{"id":4716,"date":"2026-04-14T14:42:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T18:42:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T14:42:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T18:42:01","slug":"southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/","title":{"rendered":"Southern Comfort Gets a Korean Twist at Kjun\u2019s New Midtown Location"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re a fan of bold flavors and lively dining experiences, brace yourself\u2014Korean Cajun hotspot Kjun has leveled up in Midtown. Their newly opened two-story home on Lexington Avenue is turning heads, especially thanks to the show-stopping Galbi Brisket and Grits. Picture sweet-yet-savory brisket nestled on creamy, cheesy grits and crowned with vibrant kimchi. No wonder it\u2019s already drawing both regulars and newbies for a taste.<\/p>\n<h2>Galbi Brisket and Grits: The New Kjun Star<\/h2>\n<p>Kjun\u2019s latest outpost\u2014you\u2019ll find it just steps from the original on East 39th Street\u2014made its debut in Murray Hill this February. This venue is much roomier than the first and features a sleek bar. Here\u2019s the twist: the new spot operates on $77-per-person set menus only, including a thoughtful lineup of courses, sides, and desserts. If you\u2019re more in the mood for a burger or a po\u2019 boy, the cozy 39th Street location is still in business for a la carte delights. So, whether you want a casual bite or a curated feast, Kjun has you covered.<\/p>\n<p>According to <a href='https:\/\/www.chefjaejung.com\/'>Chef Jae Jung<\/a>\u2014yes, the one you\u2019ve probably cheered for on Top Chef\u2014this expansion means he can roll out even more creative dishes in a space that encourages guests to socialize and savor the moment, all while enjoying perfectly paired drinks and small plates.<\/p>\n<h2>Kjun\u2019s Story: From Tiny Kitchen to Big Presence<\/h2>\n<p>The first Kjun made a name for itself on East 39th with its inventive Korean Cajun mashups. Chef Jae Jung\u2019s magic? Blending the punchy spices of Louisiana with classic Korean elements like zesty kimchi and pickles. The result? Dishes that are both comforting and thrilling.<\/p>\n<p>The new Midtown location keeps that adventurous spirit alive\u2014just with more elbow room. Expect to see playful creations like japchae boudin balls and blue crab curry, each balancing spice, sweetness, and crunch. Grab a drink and watch the chefs craft your meal in the open kitchen\u2014it\u2019s dinner and a show.<\/p>\n<h2>Kjun\u2019s Neighborhood Boost<\/h2>\n<p>Now, with two <a href='https:\/\/www.kjun-nyc.com\/'>Kjun<\/a> spots in Murray Hill, locals have twice as many opportunities to dig into Korean Cajun specialties. The fresh, two-floor restaurant is perfect for gathering friends, while the original is still around for eaters craving a quick hit of Southern-meets-Seoul comfort food.<\/p>\n<p>This opening is a win for Midtown\u2019s dining scene\u2014a breath of fresh air among burger joints and trattorias. With dishes like Galbi Brisket and Grits front and center, there\u2019s now a crave-worthy, creative option right in the neighborhood.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5677\" style=\"width: 1010px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5677\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5677\" src=\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Galbi-Brisket-and-Grits-Shine-at-Kjuns.jpg\" alt=\"Galbi Brisket and Grits Shine at Kjun\u2019s\" width=\"1000\" height=\"750\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-5677\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: Yelp<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>NYC\u2019s Dining Scene: A Bigger Picture<\/h2>\n<p>Kjun\u2019s evolution is part of a broader wave. Around New York, smaller spots are leveling up, creating distinctive set-menu experiences that turn dinner into an event. Fusion fare\u2014like Kjun\u2019s Korean Cajun\u2014is pulling in <a href='https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink'>adventurous diners<\/a> hunting for something off the beaten culinary path. As the city grows more competitive, unique flavors and curated meals are what set restaurants apart.<\/p>\n<h2>On the Horizon<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019re thinking about checking out Kjun\u2019s bigger digs, don\u2019t wait\u2014the crowds are coming, especially as word spreads. Heads up: the Midtown location is moving toward set menus only, so booking in advance is smart. Bonus: reservations include gratuity, so you can just focus on the food and fun. Look for seasonal twists on classics, especially that crowd-favorite Galbi Brisket and Grits.<\/p>\n<h3>Quick Facts for Curious Foodies<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Where can I find the new Kjun?<\/strong><br \/>334 Lexington Avenue in Murray Hill\u2014just a quick walk from the first location on East 39th.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Which menu has the Galbi Brisket and Grits?<\/strong><br \/>Order the Midtown spot\u2019s $77 set menu for a taste of the Galbi Brisket and Grits, japchae boudin balls, and rotating seasonal sides.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Should I make a reservation?<\/strong><br \/>Absolutely, especially if you\u2019re eyeing weekend plans. Set menus are prepaid, gratuity included, for a smooth dining experience.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019re a fan of bold flavors and lively dining experiences, brace yourself\u2014Korean Cajun hotspot Kjun has leveled up in Midtown. Their newly opened two-story home on Lexington Avenue is turning heads, especially thanks to the show-stopping Galbi Brisket and Grits. Picture sweet-yet-savory brisket nestled on creamy, cheesy grits and crowned with vibrant kimchi. No [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5907,"featured_media":4717,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[329,342,1,341],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4716","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-brunch","category-catering","category-restaurant-bar-news","category-specials"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.4 (Yoast SEO v26.