This exclusive dining destination, located on Park Avenue and East 30th Street in the NoMad district of Manhattan, is famed for its outstanding tasting menu of innovative New Korean Cuisine, and equally celebrated for its meticulous design, intimate atmosphere, and sublime service.
As with the couple’s first restaurant, Atoboy, the name, the mood and the entire philosophy of Atomix is built around ‘Ato’, from an ancient Korean word meaning ‘gift’. The gift offered to the restaurant’s patrons—just 12, each seated around the U-shaped Chef’s Counter overlooking the open kitchen—is not just a superb multi-course meal, but in fact a unique and exquisitely crafted dining experience.
The journey begins with a warm greeting followed by pre-dinner drinks and snacks in the Lounge Bar, then continues in the atmospheric basement restaurant space, where each guest first chooses their own handcrafted set of chopsticks.
Each of the courses that make up the gastronomic voyage of discovery that follows is introduced by means of a beautifully designed menu card detailing the dish’s inspiration, origins, and ingredients as well as describing the ceramics in which it is served. These cards form the basis of a dialogue between the guests and the front-of-house team, providing valuable opportunities to foster culinary and cross-cultural understanding. A personal farewell card from Ellia brings the journey to an end.
Chef Park’s own journey through life from his birthplace in Gumi, South Korea involved graduating in Food Science from Seoul’s Kyung Hee University then gaining experience in a series of prestigious kitchens around the world, including The Ledbury in London and Cutler & Co. in Melbourne, before returning to Seoul to work in the fine-dining restaurant Jungsik. It was here that Park was introduced by pioneering mentor chef Jungsik Yim to the New Korean Cuisine movement that would shape his personal approach and later take him to New York in the role of Chef de Cuisine at Jungsik in Tribeca.
Inspired by the multi-cultural dynamism of NYC, Park and his wife Ellia then opened their first restaurant, Atoboy, whose success allowed them to launch the more upmarket Atomix. The couple’s collection of New York restaurants has since grown further with the addition of Naro and Seoul Salon.
In addition to its two Michelin stars, Atomix has earned a three-star rating from The New York Times and a series of other recognitions. In 2024, it ranked sixth on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list (the highest rank of any US restaurant).
