Michelin-starred chef Jungsik Yim has opened MUJE in Manhattan’s Garment District, a modern Asian fine dining restaurant.
Spanning 2,225 square feet and seating 48 guests, with six seats at the bar and 12 in the lounge, it marks a new direction from the chef behind Jungsik, the first and only Korean restaurant in the U.S. to earn three Michelin stars.
Meaning “untitled” or “without definition,” the restaurant’s name reflects its philosophy. “MUJE is about creation without boundaries,” says Yim. “Rather than defining the experience through one cuisine or tradition, we wanted to create a space that evolves continuously, shaped by ideas, seasonality, collaboration, and the perspectives of the team and our guests. It is contemporary Asian cuisine interpreted through freedom, balance, and curiosity.”
A design driven by the menu
New York-based Two Point Zero designed the interiors, guiding the space with the same ethos that drives the kitchen: harmony unconstrained by rigid definitions.
Guests enter from a bustling Midtown block through commanding dark gray double arched doors into a first dining room anchored by a bar on the right. Along the left wall, dark olive banquettes are set against a white birch-like wallcovering, creating an intimate atmosphere from the start.
Moving deeper into the space, a window into the open kitchen draws the eye before guests arrive at the back dining room, where the moody palette continues. Dark oxblood banquettes, finished in a thoughtful mix of leather and upholstery, line the perimeter. Black marble tables rimmed in warm walnut wood anchor each seating area, while a wine bar island doubles as a waiter station beneath a long tubular linear chandelier.
Crafted details across MUJE
Throughout the space, an earthy material palette of stained red oak, walnut millwork, charcoal gray granite, and terracotta establishes quiet sophistication. Architectural wood slats reference the shuttered windows common to East Asian resort destinations, introducing rhythm and warmth. Rustic silk wallcoverings, hand-finished plaster, and lacquered detailing add layers of tactility, while a gilded emerald willow mural brings organic movement to the room.
Natural raffia and lantern-inspired paper pendants cast a warm glow across the dining room, complemented by integrated lighting built into custom furnishings.
