Vancouver's first Michelin-recommended Korean restaurant Jeju makes its mark in Mount Pleasant
Jeju secured recognition from Michelin's 2026 Vancouver guide after opening less than a year ago with a menu blending traditional and modern Korean cuisine.
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Jeju, which opened in Mount Pleasant less than a year ago, has become Vancouver's first Michelin-recommended Korean restaurant, earning recognition in the guide's 2026 Vancouver selections announced this week.
The restaurant was founded by Sungeun "Sung" Kim and Yunyoung "Dylan" Kim, who met in 2018 working at a French-Japanese fusion restaurant before opening Jeju's original location in Tofino in 2021. The Vancouver outpost runs as a true family operation — Dylan's mother, a professional chef with over 40 years of experience, works in the kitchen while his father handles dishwashing duties.
During menu development, the team discovered that dishes didn't taste quite right until they identified a crucial ingredient problem. Sung reached out to her grandmother in Haenam, Korea, who owns a family farm, and began importing chilies, sesame seeds, and other essential ingredients directly — a sourcing commitment that carries through every dish.
The menu itself is organized as a Venn diagram: the left side features classic Korean dishes labeled "from mama julie," the right showcases Dylan's more modern interpretations, and the middle overlaps with shared dishes including the restaurant's signature 'The' Galbi. The space itself delivers an understated intensity — moodily lit, with a modest exterior of tinted windows and white brick that gives no hint of the energy inside. Nearly every seat fills on any given night.
The cocktail program, developed by Byungjin Lim of Bar Charm in Seoul, deserves special mention. The Clarified Bloody Mary uses black-pepper-and-basil-infused vodka with tomato essence and celery seed, while the seasonal Thanksgiving Milk Punch — clarified and milk-washed with Forty Creek Canadian Whisky, lemon, apple, and maple — tastes like grown-up apple juice. Spot Prawn arrives drizzled in orange vinaigrette with fruit over garlic aioli, fresh and creamy on the palate. The eggplant stuffed with prawns, deep-fried in squid-ink batter, is another standout.
Good to know
Where is Jeju located?
Jeju is in Mount Pleasant, Vancouver.
What kind of food does Jeju serve?
Jeju serves Korean cuisine blending traditional and modern styles, with a menu organized around classic dishes, modern interpretations, and shared plates including the signature 'The' Galbi.
Why did Jeju start importing ingredients directly from Korea?
During menu development, the team discovered that dishes didn't taste right until they identified an ingredient problem, prompting Sung to reach out to her grandmother in Haenam, Korea, who owns a family farm, to import chilies, sesame seeds, and other essential ingredients.
Who designed Jeju's cocktail program?
Byungjin Lim of Bar Charm in Seoul developed Jeju's cocktail program, which features drinks like the Clarified Bloody Mary and a seasonal Thanksgiving Milk Punch.
