Kimchi — Restaurant in City of Ithaca

A Heartbreaking Decline in a Once-Beloved Restaurant

What a sad story I have to tell. In the fall of 2022, we first stepped into this restaurant with our then 8-month-old daughter, and the experience was nothing short of extraordinary. The owners welcomed us with genuine warmth, going above and beyond by preparing a special Korean baby meal—plain broth ramen, delicate rice bites, and other thoughtfully crafted baby-friendly foods. It wasn’t on the menu, but they took the time to care for us, making us feel like cherished guests rather than just customers. The food itself was exceptional, a true culinary delight.

We returned in 2023. The food remained good, though the owners weren’t present, and the waiter was unfamiliar with the baby-friendly options. Still, we understood. Then came 2024—still decent, still enjoyable, though missing the personal touch that had once set this place apart.

But 2025 marked the end of our love affair with this restaurant. The owners were finally there, yet the warmth we once felt was gone. When I asked for a toddler-friendly option, the only suggestion was to order a non-spicy ramen—no thoughtful accommodations, no extra care. Just a dismissive response that they didn’t offer a kids’ menu, and we’d have to make do.

I understand that inflation and Bidenomics has affected everyone, and that small businesses across the U.S. have struggled in recent years. But beyond the loss of hospitality, even the food had declined. The ramen, even without spice, was still too fiery for a toddler. The burger steak—once a comfort dish—was now an overpriced plate of frozen ground beef. And $8 for a beer? It felt like an insult rather than a treat.

This place was once our family’s sanctuary, a treasured stop whenever we visited New York State. It held a warm, sentimental place in our hearts. But today was our last visit. There’s something profoundly sad about being disappointed in a place you once...

Food was interesting. Duk mandu guk is clear broth with egg, rice cakes, and dumplings. The duk mandu guk here is a fusion between kalbi tang and soybean paste stew, with rice cakes and dumplings added. Ingredients in Kimchi’s version of the dish not traditionally added included soybean paste, glass noodles, and slices of beef. I’ve studied Korean (language, culture, food—2 visits to Korea) for over 4 years now, the dish is not authentic. The cooks do not know the correct recipes. Overall, food was ok. Would not come back for it.

What was more striking to us was the atmosphere. There is no “no outside food” sign on the door, we came in with 1 water and 1 coffee drink from Paris Baguette across the commons. We placed it at the back of the table when seated, where it was out of reach and we did not drink them throughout the meal. None of the workers asked us to throw it away or said that outside drinks are not allowed.

Throughout the whole experience, we were glared at. Once we were given menus and waters, the server stood in the corner and stared directly at us for three minutes straight while we decided what to order. We thought we were being stared at because of the outside drinks, but what came next invalidated our thoughts. While waiting for the food, once served, and while eating we felt an uncomfortable presence of the workers glaring. I’m under the impression that since there are many staff working and the establishment wasn’t busy, they had nothing better to do.

Come here if you enjoy a discomforting atmosphere and...

Extremely mediocre. I will not be returning. The food was “ok.” The meal was overpriced. I ordered the kimchi pajun ($17) & the spicy sausage stew ($18). The pajun was undercooked and joyless. The stew was supposed to come with ham, rice cakes, egg noodles, veg & choice of meat. For some reason they would not allow me to choose tofu in lieu of another meat option (odd, as tofu is generally less expensive and the dish already had three meats in it). It was heavy on the sausage & other meats (some might consider this a high value), but the ratios were all off for me. There was maybe one slice of zucchini and a couple onions in the entire thing, almost zero noodles, only two slices of rice cake. The flavors were ok, but it didn’t really work as a dish. It was also supposed to come with a side of rice that never materialized. The server wasn’t knowledgeable about the menu, or accommodating, and never once bothered to fill our waters throughout the duration of our meal. The icing on the cake? When I asked for two to-go containers I was told that they cost $1 EACH. Come on. That is just shameful gouging. Do yourself a favor and opt for Asia Cuisine down the block or Four Seasons in Collegetown, both of which I have frequented and am always extremely...