this: Faux plants above diners’ heads add a little bit of green to the pragmatic setting.
Eat this: Trust the chef that the tasting will be something to remember.
Service: Often, chef Justin Ahn will personally deliver your dish and describe how he created it.
When to dine here: You and your other half want to keep it casual for a meal full of gustatory surprises.
Feature image by Rey Lopez
This post originally appeared in our November 2021 issue’s Best Restaurants cover story. For more food reviews, subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
