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Restaurant Ki
Master Critic Reviews (5 Lists)
Restaurant Ki
8.7
Chef Ki Kim’s ten-seat counter delivers a tightly choreographed New Korean tasting menu that plays with nostalgia and high technique. Dishes balance richness with bright, herbaceous notes, and the pace feels personal without being stiff. It’s one of the most distinctive Korean meals in Downtown right now.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal 12-course tasting menu, Omija berry snow dessert, Fermented seafood jang pairings
Scores:
Value: 7.4
Service: 8.8
Consistency: 8.2
Food Quality: 9.1
Atmosphere: 7
Cultural Relevance: 8.1
What makes it special: A tiny, chef-driven counter pushing modern Korean flavors with finesse.
Who should go: Tasting-menu fans and Korean fine-dining seekers.
When to visit: Early seatings for the most relaxed experience.
What to order: Full tasting menu, any perilla-forward course, omija snow dessert.
Insider tip: Reservations drop monthly on Tock and disappear fast—plan ahead.
Restaurant Ki
8.6
A ten-seat chef’s counter hidden beneath Little Tokyo, Ki is all about closeness—literally and emotionally. The modern Korean tasting menu lands with precision, while the speakeasy-like entry and warm hospitality make the night feel secret and special.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal Korean Tasting Menu, Charcoal-Grilled Wagyu Course, House Ferment Pairings
Scores:
Value: 6.9
Service: 9
Consistency: 8.2
Food Quality: 9.3
Atmosphere: 8.3
Cultural Relevance: 8
What makes it special: An ultra-intimate Michelin-starred Korean chef’s counter.
Who should go: Anniversary couples and adventurous eaters.
When to visit: Late seating for maximum intimacy.
What to order: Full tasting, wagyu course, ferment pairings.
Insider tip: Follow the pre-arrival entry instructions carefully—finding it is half the fun.
Restaurant Ki
7.9
A low-key, reservation-forward tasting room where Korean flavors meet modern technique in a compact, almost speakeasy-like space. The cooking is precise and quietly inventive, making it a smart pick for diners looking beyond the usual DTLA circuit.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal Korean-influenced tasting menu, Dry-aged fish course (varies), House-made dessert pairings
Scores:
Value: 7.7
Service: 8
Consistency: 7.8
Food Quality: 8.3
Atmosphere: 7.2
Cultural Relevance: 7.4
What makes it special: Basement hideaway for tightly choreographed Korean-inspired tasting menus.
Who should go: Food fans hunting new-school Korean.
When to visit: Late seating for a more relaxed pace.
What to order: The tasting menu, optional pairings, dessert course.
Insider tip: Look for the understated entrance—arrive a few minutes early.
Restaurant Ki
8.7
Restaurant Ki is a 10-seat Little Tokyo chef’s counter that pairs Korean fine-dining technique with a lighter, more playful tempo. The menu leans seasonal and modern, with precise sauces and subtle nods to Korean classics rather than direct replicas. Its low-profile entrance and intimate scale make it feel like a secret tasting-menu club.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal Korean tasting menu, Charcoal-kissed seafood course, House-aged jang-based sauces
Scores:
Value: 7.6
Service: 8.5
Consistency: 8.6
Food Quality: 9.1
Atmosphere: 8.2
Cultural Relevance: 7.9
What makes it special: A newly Michelin-starred, hard-to-find Korean chef’s counter with a tight, seasonal menu.
Who should go: Tasting-menu fans chasing the city’s newest stars.
When to visit: Early seating to savor the full narrative arc.
What to order: Tasting menu; any jang-forward course; dessert finale.
Insider tip: Read the arrival instructions carefully—finding the door is part of the fun.
Restaurant Ki
9.1
A ten-seat chef’s counter hidden in Little Tokyo where Ki Kim tells a precise, modern Korean story through a seasonal tasting menu. Expect seafood-forward courses with playful technique and a calm, intimate pace that feels like dining inside the pass.
Must-Try Dishes:
Seasonal Korean tasting menu, Truffle perilla noodles, Dry-aged beef with Korean bone broth
Scores:
Value: 7.6
Service: 9
Consistency: 8.7
Food Quality: 9.3
Atmosphere: 8.6
Cultural Relevance: 8.2
What makes it special: A Michelin-starred, ten-seat Korean chef’s table built around Chef Ki Kim’s seasonality-driven narrative.
Who should go: Fine-dining hunters and Korean cuisine nerds.
When to visit: Weeknight seatings for the most relaxed pace.
What to order: Full seasonal tasting, truffle perilla pasta, dry-aged beef course.
Insider tip: Read the pre-arrival entrance notes carefully—finding it is part of the fun.