Oori, the upscale Korean restaurant, opened at Sheraton Manila last January 2019, is part of the hotel’s second phase of development. Oori is the third outlet at the newly opened Sheraton Manila, in addition to its all-day dining buffet, S Kitchen, and The Lounge bar.
While Korean restaurants have become ubiquitous in Manila, what sets Oori apart is the authenticity and the modern composition of the overall dining experience. Literally translated “ours” in Korean, Oori is inspired by the refreshed Sheraton brand of being a gathering place. It features the growing “fine-casual” dining trend with a bibimbap sub-concept catering to fast, easy comfort Korean foods, as well as a more premium selection on the upscale Korean barbecue menu. It can seat 156 persons with versatility through communal tables, a live cooking bibimbap bar, semi-private rooms, and luxe private rooms with its own personal barbecue stations.
Guaranteeing its authenticity is Executive Korean Chef Kibum Park, who is well-versed in leading a Korean restaurant and hotels in across Asia before joining Sheraton Manila. Chef Park sees to it that his dishes are created from fresh ingredients, just the way it should be in Korean cooking.
The Korean restaurant occupies half of the second level of the hotel. Simultaneously trendy and functional, the interior is made of raw burnt wood, steels, ropes hanging on an open ceiling, and Korean ceramic pots as decors. At the entryway is a display of premium quality meat inside a live butchery kitchen. It has a mix of couches, communal tables and bar seating, and its dim lighting creates that cozy ambiance.
Oori boasts of a collection of 16 side dishes or banchan. Fermented items are carefully handmade and preserved for optimum maturity. For example, kimchi is stored for 5 days – to Chef Park, this is the perfect recipe. Only found in Oori, is the homemade meljorim sauce, made from anchovy with soy bean paste that goes perfectly with their grilled meat.
Bibimbap, for a Casual Fare
Reminiscent of walking along the alleys in Seoul, the Bibimbap sub-concept features comfort food favorites suited for quick bites. The Bibimbap by Oori space has a mix of couch, long table and bar seats for 49 persons. Staple street finds like tteok bokki (rice and fish cake) is served in large bowl; dakgangjung (fried chicken) is very tender and coated in a specialty sauce by Chef Park; panjeon (pancake) and noodles have varieties with fresh seafood or vegetables . A towering bowl of shaved ice milk, bingsu – something good to share – is topped with in classic flavors of red bean, mango, chocolate and assorted fruits.
The highlight, of course, is the assortment of bibimbap bowls. Served on a wooden tray, ingredients are still unmixed for guests to toss in the fresh vegetables and the amount of sauce for their preferred heat. Main toppings range from beef, pork, chicken, seafood, and yukhoe (marinated beef tartare).
A Sophisticated Korean Grill
Oori has 14 barbecue tables that can accommodate 96 persons. Semi-private rooms are ideal for 8 to 24 persons, while the two luxe private rooms accommodate 12 or 20 persons each. The grilled menu features premium selections such as Australian Mulwarra wagyu beef with marble scores of 5+ or 9+ (the highest recognized score) and imported Spanish-branded duroc pork that has the finest fat marbling and lean meat. An order comes with unlimited servings of five side dishes, assorted vegetables, rice, and soup. Set menus include either beef, pork, or a combination of both that are perfect for 2-3 persons.
Also on Oori’s fancy grill menu are Korean signature plates, soups, hot pots, and stews – all of which are inclusive of sides and rice. Hard to miss are Chef Park’s specials like the beef galbi jjim (braised short ribs) and beef bulgogi jeongol (beef and mushroom stew).
Oori is like its own Korean dining district in Sheraton Manila located in Resorts World Manila, where there is a space for all sorts of preferences for individuals or groups, quick comfort foods or premium choices, and trendy or sophisticated. The restaurant is open from 12nn to 10:30pm for the bibimbap selections, while the premium grill menu is available for lunch at 12nn to 2:30pm and dinner at 6pm to 10:30pm.
For reservations, kindly call +63 2 7902-1800 or check @sheratonmanila on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.