Baroo

Tucked away in a minimalist loft space in the Arts District, Baroo offers a Korean tasting menu experience that feels refreshingly unpretentious. Unlike many high-end tasting menus that can feel overly rehearsed, dinner here unfolds more like a thoughtful conversation than a formal lecture. The atmosphere is relaxed, the service warm but not overbearing, and the focus remains squarely on the food.

The six-course menu draws inspiration from traditional Korean bansang dining, where multiple dishes arrive together to be mixed, matched, and enjoyed in combination rather than strict succession. Each plate is designed to interact with others on the table—raw amberjack finds its perfect partner in crispy seaweed crackers, tempura-fried lobster bounces beautifully off funky doenjang soup, and grilled short rib becomes transcendent when wrapped with tangy white kimchi. The magic happens in the pairings.

For those seeking plant-based options, Baroo offers an exceptional vegan tasting menu that takes the communal bansang concept even further with an elaborate banchan spread. Whether you’re dining on the standard or vegan menu, servers provide gentle guidance on how to combine dishes while leaving plenty of room for your own culinary exploration.

What makes Baroo special is how it straddles the line between fine dining and something more approachable. Yes, there’s a coursed menu and optional rice wine pairings, but the spirit of the place remains grounded and unpretentious. It’s elevated Korean cooking that never takes itself too seriously—and that balance is exactly what makes it worth seeking out.