Restaurant in New York City, United States
Bold Korean cooking, Bib Gourmand prices.
8282 holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024) for good reason: this Lower East Side kitchen uses a solid Korean foundation to build dishes that push boundaries without losing coherence. At $$, it's one of the better-value creative dining options in New York. Order widely, share everything, and come ready for a lively room.
8282 is the right call if you want creative Korean cooking at a price that won't punish you for ordering widely. The Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024) says what most diners already suspect after a single visit: this Lower East Side kitchen punches well above its $$ price point. It's a strong pick for adventurous eaters who want to share plates, try combinations they wouldn't expect, and leave without a painful bill. If you need a quiet, formal dinner, look elsewhere. If you want to see what happens when a Korean kitchen stops asking for permission, book 8282.
8282 sits on Stanton Street in the Lower East Side, a neighbourhood that has absorbed enough culinary ambition over the years to make a Bib Gourmand feel almost inevitable. The room is rambunctious — energy runs high, tables turn, and the noise level reflects a kitchen that takes its cooking seriously without taking itself too seriously. This is not a place for a quiet conversation on a Friday night. Come for the food and lean into the atmosphere, or choose a quieter weeknight slot if you want to actually hear your dining companion.
The technical foundation here is solid Korean — the kitchen understands fermentation, heat levels, and the structural role of gochujang and doenjang , but the real interest is in what gets built on leading of that foundation. Honey-infused vanilla cream finished with grated Parmesan cheese. Burrata paired with rice cakes and gochujang-marinated chicken. These are not gimmicks deployed for shock value; they are the result of a kitchen that has internalised Korean flavour logic well enough to test its outer boundaries without losing the thread. That's a harder skill than it sounds. Plenty of restaurants in New York fuse for the sake of fusion. 8282 fuses because the combinations actually work.
For diners who track the Korean restaurant scene across cities, the approach here sits at an interesting midpoint. It's more playful than what you'd find at the cerebral end of the Seoul fine-dining spectrum , places like Mingles or Kwonsooksoo operate at a different register of formality and precision. And it's more experimental than the tighter, tradition-first approach you get at some of New York's other Korean spots. What 8282 offers is a kitchen with genuine technical grounding that has chosen expressiveness over restraint, and charges you $$ for the privilege rather than $$$$.
The menu is built for sharing, and you should treat it that way. Dishes like littleneck clams with house-made sweet potato soojebi in a butter and pepper-tinged broth show the kitchen's ability to construct a dish with clear flavour logic , the broth is the kind of thing that makes you slow down. Grilled Iberico pork galbi resting in spicy red chili paste shows the same instinct applied to protein: quality sourcing, Korean seasoning structure, and enough restraint in the execution to let the pork speak. Order broadly, share everything, and trust the kitchen's instinct for balance even when the combinations look counterintuitive on paper.
If you're building a Korean restaurant itinerary in New York, 8282 occupies different territory from the other strong options in the city. Jua is more refined and composed. Jeju Noodle Bar is more focused and noodle-centric. bōm, Meju, and Ariari each stake out their own corners of the category. 8282's distinguishing characteristic is the willingness to put unexpected combinations on the plate and back them up with enough technical skill that they hold together. That's the reason Michelin awarded the Bib rather than passing, and it's the reason the Google rating sits at 4.6 across 565 reviews , a signal that the cooking lands consistently for a wide range of diners, not just those already predisposed to love it.
For food-focused travellers comparing New York's creative Korean options to what's happening in other American cities, the broader context is useful: the Korean dining scenes in cities like Chicago (Alinea operates in a completely different category but sets a useful benchmark for creative ambition at the high end) or San Francisco (Lazy Bear) show what happens when kitchens commit fully to a personal point of view. 8282 is doing something analogous at the $$ level , a personal, opinionated Korean kitchen that doesn't template itself on either New York convention or Seoul tradition. That's the version of the restaurant worth booking.
For a broader look at where to eat, drink, stay, and explore, see our full New York City restaurants guide, our full New York City hotels guide, our full New York City bars guide, our full New York City wineries guide, and our full New York City experiences guide. For US restaurant comparisons beyond New York, see Emeril's in New Orleans, Providence in Los Angeles, and Single Thread Farm in Healdsburg.
Yes, straightforwardly. The $$ price range is one of the more accessible entry points for Michelin Bib Gourmand cooking in New York City, and the 4.6 Google rating across 565 reviews suggests the kitchen delivers consistently, not just on a good night. Order broadly across the share plates to get the full picture of what the kitchen can do. If you want to spend more for a formal Korean tasting menu, Atomix at $$$$ is the comparison, but 8282 offers a genuinely different experience rather than a cut-price version of the same thing.
