Beloved Korean BBQ joint set to make return after 2019 fire
‘I’m just grateful where I am,’ says Shin Jung’s owner
A lot has changed at Shin Jung Korean BBQ in the two years since an overnight fire ripped through the Colonial Drive restaurant east of downtown Orlando.
“All new electrical, all new plumbing, all new mechanical, new roof, new trusses, new floor, new framing,” said owner Michael Lee. “That covers most of the construction right there.”
Shin Jung is gearing up to reopen after the June 2019 fire that Lee said was caused by a lightning strike that affected an electrical wire in the attic.
Lee said the restaurant’s full opening will depend largely on his ability to hire workers, particularly in the kitchen, where he has faced difficulty filling positions as many restaurants across the country have struggled to bring on employees. His restaurant should run with a staff of about 25 people.
“We were remembered and beloved by the locals so I’m just grateful where I am.”
— Michael Lee, owner of Shin Jung Korean BBQ
“In the meantime, we are either thinking about doing a soft opening for just takeout-only or limited hours with a limited menu,” Lee said. “We are looking at a couple of different options on how we should approach this.”
That soft opening could take place towards the end of the month, and Lee wants to invite firefighters to eat there as part of the soft opening.
The restaurant, which originally opened in 1993, was known for tabletop cooking with offerings like short ribs, called kalbi, and bulgogi, which is thinly-sliced ribeye beef, Lee said. It was named best Korean in the 2019 Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards.
“I think it was one of the most popular restaurants here in Mills 50,” said Joanne Grant, executive director of the Mills 50 Mainstreet District that encompasses the area around Colonial Drive and Mills Avenue.
Longtime fans coming to the revitalized restaurant might notice its higher ceilings, which Lee said will improve airflow as smoke can be a problem in Korean barbecue restaurants. There’s also a new outdoor seating area.
Lee did not disclose the cost of the restoration.
He noted work wasn’t easy due to the building’s age and said the front part of the building was torn down. Orange County Property Appraiser records list the building as being constructed in 1930.
The new restaurant is brighter and a little more welcoming than before, said Greg Moy, who worked at the restaurant for nearly three years before the fire and has returned as the sous chef.
“It’s like a complete 180,” he said. “It had its own charm in a way, in that like maybe a dive bar does, but this is completely different.”
Moy said the experience is a little nostalgic.
“And a little surreal coming back and like seeing how different things are, but still kind of the same,” Moy said.
The restaurant’s loyal customers motivate Lee.
“We were remembered and beloved by the locals so I’m just grateful where I am,” he said.