Olle

Need to have a long discussion with your roommate about whether they should quit their finance job and pursue van life? Or maybe list out the pros and cons of your best friend’s new romantic interest and discuss them at length? It might be time to make a reservation at Olle, a Flatiron restaurant with homestyle Korean food that strikes the delicate balance of serving comfort food in a trendy space. 

Olle is dimly lit, but not too dark to read the menu or take a decent photo. It’s nice enough for a special occasion, but it doesn’t require a reservation or planning out a whole outfit. It’s quiet enough to have a conversation, but not so quiet that you can’t hear the hooks of the social media-famous songs playing in the background. Like ambient music, the elegant dining room fades away, allowing you to focus on the food and conversation. All of which makes Olle a great restaurant to land on when you’ve already spent the length of two meals trying to decide where to eat.

photo credit: Kate Previte

photo credit: Kate Previte

photo credit: Kate Previte

photo credit: Kate Previte

photo credit: Kate Previte

The unquestionable star of the menu is galbi jjim. It comes out on a giant, sizzling platter and is snipped into pieces tableside. Add a few other dishes—Korean classics, like bossam and naengmyeon—and a bottle or two of something to drink. We especially like the Red Monkey Makgeolli, which is sweet, fruity, and funky, and the dry, bracing Seoul Night Plum Soju.

photo credit: Kate Previte

photo credit: Kate Previte

photo credit: Kate Previte

photo credit: Kate Previte

photo credit: Kate Previte

Whether you need to tell your friend that you’re officially vetoing their crush, or are planning to make eyes at someone over a bubbling bowl of gamja tang while picking out names for your future kids, there’s really no wrong time to eat at Olle. 

Food Rundown

photo credit: Kate Previte

Galbi Jjim

The folks at Olle will tell you that everything on the menu that isn’t galbi jjim is extra credit—if you’re eating here, you should be getting this. The beef short ribs are incredibly tender, and the spicing is perfect.

photo credit: Kate Previte

Bokkeumbab

You can choose two add-ons to your galbi jjim, and one of them should be this fried rice. They make it tableside once you’ve eaten most of the meat, and it is outstanding.

photo credit: Kate Previte

Bossam

The bossam here is straightforward, tender, and delicious. If you like pork belly in general, you’ll love this.

photo credit: Kate Previte

Honguh Jjim

Once you try Olle’s steamed skate, which comes swimming in a gently spicy soy and garlic vinaigrette, you’re going to start making up reasons to be in the neighborhood just so you can eat it again. It comes topped with a pile of fresh herbs, and the skate is perfectly flaky.

photo credit: Kate Previte

Bibim Naengmyeon

Warm weather is the perfect excuse to go to Olle for bibim naengmyeon. The noodles are made in-house, and the balance of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors is flawless. It’s served with crushed ice, and lots of pickled vegetables.

photo credit: Kate Previte

Jang Uh

Sweet, sticky grilled eel is served on a sizzling platter with tons of lightly roasted whole garlic cloves and oyster mushrooms. Two people could easily share this dish as a main, but it’s also a great precursor to other delicious things to come.

photo credit: Kate Previte

Gamja Tang

The spicy pork bone soup is a little hard to eat if you’re not comfortable gnawing on a bone at the table, but you only live once, and pork bones are delicious. The broth is rich, and has just the right amount of kimchi in it.

photo credit: Kate Previte

Kimchi Jungol

If you’re eating at Olle in the fall or winter, this spicy pork hot pot is a must. The meat falls off the bone, and you’ll wish you could drink the broth in a to-go cup on your morning commute.