It's been nearly a year since Moxies closed up after over 20 years at 1160 Davie St, and now the space has a new tenant.
Jeon is a "modern Korean restaurant," according to a job listing for the new venture, and operators hope to be "serving bold Korean flavours with a creative, contemporary twist," soon.
The restaurant is nearly 5,000 square feet but will have seats for about 100 guests. Owner Tom Jeon tells V.I.A. by email that it was a deliberate decision to change the layout of the former Moxies unit.
'The heart of the restaurant is the kitchen'
"Compared to the size of the space, this many seem like a relatively small capacity. The reason is that we've dedicated a significant portion of the unit to building a large, well-equipped kitchen," explains Jeon in his email.
"As a chef, I believe that the heart of the restaurant is the kitchen, and by prioritizing that space, we can deliver consistency, quality, and the high standard of food we want to share with our guests."
Jeon adds: "This design reflects our philosophy: it's not about fitting in as many seats as possible, but about creating an environment where every dish meets the level of care and precision we promise."
Jeon part of the Tom Sushi and Tozen family
The name "Jeon" may not ring any bells, but "Tom" might; Jeon is the "Tom" of Vancouver's popular Tom Sushi and its newer Fairview sibling Tozen Sushi.
"I decided to use my last name, "Jeon" because to me, every restaurant I open is deeply personal," explains Jeon. "I put my heart into it, and if there are challenges, I believe it's my duty to take full responsibility. More than that, my philosophy has always been to care for and respect every guest beyond expectations.
"Using my own name felt like the most honest way to reflect that commitment."
Being on Davie Street also means a lot to Jeon, as it's where Tom Sushi has been for the past seven years. "We just love the area, the people and the culture on Davie Street," adds Jeon.
While Tom and Tozen are known for their Japanese menus, Jeon will allow the chef and restaurateur the chance to dive into his own culinary and personal memories of Korea.
Wha'ts on the menu at Jeon?
The Jeon menu will include everything from "traditional Korean dishes to some of the trendiest foods you'll find in Korea today," Jeon describes.
To that end, he offers a glimpse at some menu highlights featuring dishes that "carry special meaning" to the Korean chef.
A dish called "The Old Days Fried Chicken" represents the kind of fried chicken Jeon recalls eating as a child in Korea.
"Unlike most fried chicken today, the batter is very thin and extra crispy, which make it both nostalgic and unique," Jeon adds.
The new restaurant will also have a traditional Bibimbap with Seaweed Soup dish prepared with "a modern touch," in terms of plating.
Jeon calls the "Woodae Galbi" dish "the heart of the menu."
"We highlight prime rib through a Korean approach to seasoning and cooking, elevating it into what could be seen as Korea's answer to steak," the chef explains. The steak is served with scallion salad and pickled radish, which are meant to be eaten with the meat to give each bite balance.
"It's the dish that best represents what we want Jeon to stand for," says Jeon.
But Jeon the restaurant will also have the traditional dish of the same name, "Jeon," inspired by traditional Korean pancake, with a decidedly upscale flourish in this case. "We've kept the classic taste, but introduced different cooking techniques and a modern presentation with a touch of caviar," says Jeon.
In addition to prioritizing the kitchen space and guest experience, Jeon notes that the design of the restaurant also offers another opportunity to illustrate his Korean roots. The design stems from things Jeon says he "grew up seeing and always found beautiful in Korea."
Jeon says he set out to bring together key elements in a way that feels distinct from other Korean restaurants in Vancouver, creating an atmosphere that is both refined and welcoming.
'A fresh new place' for 'great food and great drinks'
Korean restaurants have enjoyed a surge of popularity in Vancouver in the past year or so, with places like Nui in Riley Park and Korean celeb chef Wonil Lee's trendy new Korea Noodle House in Burnaby among the recent debuts making waves.
For his part, Jeon is excited to welcome people to his new restaurant.
"I hope to provide a fresh new place where everyone can come have a great time and have great food and great drinks!" he says.
Jeon is slated to open softly on Sept. 4. The new restaurant's hours will be Wednesday, Thursday, Sunday, and Monday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. Follow Jeon on Instagram: @jeonyvr.
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