[Seoul] I didn’t know what to expect when I booked a seat at Base Is Nice.
In Seoul, where food can often be intense, full-flavoured and layered with spice, the promise of something calm and vegetable-driven felt really different.
Chef Jang Jin-ah runs Base Is Nice almost as if it were an art studio.
She worked in food styling and restaurant consulting before deciding to open her own space.
The restaurant opens only for lunch, from 11am to 3pm, and runs entirely on reservations through Catchtable. Walk-ins are not possible.
The simplicity extends to how they operate: precise hours, limited tables, and one set menu that changes seasonally.
This vision earned Base Is Nice a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand in the Michelin Guide Seoul, a rare nod for a vegetable-centred restaurant.
When I arrived, I realised I was the only customer that afternoon. The room was serene, filled with natural light, wooden textures, and the faint sound of soft jazz.
Chef Jang only takes a handful of reservations each day, sometimes just one or two groups at a time, so she can focus entirely on her guests.
I had read that her approach is not about being “vegan”, but about being “vegetable-friendly”.
My meal (30,000 won) was served all at the same time on a wooden tray, simple yet elegant.
It began with a 7-Vegetable Soup paired with Sweet Barley Tangerine Peel Rice.
The soup had a deep purple hue from winter radish and kale, thickened slightly by sweet potato and pumpkin seed. It was savoury, faintly sweet, and grounding.
The rice carried the soft scent of dried tangerine peel, adding a quiet citrus brightness. On top, grilled lotus root, garlic sprout, and golden enoki mushrooms gave texture and a little crunch.
It looked humble, and was nourishing.
Next came a small cup of Rosemary Egg Brûlée, served warm with a thin, caramelised crust.
It was delicate and silky, perfumed lightly with rosemary.
A side of Napa Cabbage Juice topped with Raspberries followed. Unexpected, bright, and cleansing.
Chef Jang checked on me quietly between courses.
We spoke for a few minutes about her philosophy, and she explained that she prefers to host fewer guests so that each plate can be served at the perfect moment.
“I like to give full attention to every meal,” she said. (And the practical Singaporean in me was wondering why she didn’t maximise seats.)
Base Is Nice is not for everyone, and that’s its strength.
It wasn’t just the food but the way it made me slow down and notice things again.
Certainly one of my most memorable dining experiences the last Seoul trip, and reminded me that sometimes the gentlest meals can stay with you the longest.
Base Is Nice 베이스 이즈 나이스
7-6 Dohwa-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul
서울특별시 마포구 도화동 7-6 베이스 이즈 나이스
Opening Hours: 11am – 3pm (Tues – Sun), Closed Mon
Naver Maps – base is nice
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