Akira Back
South Korea
Akira Back at Four Seasons Hotel Seoul gives Japanese cooking a Korean inflection. The restaurant reflects the background of its namesake chef, who was born in Korea and raised in Aspen, bringing influences from different parts of his life into a contemporary menu. Diners can choose lunch or dinner dishes, a set of the restaurant’s best-known preparations, or an omakase experience. A dedicated vegan menu broadens the options beyond the fish and meat normally associated with Japanese hotel dining. The setting makes it possible to explore Back’s cooking without leaving the hotel, while the range of formats gives the visit different levels of commitment. A shorter lunch, a weekend brunch and a longer omakase meal each offer a distinct way into the same culinary approach.