Lacto
Ovo
Asian
Fusion
Korean
Non-veg
Serves meat, vegan options available. Café with a focus on fermented foods offering labeled vegan tempeh salads, sandwiches and curry. Address in Korean: 서울 종로구 자하문로26길 17-2 Open Wed-Sun 11:30am-3:30pm, Thu-Sun 5:00pm-9:30pm. Closed Mon-Tue. Reservations required in the evening.
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17-2, Jahamun-ro 26-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
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Last update on 05 Feb 2022 by bongbong733
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Added by SteveH on 24 Sep 2021
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3 Reviews
First Review by SteveH
alualuna
Points +465
One of a kind. Keywords: local, seasonal and fermented. - Edit
Qyun is a place for those of us who love fermentation and experimentation. The people behind Qyun champion local, seasonal produce of the highest quality by using traditional fermentation techniques but innovating them to offer their own interpretation.
Read moreQyun's menu is relatively small (2-3 sandwich options, one curry, a daily special, some soups, 1-2 dessert options) and, yes, it's on the pricey end (portions are definitely not huge). But that's because what Qyun does is unique, and takes knowledge, time and effort. They take Korea's long tradition of fermentation and play with it, making ice cream with the lees from rice wine and pickling Korea's many namul in new ways. They don't hesitate to borrow from other fermentation traditions (e.g., Japan – shio koji, yuzu kosho, etc. all feature) either.
In addition to food and drinks that you can enjoy at Qyun, there's also a small deli section, where you can buy some of their fermentation products, as well as items like tempeh. They do monthly releases of 4-5 seasonal products (sample lineup: fermented mushroom pesto, bamboo shoots in doenjang, umeboshi, fermented kumquat sauce), which can be ordered online (note: they sell out quickly). Sometimes there's also a miniature vegetable market in front of Qyun (in warmer seasons, with high quality products from small Korean farmers).
As far as I can tell, all their menu items are now vegan. I would definitely give them 5/5!
Tip: There is a small park nearby, so in the warmer seasons you could order your sandwich takeaway and eat there, sitting on a bench or in the shade of a pavilion. Takeway is cheaper too (you'll get the sandwich, but not the soup or salad that come with it).
Update 2024/01/01: Been back to Qyun every 3-4 months in 2023, the quality remains high. The main menu item remain the same; their daily special changes depending on the season. I definitely recommend picking up something from their deli section. Also, I'm told the only non-vegan item they have is one fermented product (with shrimp) in the deli section that they sell at a certain time of the year.
Updated from previous review on 2023-05-21
Pros: Unique concept & delicious food, Supporting local, seasonal produce, Lovely space & atmosphere
Cons: Can be pricey, especially given the portion size, Limited parking in the area
Guest
byJace
Points +751
Fermented desserts galore - Edit
The menu seems to have changed a bit, now with many creative fermented desserts (most if not all were vegan). We had the kombucha float, vegan dessert platter, and the coconut yogurt ice. They were all delicious and refreshing. Favorite was the coconut yogurt ice. Great space and community feel. There was a local farmer selling veggies as well. Very unique and well executed.
Read moreGuest
SteveH
Points +19327
Unique concept done well - Edit
They market the cafe around fermented food but are careful to use mainly fermented food that most people easily like.
Read moreThe sanwiches we had were great, albeit maybe a bit basic for the price. A tiny tossed side salad on the plate would have been nicer. The curry was good. The salad was interesting (with a fermented dressing).
The place itself is a fantastic room to sit with some close friends or on a date. Nice area too.
Guest
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