Washington | SHIA🏆

Visiting SHIA – Restaurant by Edward Lee, Runner-Up of "The American Chef"! As someone who grew up eating Korean food in Qingdao, I finally picked a special day to visit SHIA, the restaurant by Edward Lee—the Korean-American chef I loved watching on Netflix’s culinary competition! ✨ We booked the 7-course tasting menu and added white truffle shavings on the steak. 🥩🍄 Course 0 (Aperitif – not counted in the 7 courses) Served at the bar: a small shot of soju paired with a hand roll containing scallop, oyster, trout roe, Asian pear, shiso leaf, and nori. 🍶 The combination was unique—with each bite, one or two flavors emerged, building up to nearly ten layers of taste. Truly magical! Have you ever tried a dish with so many layered flavors? Course 1: Black Sesame Cold Noodles Topped with sea urchin, caviar, and specially pickled cucumber. 🍜 Very similar to the dish Edward Lee made on the show! Sweet black sesame, salty caviar, sweet sea urchin, and tangy cucumber—all merged into a one-of-a-kind experience. Are you a fan of savory-sweet fusion dishes? Course 2: Pumpkin Soup With chestnuts, chili, and Jeju peanut black tea. 🥜🎃 Sweet, spicy, and nutty—each flavor stood out without overpowering the others. Course 3: Blood Sausage (Sundae) Probably the most unique blood sausage I’ve ever had! Served with anglerfish liver pâté, red dates, a type of crisp, and pear. The glass noodles inside were subtly integrated, not overwhelming—very clever! Have you ever tried a modern twist on a traditional dish? Course 4: Fried Abalone + Pan-Seared Cod With pumpkin purée, rice wine, and a mysterious green sauce. 🐟 The fish was slightly sweetened (not my favorite), but the broth was amazing—earthy, creamy, and tangy all at once. Course 5: Grilled Steak from Roseda Farm Cooked medium, consistently tender and not overly fatty. Paired with a Korean-style sauce reflecting the chef’s unique take on "Korean soul." The added white truffle elevated the aroma—less intense than black truffle but more balanced and enhancing! 🍄 Do you prefer white or black truffle? Desserts 1. Cinnamon Ginger Tea Sorbet with nuts – A bit too sweet for me; could use more acid or salt. 2. Orange + Yuzu + White Chocolate Ice Cream – The sweet-sour balance and flaky texture worked beautifully! 🍊🍫 What’s your ideal dessert—fruity, creamy, or something in between? Overall, I felt the soul of this restaurant—it elevates Korean cuisine to a new level! Quite impressive, though it helps to have some familiarity with Korean flavors. I can see why it might not resonate with everyone. 💬 Total for two (with drinks and white truffle, no wine pairing, including tax and tip): $620. 💸 Worth it for a special occasion! #DCfood #SHIA #TheAmericanChef #EdwardLee #KoreanFusion #FineDining #TastingMenu #WhiteTruffle #FoodExperience #CulinaryArt #DCeats #GourmetJourney #CreativeCuisine #FoodReview #SpecialOccasionDining