Chef Michael Lee is opening his sixth restaurant in downtown Durham. M Hansik, a Korean fine-dining concept, is set to open in May at Wye Junction in the 4,100-square-foot former Plum space at 501 Washington St.
- The concept: M Hansik is the Korean word for Korean cuisine. Lee, who was born in Korea, is planning a fine-dining menu of modern takes on traditional dishes, a different direction from any of his existing concepts.
- Lee's restaurants: He launched M Sushi in Durham about a decade ago, followed by M Kokko, M Tempura, and M Pocha, all in the city, and later expanded to Cary. M Hansik will be his sixth concept overall and his fifth Durham location.
- The neighbors: Wye Junction already has Atomic Clock Brewing and a Durham outpost of Washington DC's Timber Pizza, which opened earlier this year.
The Backstory: M Sushi is widely considered one of the best sushi bars in the Triangle. This will be the first time Lee has built a concept around his Korean roots.