Restaurant Ki — Restaurant in Los Angeles

What a solid and whimsical experience at Restaurant Ki with a New Korean tasting menu experience which is great to see continuing to gain a foothold in Los Angeles.

I think one thing that may trip up some folks is getting to Restaurant Ki. The instructions are there when you call their number but not included in the email or website. The easiest way for us was to go into the parking structure (we walked since we parked nearby at the Aiso Parking Garage - took us about 5 minutes to get to the restaurant) - go to the second floor lobby - hit the elevator door labeled for Bar Sawa (and make sure to take the middle elevator // a security guard was there for us) and then wait in the lobby where the front of house takes parties one group at a time to the restaurant.

Inside, the restaurant is tucked away in its own area adjacent to Bar Sawa. The interior is modern and sleek and seemed to seat up to 12 people. Chef Ki and his team greeted us with service being all-around strong. I liked how the Chef himself would do some of the beverage service as well and really created a light atmosphere, encouraging people to ask him and his staff questions and chat with him.

The tasting menu itself was all-around solid and fun with a few great standouts. (I was also super grateful they were able to make slight adjustments due to my current health status.)

*Octopus: The octopus was super and fantastic. It was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. And the sauce made out of octopus head was fantastic - had a little bit of heat and so creamy. The presentation was so lovely as well.

*Duck liver mousse: Was a surprising appetizer. The presentation was bold coming in a chicken shaped dish that the chef popped open. The dish itself was so surprising because even though it had the strong and salty duck liver; there was the strong contrast of the white peach jelly and complemented by the hardened milk bread and apple. Loved how we had to literally use a spoon shovel to dig into the creative garden.

*Keizo's noodle, pine mushroom, dungeness crab: Full of flavor and rich. To me, the mushroom that topped the dish really sold and brought everything together - wish there was more of it!

It was also my partner's birthday and loved how they treated us to a couple nice items such as a complimentary drink (their non-alcoholic tomato juice was surprisingly amazing) and a play on seaweed soup.

All-in-all, the menu reflected the chef and the atmosphere - playful and creative + full of potential.

Thank you to the Chef/staff for the experience - can't wait to see how everything...

Dining at Restaurant Ki was nothing short of magical. From the moment you step through the hidden entrance inside Bar Sawa, you feel transported into an intimate, exclusive world where every detail has been meticulously thought out.

Chef Ki Kim’s modern Korean tasting menu is an unforgettable journey—each course a perfect harmony of flavors, textures, and artistry. Dishes like the shirako gimbap with truffle rice and the crispy octopus with gochujang cream not only amazed my palate but also told a story of Chef Ki’s creativity and deep respect for ingredients.

What truly sets this experience apart is Chef Ki himself. His warmth, humility, and passion for his craft shine through in every bite and every interaction. It’s rare to find a chef who can balance world-class technique with genuine hospitality, but Chef Ki does exactly that.

Restaurant Ki is more than just a meal—it’s an experience that lingers in your memory long after the last course. A well-deserved Michelin star, and I can’t...

Restaurant Ki offers a modern take on upscale Korean food. Chef Ki perfectly balances new and traditional ingredients to create a truly fantastic dining experience.

We got to enjoy the tasting menu which changes frequently. Each dish was beautifully prepared with imaginative style and ingredients. We chose to do the optional drink pairing and each course was perfectly paired with wine and sake.

There was so much artistry and attention to detail in everything from the food to service to the drink pairing to the dining space and art work surrounding it. We were able to talk with Chef and the staff the entire time and ask questions along the way which really made for a fun and approachable environment.

Overall this was one of the best dining experiences I've had I recent memory. We loved Kinn before it closed and we are happy to see Chef Ki back in this new space continuing to create delicious food and beautiful...