Luna: Excellent Korean cuisine on Rachel Street East

Luna is a Bring Your Own Wine restaurant that opened on the Plateau Mont-Royal in July 2018. The charming address offers a unique formula of traditional Korean food, illuminated with a modern twist.

Na Young Park and Hyun Seok Kim are the two owners of the establishment. Originally from South Korea, the couple has been living in Montreal for four years now. It is on the Plateau Mont-Royal that the owners wanted to open their first restaurant on Quebec soil, considering the lack of Korean offerings in the neighbourhood.

Convivial, intimate, and attentive

The name Luna was Na Young’s choice. “I really like the moon! In Korea, there is even a holiday to celebrate the full moon; it means blessing and abundance.”

Korean culture is central to the concept of Luna. “We wanted to present our customers with a traditional Korean experience; everything is made entirely by hand as it was done in Korea. From the music to the pottery in which we serve our food, everything is very traditional here,” explains Na Young. Hence the menu rich in history, and the attentive service that explains the dishes in detail, and how they are traditionally savoured in Korea.

The space at Luna is elegant and understated. Developed by the owners, the decor is made up of dark colours that lend an intimate and comfortable ambience to the space. The limited seating – about 40 people – also contributes to this convivial atmosphere and allows for attentive and personalized service.

Traditional and accessible

In the kitchen, Huyn Seok creates the excellent dishes of the house. Having previously run a restaurant in Seoul, he reproduces recipes from Na Young’s family heritage. However, he revisits certain aspects of the dishes to keep them accessible to the restaurant’s clientele. For example, the menu features a variety of protein options to appeal to both vegetarians and carnivores, as well as options for customers with gluten intolerance. While the house dishes are traditional, the presentation is thoughtful and modern.

Among Luna’s scrumptious specialties is the kimchi appetizer, taken from Na Young’s grandmother’s recipes, offered in three variations: radish, cucumber and cabbage. Bibimbap and a dish called Jeon – a delicious, typically Korean pancake – are also staples on the menu. As for desserts, the Hotteok pancake is irresistible! Another favourite is the galbi mandoo dish, delicious dumplings served in generous portions; this dish is now part of our list of the best dumplings in town! Everything here is very well executed and rich in flavour. It is also one of the best Korean restaurants in Montreal, the best bibimbaps, and the best Bring Your Own Wine in town.

Although the restaurant is a BYOW, they offer a delicious ginger tea, for those who prefer a non-alcoholic drink.

“What we really like about Luna is how open people are to our culture. We explain the dishes, as well as various Korean traditions, and they are curious to try what we offer. We have a very convivial atmosphere,” says Na Young.

Discreetly located on Rachel Street East, Luna is a charming address to discover. We like the intimate atmosphere of the place, the excellent traditional Korean cuisine that we savour, and the generosity of the owners.

Written by Sophie Monkman
Photography by Alison Slattery

Last update: March 26, 2022

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