Restaurant Ki

The entrance to Restaurant Ki is intentionally hidden. To find it, you first navigate through the adjacent Bar Sawa in Little Tokyo and head down into a quiet subterranean space. The entire restaurant is a single, ten-seat counter facing an open kitchen, a minimalist setup designed to focus all attention on Chef Ki Kim and his team at work. There is only one offering – a multi-course tasting menu that changes constantly, sometimes weekly, based on what’s available at the farmers' market. The food is contemporary Korean at its core, built around seasonal seafood but with classic French techniques woven throughout. A meal might move from a shirako gimbap with truffle rice to a main course of barbecue roasted squab with a foie gras sauce or 45-day dry-aged dairy cow. The service itself is synchronized, with every guest receiving their course at the same moment – the meal won't begin until all parties have arrived. Throughout the night, Chef Ki is right there, explaining dishes and talking with guests across the counter. An optional beverage pairing is a prominent part of the experience, with a thoughtful selection of wine, sake, and tea designed to match the menu. A full non-alcoholic pairing is also available, with composed drinks like clarified rhubarb juice with thyme syrup. Reservations are essential, and the restaurant sends detailed instructions for finding the hidden entrance ahead of time.