Restaurant Ki
111 San Pedro St, Los Angeles
(213) 786-3154
Recent Reviews
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⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
From the moment I walked in, the ambiance was warm and inviting, setting the perfect tone for a memorable meal. The staff were incredibly attentive, friendly, and made sure everything was just right.
The food was outstanding—each dish was beautifully presented and bursting with flavor. You can really tell that high-quality ingredients and great care go into every plate. Every bite was a delight!
Overall, an exceptional restaurant that exceeds expectations in every way. I highly recommend it and will definitely be coming back again soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurant Ki truly delivers a 5-star dining experience! From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed with a stylish and relaxing atmosphere that sets the tone perfectly. The food is exceptional—rich in flavor, beautifully plated, and clearly made with high-quality ingredients. Every bite feels thoughtfully crafted. The service is just as impressive, with attentive and friendly staff who make you feel valued throughout your visit. If you're looking for a place that combines great ambiance, outstanding food, and top-tier service, Restaurant Ki is a must-visit. Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The hardest thing was finding the restaurant when you street park, you have to go through random stairs, get through a door to find another door inside a parking lot then a specific elevator to the restaurant. So I would recommend parking in the parking lot to make it a bit easier. Once you are in, it is an intimate 12 seat counter, chefs plating and telling entertaining stories behind the dishes, it was elevated and well put together. We did enjoy pretty much all the dishes especially the octopus 🐙 & porcini mushroom dessert . My least favorite was probably the second dessert, was like a granite with just cubed fruits. Overall a delightful experience and they deserve their star.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
★★★★★
Restaurant Ki delivers an exceptional dining experience from start to finish. The ambiance is modern, elegant, and perfect for both business dinners and special occasions. The staff are professional, attentive, and truly make you feel welcomed.
The food is outstanding — beautifully presented and full of fresh, vibrant flavors. Every dish tastes thoughtfully prepared, with high-quality ingredients and perfect execution. The sushi is incredibly fresh, and the hot dishes are just as impressive.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
One of the greatest dinners I have ever had. The chefs were amazing and the art they put into making the food was phenomenal. I personally really enjoyed the snacks. Overall an amazing experience and I would definitely go back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
NOT DINING, BUT AN ELEVATED EXPERIENCE -
Note: I make my own reservations and pay for my meals. I don't hold back and tell it always like it is.
If you're looking for a unique dining experience, and not just an expensive good meal in LA, Restaurant Ki is the place to be! This Michelin-starred (only a litle more than 1 year old and Young Chef Winner on top of that) gem serves up innovative Korean-inspired cuisine that's as Instagrammable as it is delicious.
The place: Tucked in a basement of a not so great building, no windows or outside light, just a focused experience in a Korean themed decor. Plates and silver are all different and unique to the experience. It's simple, focused and on point for what you are going to experience.
The Experience
It's not just about the food – it's about the entire experience. The staff is friendly and attentive, and the atmosphere is relaxed yet refined. Small space, well done, 12 people, and you feel like you are at a play or performance, which is intended. It's not a perfect experience, but it's so much on a higher level than a Spago or Mastro's let's say.
It's interactive - so you get to talk to the Chef's and ask questions - very good!
What to Expect
A 12-course tasting menu ($300 per person, with optional wine pairing at $190)
Menu changes with the season - new dishes get added in and removed all the time.
Intimate setting with a maximum seating capacity of 12, making it perfect for special occasions
Creative dishes that blend traditional Korean flavors with global influences
Impeccable service from Chef Ki and his team
Standout Dishes
Gimbap-inspired amuse bouche with crispy fried laver shell and housemade kimchi (super good)
Octopus with estragon and a creamy sauce made from the octopus head (excellent)
Smoked Lobster with doenjang-boosted beurre blanc and dried raspberry powder (yum)
Squab or Duck with maple and rhubarb, showcasing the chef's skillful pairing of flavors
So you think small plates and I won't get filled, but you do! The first 5 teaser courses are great, then the meal comes.....savory, unami, sweet, and refined. Well presented. Not every dish hits and some better than others but overall very good! The pace of the meal is on point so you never feel like you are forgotten, as in many restaurants.
One note. They have paper over the lights - not quite Michelin worthy.....might want to fix that.
Is it worth the price?
If you're looking for a special night out, absolutely! While $300+ per person is a splurge, the experience and quality of the food make it worth it. To me, it was a game changing dinner, a day late - Valentine's Day dinner, to an shared dining experience is what makes this Michelin Star Restaurant worth it. Bill ended up being $750 for two of us. I had a beer and she had Sake, which was very good.
Bravo to this place and to young chefs that understand food culture the restaurant business and the art of a great experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Unbelievable, off the beaten path Michelin starred, Korean inspired cuisine by a young an highly talented chef. Service, atmosphere and food all top shelf. Definitely give this one a try. Unique experience in LA
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing experience. A truly delightful, interactive meal. Memories I will never forget!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Best restaurant of the year!
Amazing experience, fantastic food, wonderful staff.
Arrive early and have the instructions handy on how to find the restaurant.
The drink pairings are so good, very high quality and unique.
I could taste the spirit of korean cooking in each bite.
I am glad I got a chance to try this amazing restaurant before they get their star.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Finding the restaurant was remarkably seamless-every instruction was precise, clear, and thoughtfully laid out. (Thanks to Ven) Simply following the steps brought me straight to the door without a hint of confusion, which already spoke volumes about the level of care behind this place.
And once inside, everything unfolded with an elegance that lingered long after the meal ended.
The food was exceptional in a way that felt both refined and deeply personal. Each dish carried intention, restraint, and quiet confidence. With the menu changing each season, I found myself already imagining future visits, curious to see how the chef will reinterpret the ingredients and narratives of each new moment in time.
Restaurant Ki is an experience rarely found in Los Angeles- every detail, from the pacing to the pairings to the smallest visual nuance, was executed with an almost obsessive precision. In such a short period, it became unmistakably clear how this restaurant earned its Michelin recognition. You can feel the chef’s unwavering dedication and perfectionism in every gesture, every bite, every interaction.
I dined alone this time, yet the experience left such a profound impression that I couldn’t stop thinking of the people I love. It’s the kind of place you want to share- one that you hope everyone dear to you can experience at least once.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The food was excellent and Ki was super friendly and made the experience lovely. Highly recommend this place! To note/ they don’t make changes to the menu so be ready to eat as is.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
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 continues to evolve!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
There is no signage in the building or in the elevator directing you to the restaurant, and no text or email explaining how to access it (pictures attached). Called but no one picked up the phone. We had to walk around the building twice to find it, and the area didn’t feel very safe. Another couple also got lost trying to find the restaurant. We shared the experience with the front desk, but she didn't have a reaction, guess she didn't care.
We were seated close to the entrance while the food prep was on the other side. It's a long marble table, so if you sit close to the entrance, you won’t be able to see the food prep or take pictures of it. The other side felt like VIPs and we were side kicks, lol...
For an $800 bill, it's not a pleasant experience.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
The desserts were worth trying.
Husband and I came here to celebrate good friend’s birthday. Words cannot describe how impressed I was by Chef Ki and his wonderful team. They’re incredibly talented and kind. Every dish was a work of art and we were blown away by the attention to detail. The wine pairing was one of the best I’ve seen. The atmosphere was relaxed yet refined. Chef Ki also has the most adorable utensils. My husband is allergic to a few things and the team was very kind about accommodating too. We will try and get a reservation here every time we’re in LA!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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