We have good news and bad news, Valleyites: The bad news is Seoul Kitchen — a prime spot for authentic, all-natural Korean cuisine — has closed its doors in Beacon. But don’t fret just yet! Seoul Kitchen will soon re-open in a spiffy new home along Liberty Street in Newburgh, likely before the holidays.
Owner and first-generation Korean, Heewon Marshall made her debut in the restaurant world five years ago, opening Seoul Kitchen in Beacon. “I was happy every single day [in Beacon]. It was my American dream come true, but eventually I had to leave,” said Marshall. Her former spot has been sold and she’s found a space closer to her home in Newburgh, where lately, many new shops and restaurants have opened. “I chose Newburgh because I love the city and I wanted the people there to visit my kitchen.” Unlike the Beacon location, where a lot of her customers were visitors from New York City, Marshall expects to see more local faces in her new Liberty Street shop.
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Seoul Kitchen’s delicious dumplings
Photo courtesy of Seoul Kitchen
Marshall enjoys getting out of the kitchen and chatting with her customers, intending to keep her new location small, like a family. “I would rather be viewed as a Korean mom than a professional chef,” she said. “I want to deal with people through my food. I want happy faces.”
Look out for Seoul Kitchen’s December opening — and make sure you order some kimchi, a fermented cabbage dish that, for special select batches, Marshall sometimes makes “the old-fashioned way.” Per tradition, it’s stored in pots underground to keep it at the perfect temperature for fermentation, like wine. A popular winter favorite at Seoul Kitchen is the hot pot, a dish that comes in a medley of varieties, such as vegetables, tofu or kimchi, spicy enough to clear your sinuses. And don’t forget the most obvious traditional Korean choice: bibimbap, a scrumptious conglomerate of rice and a six-veggie blend, topped with a fried egg, or some beef for the meat-lovers.
Seoul Kitchen
71 Liberty Street
Newburgh, NY 12550
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