Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Korean Gastropub The WhaLES Bringing Cheese Ramen & Rice Burgers To LES
By
Nell Casey
Published Jul 25, 2016
Modified Jul 25, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Jesse Hsu Photography
View all 5
By
Nell Casey
Published Jul 25, 2016
Modified Jul 25, 2016
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A new restaurant extolling the virtues of eating while drinking—or is it the other way around?—is serving up piping hot bowls of cheese ramen, poke salad, and a boat load of wings to Clinton Street. WhaLES, which opened in early June, advertises itself as a Korean gastropub, a casual spot to sip cocktails while munching on Korean fried chicken. In Korea, you'll call someone a "whale" if they're dropping tons of cash—but the menu here is very heavy drinking, comfort food-eating friendly as far as prices go.
They're specializing in the kinds of things that soak up alcohol well, like a simple but hearty Cheese Ramen ($7) with onions, bean sprouts and egg, a popular DIY soup one might make at home after hitting the bar. Korean Fried Chicken gets served up as wings, drumsticks or boneless Karage ($12), an excellent pairing with a cold beer or AGWA (a coca leaf liquor), especially during happy hour where drinks are half off.
Whether intentional for the gluten-free movement or just an appreciation of the versatility of rice, the grain is employed as a base for the Rice Pizza ($10) topped with a tuna, onion, paprika, corn and mozzarella cheese in a spicy sauce. It's also part of the bun holding together the Rice Burger ($7), made with chicken or beef and topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, fried egg and a spicy mayo, all wrapped in edible soy paper.
There's been a lot of turnover in the 71 Clinton Space in recent years, but so far the restaurant has been well received in an area saturated with options.
71 Clinton Street, 646-882-1305
Whales Food Menu by Nell Casey on Scribd
Whales Drink Menu by Nell Casey on Scribd
Tagged
korean
Korean Gastropub
LES
Lower East Side
new restaurant and bar radar
whales
original
Nell Casey
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Why NYC restaurants are playing coy about sustainability
Though it has multiple benefits, the practice remains popular for one basic reason: it saves money.
By
Samantha Dady
Published Oct 26, 2026
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .