A Galesburg mother-daughter duo have teamed up to open Galesburg’s newest eatery downtown: Koreana Restaurant.
Attendees of the 2017 Taste of Galesburg got a preview of some of the South Korean-style dishes being served. Co-owner Amber Jordan tells WGIL, the restaurant was about a year and a half in the planning. “First, my mom wanted to be close to Knox College because of all the international students. We looked at two places on Henderson Street,” Jordan said. “(With) one, the ceiling was coming down, (another) one was having some contract issues. Then we were pointed to the economic development team, and they asked us about downtown.” Jordan said over the course of planning the restaurant, there were a few “bumps in the road”, but the establishment opened their doors yesterday. Jordan says her and her mom, Ok Hyun Curtis both will work in the kitchen – preparing meals that she grew up eating. Curtis worked at what was the Old Peking Restaurant in Galesburg for 20 years. Jordan also says the food is similar to what soldiers would be used to eating: bulgogi, kimchi, mandoo dumplings, and steamed and fried rice. Members of the military and uniformed police and first responders will receive ten percent discounts at Koreana. At 323 East Main, Koreana’s hours are Monday through Thursday 11-9, Friday and Saturday 11-10, and will feature a lunch buffet Monday through Saturday from 11-2. Jordan says, being a new restaurant, they’re expecting to be rather busy – so there’s no carry-out orders for their first week.
