Cocktails and Seafood Collide at This Underground Koreatown Bar

"Musaek is anchored in Korean seafood - the menu includes a map detailing where everything is sourced in the country, such as soy-marinated shrimp from Yeosu. The project is run by Urimat Hospitality Group, part of the NYC Korean restaurant and bar company KTM Group."

"Seafood on the ice ($35) is a seafood platter with Korean twists. The Incheon oysters were sweet, the clams delicate, the mussels savory, all of which paired well with the punchy mignonette; although I could've used more heat in the gochujang sauce for the shrimp."

"Jeju-sourced fluke hwe ($35), a work of art in the form of a sashimi platter, where various parts of the fish are served: thin cuts, dry-aged, and nigiri. I liked dipping the lettuce-wrapped nigiri into the spicy, thin sauce."

"The clarified cocktails are some of the best I've had in a while, with clear flavors that aren't overpowering. I enjoyed my tomato and white kimchi ($18), a gin drink made with capers, fino cherry, and celery, popped up with a cherry tomato garnish. The yuzu and seaweed cocktail ($22) was an everything-all-at-once concoction of gin, Korean pear, and lychee milk - I liked dipping the nori sheet garnish into the drink for nibbling."

A three-part Korean dining complex in Koreatown includes a beef barbecue spot, a tofu restaurant, and a downstairs subterranean cocktail and seafood bar. Musaek centers on Korean seafood with a menu map showing sourcing locations, including soy-marinated shrimp from Yeosu. Seafood on the ice features Korean twists such as sweet Incheon oysters, delicate clams, savory mussels, and punchy mignonette, with gochujang sauce for shrimp. Jeju-sourced fluke hwe is served as a sashimi platter with multiple preparations and lettuce-wrapped nigiri dipped in spicy thin sauce. Crispy monkfish bites come with kimchi mayonnaise and caviar, and Chungmu kimbap delivers a deeply funky-earthy flavor with QQ texture and radish kimchi. Clarified cocktails offer clear, balanced flavors, including tomato and white kimchi and a yuzu and seaweed gin drink with Korean pear and lychee milk. Happy hour runs 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday with discounted cocktails and wines.

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