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Southern Comfort Gets a Korean Twist at Kjun\u2019s New Midtown Location - EAT and Drink NYC<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Southern Comfort Gets a Korean Twist at Kjun\u2019s New Midtown Location\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"If you\u2019re a fan of bold flavors and lively dining experiences, brace yourself\u2014Korean Cajun hotspot Kjun has leveled up in Midtown. Their newly opened two-story home on Lexington Avenue is turning heads, especially thanks to the show-stopping Galbi Brisket and Grits. Picture sweet-yet-savory brisket nestled on creamy, cheesy grits and crowned with vibrant kimchi. No [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"EAT and Drink NYC\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-14T18:42:01+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Lu\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Lu\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/\",\"name\":\"Southern Comfort Gets a Korean Twist at Kjun\u2019s New Midtown Location - EAT and Drink NYC\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2026\/04\/Galbi-Brisket-and-Grits.webp\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-14T18:42:01+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/#\/schema\/person\/59ab2c3e74fb5b18ece1114427dd1ca0\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2026\/04\/Galbi-Brisket-and-Grits.webp\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2026\/04\/Galbi-Brisket-and-Grits.webp\",\"width\":750,\"height\":1125,\"caption\":\"Photo: Kjun's NYC IG Official\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Southern Comfort Gets a Korean Twist at Kjun\u2019s New Midtown Location\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/\",\"name\":\"EAT and Drink NYC\",\"description\":\"EAT and Drink NYC\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/#\/schema\/person\/59ab2c3e74fb5b18ece1114427dd1ca0\",\"name\":\"Lu\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7f5d35d32414295940d439495ae64e068f8faeda4571c6bd3216d486b73eeaa?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7f5d35d32414295940d439495ae64e068f8faeda4571c6bd3216d486b73eeaa?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Lu\"},\"description\":\"Lucille has 6 years as an editor, covering evertyhing from dining, community issues, politics and health. She writes for NYC News Network and its affiliates.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/author\/lucilleruales\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Southern Comfort Gets a Korean Twist at Kjun\u2019s New Midtown Location - EAT and Drink NYC","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Southern Comfort Gets a Korean Twist at Kjun\u2019s New Midtown Location","og_description":"If you\u2019re a fan of bold flavors and lively dining experiences, brace yourself\u2014Korean Cajun hotspot Kjun has leveled up in Midtown. Their newly opened two-story home on Lexington Avenue is turning heads, especially thanks to the show-stopping Galbi Brisket and Grits. Picture sweet-yet-savory brisket nestled on creamy, cheesy grits and crowned with vibrant kimchi. No [&hellip;]","og_url":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/","og_site_name":"EAT and Drink NYC","article_published_time":"2026-04-14T18:42:01+00:00","author":"Lu","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Lu","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/","url":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/","name":"Southern Comfort Gets a Korean Twist at Kjun\u2019s New Midtown Location - EAT and Drink NYC","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2026\/04\/Galbi-Brisket-and-Grits.webp","datePublished":"2026-04-14T18:42:01+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/#\/schema\/person\/59ab2c3e74fb5b18ece1114427dd1ca0"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2026\/04\/Galbi-Brisket-and-Grits.webp","contentUrl":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/14\/2026\/04\/Galbi-Brisket-and-Grits.webp","width":750,"height":1125,"caption":"Photo: Kjun's NYC IG Official"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/southern-comfort-gets-a-korean-twist-at-kjuns-new-midtown-location\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Southern Comfort Gets a Korean Twist at Kjun\u2019s New Midtown Location"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/#website","url":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/","name":"EAT and Drink NYC","description":"EAT and Drink NYC","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/#\/schema\/person\/59ab2c3e74fb5b18ece1114427dd1ca0","name":"Lu","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7f5d35d32414295940d439495ae64e068f8faeda4571c6bd3216d486b73eeaa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/d7f5d35d32414295940d439495ae64e068f8faeda4571c6bd3216d486b73eeaa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Lu"},"description":"Lucille has 6 years as an editor, covering evertyhing from dining, community issues, politics and health. She writes for NYC News Network and its affiliates.","url":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/author\/lucilleruales\/"}]}},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4716","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5907"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4716"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4716\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4717"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nycnewsnetwork.com\/eatanddrink\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}