Gyeok and its delicious Korean chicken noodle soup next for former Capitol Hill fine dining space

A Broadway restaurant space previously home to some of the finest neighborhood dining of the past decade is ready to hatch a new venture that represents a twist of two seemingly indomitable Capitol Hill dining trends.

The former home of five-star — and $$$$$ — Altura is being readied to become Gyeok, a new sibling restaurant to Broadway’s Busan Jeong, the Korean joint from global restaurateur Hoyeon Park that opened earlier this year on the east side of the street specializing in “Korean Pork Broth Rice” with savory soups, Korean dumplings, Korean pancakes, and specialties like blood sausage.

Another ripple in the wave of Korean-inspired openings is one thing but Park tells CHS Gyeok will also be part of another food and drink trend quickly changing the menus of Capitol Hill dining — chicken.

As with Busan Jeong’s focus around rich broth, Gyeok will specialize in Korean chicken kalguksu — “knife-cut noodle soup,” Park writes —  and the Korean ginseng chicken soup samgye-tang.

There is a third trend in the mix, of course. The across the street opening will help the Gyeok and Busan teams with logistics and easy supply runs.

Altura and its sibling restaurant Carrello enjoyed a similar relationship until chef/owner Nathan Lockwood decided to move Altura across the street to take over the Carrello space this fall. After starting 15 years ago on the west side of Broadway, Altura now continues its award-winning tasting menu service while adding some Carrello touches in the much larger space on the east side.

We don’t know if Altura is serving any chicken these days but the rest of Capitol Hill sure is. CHS reported earlier this week on yet another new chicken joint opening up — Rizzo’s Crispy Chicken is taking shape next door to Dick’s Drive-in and part of a flock of new chicken-centered ventures now taking roost around Capitol Hill and the Central District.

Meanwhile, Korean food and drink has become a major component of the dining scene — with a little help from the yes-it-really-exists Korean Food Promotion Institute. As CHS wrote last year, knowing your way around a Korean spice rack is pretty useful on Capitol Hill. The Gol Mok Korean Market Bar holds down a space on E Pike. Yeobo Cafe and Bar and its Korean-American comfort food on E Madison is another addition. Another new joint, Seoul Mates, opened in a former sushi bar at 10th and Union. At the core, MEET BBQ from Heong Soon Park has grown into a center of the scene on E Pike.

The Chicken Food Promotion Institute could not be reached for comment.

Hoyeon Park tells CHS he is planning for Gyeok and its delicious Korean chicken noodle soup to debut in early December.

Gyeok will open soon at 617 Broadway E. Follow @gyeok.seattle for updates.

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