Order to share and don't anchor to the safest-sounding dishes. The kitchen's strength shows in the combinations that look unusual on paper , honey cream with Parmesan, burrata with rice cakes and gochujang chicken. Those are worth trying. The Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024) reflects consistent execution across the menu, so trust the kitchen's instincts and order widely rather than sticking to one or two familiar options. Come with two to four people for the leading spread.
Casual. 8282 is a $$ Lower East Side restaurant with a high-energy room, not a formal dining destination. Smart casual is more than enough; most diners will be in jeans. There's no indication of a dress code, and the atmosphere doesn't call for one.
Bar seating availability is not confirmed in current data. Given the accessible booking difficulty and the small, lively format of the restaurant, it's worth calling ahead or checking on arrival if bar seating matters to your plans. Walk-in prospects are reasonable given the easy booking classification, but going without a reservation on a weekend carries risk.
For creative Korean at a comparable price point, Ariari and Meju are the closest peers. For a more refined and composed Korean experience, Jua steps up in formality. For noodle-focused Korean, Jeju Noodle Bar is the go-to. If budget is no object and you want the full Korean fine-dining experience in New York, Atomix at $$$$ is the city's reference point. And if you want to compare New York's Korean scene to the source, Mingles and Kwonsooksoo in Seoul show what the leading of the tradition looks like.
| Venue | Cuisine | Awards | Booking Difficulty | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8282 | Korean | Are there any rules about showering a scoop of honey-infused vanilla cream with grated Parmesan cheese? Is there a consensus on whether an entire orb of creamy burrata goes well with rice cakes and gochujang-marinated chicken? There’s a first time for everything at this rambunctious little restaurant in the Lower East Side. The team works with a solid foundation of Korean flavors and from there, springboards into uncharted waters. Creative, bold dishes—all of which beg to be shared—run up and down this menu. Those wanting to stick to something more familiar will not leave disappointed. Littleneck clams and house-made sweet potato soojebi bathed in a savory butter and pepper-tinged broth is a satisfying start, followed by tender medallions of grilled Iberico pork galbi resting in a pool of spicy red chili paste.; Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024) | Easy | — |
| Le Bernardin | French, Seafood | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Atomix | Modern Korean, Korean | Michelin 2 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Eleven Madison Park | French, Vegan | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Masa | Sushi, Japanese | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
| Per Se | French, Contemporary | Michelin 3 Star, World's 50 Best | Unknown | — |
Comparing your options in New York City for this tier.
8282 sits in the Bib Gourmand tier, so the honest comparisons are other affordable, creative restaurants rather than high-ticket spots like Atomix or Eleven Madison Park. For Korean specifically, Atoboy in Flatiron covers similar creative ground at a comparable price point and takes reservations more easily. If you want to stay in the Lower East Side and try something equally adventurous but not Korean, the neighbourhood has plenty of options at the $$ range. 8282's combination of Michelin recognition and a $$ price tag is hard to match in the Korean category in Manhattan.
Bar seating details are not confirmed in available venue data for 8282. Given its description as a 'rambunctious little restaurant' with a shareable, social menu format, counter or bar seating would suit the vibe well if available — check directly when booking or call ahead, as the Stanton Street address suggests a compact space where walk-in options may vary by night.
Nothing formal. 8282 is a $$ Bib Gourmand spot on Stanton Street in the Lower East Side — the room and the menu are both casual. Come as you would to any relaxed neighbourhood restaurant: comfortable, unfussy. There is no indication of a dress code, and the food — rice cakes, clams, shared plates — sets the tone.
Order to share and be open to combinations you would not expect elsewhere — the menu deliberately pushes Korean flavours into unconventional pairings, and that is the point. The Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024) recognises the value here, so the room will be busy; booking ahead is advisable. If you want something straightforwardly traditional, 8282 will still deliver on Korean fundamentals, but the kitchen's strengths are in the bolder, more creative dishes.
Yes, clearly. At $$, 8282 holds a Michelin Bib Gourmand (2024), which is specifically awarded for good food at a price that does not require a special occasion to justify. The menu is built for sharing, so the more dishes you try, the better the value. Compared to Atomix or Masa, you are in a completely different price bracket — 8282 is the answer when you want creative, ambitious cooking without the tasting-menu bill.
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