‘Iron Chef’ Finalist’s Korean Restaurant Quietly Closes In Park Slope

PARK SLOPE, NY — A popular Korean restaurant helmed by "Iron Chef" finalist Esther Choi has quietly closed its Park Slope location after just a few years in business.

Gahm by Mokbar, located at 212 Flatbush Avenue near Bergen Street and across from Barclays Center, opened in 2023, offering a stylish menu of Korean noodles, dumplings, and small plates to the neighborhood.

Speculation about the closure began when the restaurant’s website was taken down. Although its social media pages remain online, they haven’t been updated since July — and the business is now listed as permanently closed on Google.

Choi is the chef and owner of the original Mokbar in Chelsea Market, which has since expanded to Midtown and Newark. She also serves as chef and partner at Ms. Yoo, a contemporary Korean bar and restaurant on the Lower East Side.

After three years of success with Mokbar in Chelsea Market, Choi opened Gahm by Mokbar to expand beyond the classic menu of soup, ramen, and small plates—bringing a higher level of Korean soul food to Brooklyn.

Choi got her start in the kitchen early, beginning formal training at just 14. She studied at New York City’s Institute of Culinary Education and honed her skills at well-known spots like ilili and La Esquina before breaking into the Food Network scene, where she became a challenger chef and finalist on the Netflix hit show "Iron Chef: Quest for the Iron Legend."

You might recognize her from hosting Eater’s “Kitchen Gadgets” series, which showcased her Korean cooking skills to more than 50 million viewers. She’s also appeared on shows like “Beat Bobby Flay,” “Chopped,” “Money Hungry,” and “Throwdown with Michael Symon.”

No official statement has been released explaining why the eatery closed. Gahm by Mokbar had been open Tuesday through Saturday, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.