Monks Butcher Dosan, Seoul
Itaewon's popular high-end vegan restaurant Monks Butcher is expanding its empire with a brand-new spot in the hip-again Dosan, and it does not disappoint
January 2024
Interior view of the open kitchen and modern dining area at Monks Butcher Dosan, Seoul
The streets surrounding Apgujeongrodeo station in Seoul have come in and out of fashion over the years, but the area known as Dosan is very much back on trend. There are constantly people swarming the streets, expensive cars vying for road space and attention, and multiple big-names brands with stylish shop fronts. It’s perhaps the ideal location for the latest iteration of Monks Butcher, the high-end vegan restaurant first launched in Itaewon in 2018.
The new spot in Dosan is still fresh, having just opened in October 2023. Although the restaurant is on the basement level, the glass door and glass walls welcoming you make the space much more open and spacious. It has been tastefully designed with a modern open kitchen with island seating where you can see the chefs at work; there’s contemporary artwork, a distorted mirror and a dominant speaker system decorating the walls; ample spacious seating options for smaller or larger groups. It’s a chic space with a menu to match – both in terms of style and substance.
The lunch and dinner menus have a tasty mix of starters including the zucchini and romesco dip with its selection of refreshing zucchini pickle and carrot rapee with romesco sauce and chickpea bread. For the mains, there are ample Italian-style dishes including black mustard leaf oil pasta, the mushroom barley risotto and squash gnocchi. There are hearty winter dishes such as the tomato chilli lentil stew, grilled veg coconut curry, and the tomato ragu cottage pie. And fans of the former Monks Deli in Haebangchon (RIP) will be delighted to see that the tofu chicken burger has been revived and rebranded as the chipotle burger – a slightly elevated version of the Deli favourite, replete with spicy mayo, pickles and fries.
The dessert options of pie or cake are likely to vary depending on the day you are there. At the time of visiting, the creamy pistachio and raspberry pie did not disappoint and there was, of course, a little room for the house-made chocolate ice cream. You can accompany your courses with drinks from the artistically designed wine menu or alcohol-free choices including the sweet plum ade or one of the luxurious coffees made with beans roasted by T.O.CH COFFEE in Seoul.
Monks Butcher Dosan is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00–15:00 (last order 14:00) and 17:00–22:30 (last order 21:00). Instagram @monksbutcher_dosan and @monksbutcher_itaewon
Monks Butcher Dosan, Seoul
Itaewon's popular high-end vegan restaurant Monks Butcher is expanding its empire with a brand-new spot in the hip-again Dosan, and it does not disappoint
January 2024
Interior view of the open kitchen and modern dining area at Monks Butcher Dosan, Seoul
The streets surrounding Apgujeongrodeo station in Seoul have come in and out of fashion over the years, but the area known as Dosan is very much back on trend. There are constantly people swarming the streets, expensive cars vying for road space and attention, and multiple big-names brands with stylish shop fronts. It’s perhaps the ideal location for the latest iteration of Monks Butcher, the high-end vegan restaurant first launched in Itaewon in 2018.
The new spot in Dosan is still fresh, having just opened in October 2023. Although the restaurant is on the basement level, the glass door and glass walls welcoming you make the space much more open and spacious. It has been tastefully designed with a modern open kitchen with island seating where you can see the chefs at work; there’s contemporary artwork, a distorted mirror and a dominant speaker system decorating the walls; ample spacious seating options for smaller or larger groups. It’s a chic space with a menu to match – both in terms of style and substance.
The lunch and dinner menus have a tasty mix of starters including the zucchini and romesco dip with its selection of refreshing zucchini pickle and carrot rapee with romesco sauce and chickpea bread. For the mains, there are ample Italian-style dishes including black mustard leaf oil pasta, the mushroom barley risotto and squash gnocchi. There are hearty winter dishes such as the tomato chilli lentil stew, grilled veg coconut curry, and the tomato ragu cottage pie. And fans of the former Monks Deli in Haebangchon (RIP) will be delighted to see that the tofu chicken burger has been revived and rebranded as the chipotle burger – a slightly elevated version of the Deli favourite, replete with spicy mayo, pickles and fries.
The dessert options of pie or cake are likely to vary depending on the day you are there. At the time of visiting, the creamy pistachio and raspberry pie did not disappoint and there was, of course, a little room for the house-made chocolate ice cream. You can accompany your courses with drinks from the artistically designed wine menu or alcohol-free choices including the sweet plum ade or one of the luxurious coffees made with beans roasted by T.O.CH COFFEE in Seoul.
Monks Butcher Dosan is open Tuesday to Sunday, 11:00–15:00 (last order 14:00) and 17:00–22:30 (last order 21:00). Instagram @monksbutcher_dosan and @monksbutcher_itaewon