Momofuku Seiobo, the much-awarded restaurant that David Chang opened in Sydney’s Star Casino in 2011, has this week announced it will close its doors later tin June.
According to an interview with The New York Times, the decision to close the restaurant was a joint one, made by David Chang, Seiobo Executive Chef Paul Carmichael and General Manager Kylie Javier Ashton.
Despite its 18-day closure in 2020 due to the pandemic, the restaurant was thriving financially. According to Chang, Carmichael and Javier Ashton, the decision to close has instead come from a desire to close “on a high note” when the venue’s lease comes up for renewal.
“This isn’t a sad ending… the goal was always to create a sustainable restaurant post-pandemic, which is exactly what we rebuilt,” Javier Ashton posted on Instagram.
“When our lease was up for renewal, we realised that the most sustainable thing we could do was to finish our time on top. We will still be here putting our hearts and souls into every meal we serve until the 26th of June. I am so thankful to every person who has supported us along the way.”
Seiobo is the third Momofuku venue globally to have shut its doors since the pandemic began, alongside CCDC in Washington DC and Nishi in New York City.
Since the Sydney restaurant opened its doors, it has been showered with awards and accolades, and is widely considered to be one of the country’s best restaurants.
Under its original head chef, Paul Greeno, Momufuku Seiobo opened with a menu inspired by international cuisine, which was served up alongside David Chang’s signature pork buns from the original Momofuku in New York.
Carmichael took over the kitchen in 2015 after working under Chang at Ma Peche in New York, and Seiobo has since become known for its Caribbean-inspired flavours, with many dishes having their roots in Carmichael’s native Barbados.
In 2016, Gourmet Traveller named Momofuku Seiobo its Restaurant of the Year, while in 2020, the publication named Carmichael its Chef of the Year. Last year, the restaurant was also added to The New York Times‘ World’s Best Restaurants list – one of only three Australian restaurants to have held the honour.
Momofuku Seiobo’s last service will take place on 26 June. The staff, who are under employment by The Star, will have the option to be placed in other restaurant jobs within the casino.