Helping to stoke Sydney's craze for Korean is newcomer Jung Sung.

It doesn't officially open until March, but the Chippendale restaurant is already taking sneaky early bookings.

Head chef Insup Kim believes Sydney is ripe for next-level contemporary Korean. "We're a little behind places like New York (where he has worked) and San Francisco, where there was a push about 10 years ago and Korean restaurants started getting Michelin stars."

While Jung Sung is formal, the Korean-born chef doesn't want to label the restaurant "fine dining".

"We have a short rib braised in pear juice and soy, Moreton Bay bugs and seasonal kimchi."

Jung Sung slides into Chippendale's Old Rum Store on the third floor, the restaurant including a wrap-around balcony.

Open daily lunch and dinner.

A6, level 3, 2-10 Kensington Street, Chippendale