Oseyo, the popular Korean American restaurant in East Austin, is excited to announce the launch of new menu items and the addition of Culinary Director Laura Sawicki to the leadership team. The restaurant’s menu will continue to offer staples fans love with the addition of specialty dishes that blend Korean flavors with Mexican influences, and the introduction of a dessert program created by Sawicki.
Owner Lynn Miller and Executive Chef Mike Diaz collaborated on the updated menu items, merging their cultures through food. Chef Diaz has spent the last 20 years in the Austin food scene, previously working with McGuire Moorman Hospitality, Olamaie, Bufalina Due and Dai Due Taqueria. His diverse culinary background has allowed him to create unique specials each month, bringing a new twist to the current menu. Chef Diaz focuses his weekly rotating specialty dishes on Korean and Texan flavors, while incorporating a Mexican approach to cooking, which can be seen in his recent specials, including Kimchi Posole with honeycomb tripe in a kimchi-guajillo broth, Gochujang Marinated Grilled Skirt Steak with perilla chimichurri, Dressed Oyster with kimchi mignonette, and PEI Mussels with bacon, ginger and perilla in a jalapeno soju broth.
“With the onset of the Lunar New Year, we really wanted to focus on recharging Oseyo and our team, through new menu items and reinvigorating our three unique spaces at the restaurant, the Patio, our main dining room and the Oso Room,” said Miller. “Oseyo is built on a strong foundation of a team, and we are excited to welcome Laura to the family. The menu and the restaurant are a personal journey; an expression of myself and of Laura and Mike as chefs. We are just getting started, and can’t wait to see what the future holds.”
As culinary director, Sawicki will support culinary operations, logistics, day to day and back of house operations, in addition to creating the pastry program to complement the Oseyo menu. “Throughout my career, I’ve learned to think strategically and see the big picture of where a concept is going,” says Sawicki. “I knew that I needed a new space to exercise my creativity, and joining the Oseyo team allows me to continue growing as a chef and as an operator. With the launch of the new pastry program, I wanted to continue to tell the story that’s already being told at Oseyo, highlighting the welcoming atmosphere and energy, offering a well-rounded experience to our guests.
The newly launched dessert program was developed by Sawicki to complement the Oseyo menu. The sweet delights were previewed at Oseyo’s Lunar New Year event and include items like Misugaru Panna Cotta with a seven-year fermented soy; Dark Chocolate and Doenjang Fudgsicle; Silken Tofu Cheesecake; and Roasted Barley and Honey Ice Cream. The dessert menu is inspired by Miller and Sawicki’s childhood and has a whimsical nature about it, creating a playful yet approachable flavor profile.
“Bringing Laura on to the team has brought a new energy to the restaurant and it has been so much fun to work together,” says Chef Diaz. “Lynn, Kate Harrington, our creative director, and I have worked hard to maintain the positive vibes of the space since we opened our doors, and we can’t wait to show Austin what we have in store.”
Osyeo, which means “welcome to my home” in Korean, opened in 2019 and showcases dishes that draw from Miller’s Korean American background and dishes she grew up eating. In 2023, a year predicted to be of hope, the restaurant plans to start anew with a redesigned patio and Oso Room. Oseyo is located at 1628 E. Cesar Chavez and is open Wednesday through Saturday from 4:30-10 p.m. and Sunday from 5-9 p.m. For more information about Oseyo, please visit www.oseyoaustin.com and follow along on Instagram and Facebook.