Restaurant Owners Swap Out Their Chinese Restaurant for Korean

Michael Lo and chef George Yu (Taiyo Ramen, Suzy Siu’s Baos, Noona) are replacing their Chinese restaurant Double Dragon in Oakhurst Village with a Korean restaurant and soju bar named Son of a Bear. The new restaurant opens next week.

The Korean tavern’s menu focuses on small plates, Korean-style fried chicken, and entrees like grilled squid and galbi-jjim (braised short ribs).

Jinkuk “Jay” Lee, formerly of Breakers Korean BBQ in Duluth, serves as executive chef. Lee began his cooking career in Seoul, Korea, before attending culinary school in Utah and later working at the St. Regis hotel in Park City.

“Son of a Bear will serve super tasty versions of traditional dishes like bulgogi and bo ssam, but we’ll also play with more modern Korean concoctions like budae jjigae (army stew), kimchi fried rice balls, and cheesy corn dogs,” Lo and Yu say. “It’s the fun and addictive street food young people in Seoul are enjoying after a big, fun night out.”

All of the food on the menu is meant to pair with the bar’s selection of local beers, soju (fermented rice wine), and soju cocktails.

Son of a Bear is named for Dangun — a legendary figure said to have founded the first Korean kingdom and was the “grandson of heaven” and the “son of a bear.”

Double Dragon Chinese opened last June in the southwest Decatur neighborhood. Lo had no comment when asked about the restaurant swap, except to say he’s “excited to be doing this Korean concept” and to have Lee on board.

Lo and Yu plan to open their next restaurant, Ramen Station, at Larkin on Memorial in Grant Park this fall.

Open Sunday - Thursday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.

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