There’s an odd concentration of Korean restaurants around the Tour Montparnasse, an area otherwise known for buckwheat galettes. And since I adore the former and cannot unfortunately partake in the latter due to a severe buckwheat allergy I first discovered at a Manhattan Korean restaurant and confirmed while dining at a rural crêperie in Brittany, it was Korean food I sought on a recent jaunt down to the left bank with a friend for a pre-theater dinner.
Misu is an authentic Korean restaurant boasting an airy dining room replete with light. On this Tuesday night, it was relatively empty at 7pm, though given the quality here, I’m glad I reserved – and would highly recommend anyone trying to go at the weekend to do the same.
One thing I’ve always loved about Korean food is the banchan, the assortment of side dishes offered before or alongside the main. Depending on the restaurant you visit, the banchan may be paltry or generous, free or offered at a cost. Here, they’re considered with just as much attention as the mains, and indeed, one could say that Misu specializes in them.
All of the mains here come in the form of Bansang, a Korean tradition inspired by meals traditionally served to the king and nobles of the Joseon era. Each Bansang is comprised of a main dish served with rice and multiple side dishes. From among beef bulgogi (22) and the house special bibimbap (18), I opted for my forever fave, kimchi jigae (18), which arrived in a bubbling bowl surrounded, as promised, with five small dishes and a bowl of rice.
The kimchi jigae itself was one of the best I’ve ever had: deeply flavorful and rich, with a lovely topping of tofu and fresh green onions. The broth hid a generous amount of kimchi and just enough thin slices of pork to lend a touch of richness but no greasiness.
The side dishes, meanwhile, included some fantastic house-made cabbage kimchi.
I loved this bowl of two fritters. I liked the tofu one on top, but I loved the other one, studded generously with green onions.
The omelet was perfectly fine, though it paled in comparison to some of the other offerings.
This lovely namul with sesame and sea vegetables was refreshing, with loads of umami richness and a lovely topping of toasted sesame seeds.
A salad of slightly more Western inspiration featured a lovely dressing and a touch of crunch from the fried noodles on top.
For the price, this meal isn’t just copious and filling but precise and delicious. I’d highly recommend anyone looking for delicious Korean food in Paris hike out to the 15th to give it a try.
Misu – 8 Bis Rue Falguière 75015, 75015