Photos: Daniel Ahn
Sungchul Shim, chef and owner of the Michelin star restaurants Kochi and Mari, has opened his latest restaurant Mari Ne [135 W. 41st Street, near Sixth Avenue]. Conceptualized as the “little sister” to Mari, the new restaurant offers a more casual style of Korean handrolls, complemented by a selection of Korean spirits like soju and makgeolli, at an intimate 16-seat marble counter overlooking the open kitchen.
Handrolls are available in sets including the 4 Handroll Set with Fatty Tuna, Yellowtail, Shrimp and Spicy Tuna, 5 Handroll Set with Fatty Tuna, Salmon, Scallop, Crab, and Spicy Tuna and the 5 Vegan Set with Soy Bulgogi, Mushroom, Eggplant, Burdock, and Yuba. All of the handrolls are also available a la carte with additional fillings such as Uni, Salmon Roe, and Wagyu.
Add-ons include Wang Mandu, steamed dumplings with pork, chive and tofu, and Mini Pho, braised wagyu brisket broth with vermicelli noodles. Beverages like canned makgeolli, sake, soju and beer are also available.
Chef Shim has worked in acclaimed kitchens including Le Bernardin, Per Se, and Neta in Greenwich Village. In October 2019, he opened his first solo project Kochi, a nine-course tasting menu of Korean skewered dishes which received one Michelin star. In December 2021, Sung opened Mari, which offers two tasting menus featuring diverse Korean-inspired handrolls, which also received one Michelin star.
Sung is joined by long-time partner Chef Daniel Jang as his chef de cuisine at Mari Ne, who has also worked alongside chef Sung for a decade, previously serving as his executive sous chef at Neta, Kochi and Mari.
Mari Ne is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. daily. For more information, visit marinenyc.com
