Jeonbuk Life 2018-1 Spring

Taste Jeonbuk
1332-1 109 Ho Hyojadong 2 Ga, Jeonju
010- 2524- 8664 / 063-227-8664
The usual weekday
after-work haunts usually
include nothing fancy: cheap
beer, affordable food, and a dimly-lit
bar. Izakaya Goyangi (고양이), a newly
opened Japanese restaurant in Hyojadong
is a place where co-workers and
friends can gather to de-stress—the
food and interior is great, without the
fancy price and feel.
Sense and
Savor
Words by Dianne Pineda-Kim
Photos by Seong Jin Kim
This unassuming Japanese restaurant is
filled with real flavors and food with a .
The restaurant, which literally
means “cat,” is mostly constructed
with wood to mimic an old
Japanese izakaya, which is the
Korean equivalent of pojangmacha.
Its ceilings are adorned with cherry
blossoms, its tables separated with
wooden dividers for privacy, and
there is a cozy bar where one can
watch the chef in action. The rest of
the décor lends itself to an old, yet
welcoming vibe: Japanese soldier
figurines, traditional fans, and a
lucky cat charm for good measure.
Authentic Japanese
flavors
The owner and chef Moon Ok-Jun
studied cooking in Japan for three and
a half years and worked for a swanky
Japanese restaurant in Cheongdamdong,
Seoul soon after. But he felt that
his heart belonged to his hometown,
Jeonju, which is why he decided to
bring his know-how and experience
back to open a restaurant here. “I
was looking for an authentic Japanese
restaurant in Korea, but sadly, I couldn’t
find it,” he narrates, “I want to make my
own restaurant where people feel that
Japanese food is something comfortable
and accessible.”
The main showstopper is the sashimi
set, which includes an array of fresh
44 Jeonbuk Life! Magazine