Somaek Boston

Somaek sits on Temple Place, positioned neatly between the city’s major transit hubs and the green expanse of Boston Common. It is a contemporary Korean restaurant that holds a place on the 2024 New York Times list of the 50 best restaurants in America.

The room runs smart, feeling more like a deliberate, focused studio than the loud, expansive halls that often define Asian dining in this part of the city. While the proximity to Faneuil Hall Marketplace attracts a steady stream of visitors, the kitchen’s commitment to nuanced, contemporary Korean flavors separates it from the nearby tourist-facing fare. Choosing this spot over the surrounding street-side options means trading high-traffic casual dining for a kitchen that treats its ingredients with more precision.