Durham is getting Michael Lee back on the block, and he is not coming quietly. The Triangle chef behind the M Restaurants group is planning a new Korean fine-dining spot called M Hansik, slated to open in May 2026. The restaurant is set to fill a renovated, roughly 4,100-square-foot space in the Wye Junction development, with a tasting-menu-style approach meant to deepen the city’s already busy dining scene.
Lee has spent the past several years rolling out a slate of M-branded concepts across the Triangle, and M Hansik is positioned as his next downtown Durham move.
As reported by The News & Observer, M Hansik will take Suite C at 501 Washington St., the renovated former Plum Southern Kitchen & Bar space. It will land alongside other food and drink tenants at Wye Junction, including Timber Pizza and Atomic Clock Brewing. The reporting notes that the team is targeting a May 2026 opening and framing the project as Korean fine dining in a formal setting.
"Durham has always been incredibly supportive of what we do," Lee said in a press release, according to The News & Observer. The announcement identifies him as the operator behind the M Restaurants group, which will oversee the new concept.
Lee's Triangle footprint
Lee’s M Restaurants portfolio already stretches across the Triangle, with concepts including M Sushi, M Tempura, M Izakaya, M Pocha, M Kokko and the M Test Kitchen. The M Restaurants website lists these as part of its regional footprint.
Those projects helped build Lee’s local reputation and give M Hansik a built-in platform as it prepares to open in downtown Durham.
Hiring and menu hints
Early signs of the buildout are already public. Job listings show M Restaurant Group is recruiting a head chef for HANSIK, with a posting on Indeed describing the project as a "modern Korean restaurant" and seeking candidates with deep experience in Korean cuisine.
The advertised salary range of about $85,000 to $90,000 signals that the group is investing in a skilled kitchen leadership team ahead of the planned May opening.
What this means for Durham
M Hansik is set to plug into a steady uptick in food and drink options at Wye Junction and in downtown Durham overall, adding a formal Korean fine-dining experience to a lineup that already includes craft beer and wood-fired pizza neighbors.
The team says more details, including menus, reservation timelines and a firm opening date, are expected as construction and buildout move forward. Local coverage is likely to track the project as it gets closer to welcoming diners.
