I went for the 5-course tasting menu and had high expectations given the hype around the restaurant. Unfortunately, the experience didn’t live up to it. While the service was superb—attentive, professional, and genuinely welcoming—the food itself was underwhelming. For a tasting menu that’s supposed to showcase creativity and exceptional ingredients, the dishes felt surprisingly ordinary. Many of the components were things you could easily make at home, and the ingredients didn’t feel particularly special or elevated. Some of the flavor combinations were also a bit off, especially the dessert course, which I didn’t even finish. Portion sizes for a 5-course menu were reasonable, and again the service was excellent, but the overall quality of the food didn’t justify the hype surrounding this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Sara
Everything was great. We did the tasting menu and also did the old & new world wine pairing. Service was awesome. It was a great experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Hyun Kwak
I tried the 5 course tasting menu. Overall, great service, friendly staff, creative and tasty food, and nice ambiance. I would give 4.5 for the food since the pumpkin soup and kimchi could have been a bit better in my opinion. It would have been perfect if the pumpkin soup had a bit more density and texture-maybe not in the form of espuma?? Kimchi could have been better if it had a bit more flavor. It tasted like vegan Kimchi, which misses fish sauce. Also, the fermentation didnt seem to have occurred enough. My favorite was Soondae. The soondae (korean blood sausage) was surprisingly soft and tasty while keeping the texture of the ingredients. It had no porky smell or taste, yet the good taste and flavors were brought out from the ingredients. Given the fact that I really don't like pork, this is a huge compliment from me. The soojungkwa (the Korean drink) was on point striking the balance between sweet and nutty. The dessert was also excellent. It was not too sweet and the texture was great. Overall, this place was lovely and I would go back to try more, and will also recommend the place to others.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
moby chu
Let's begin by the positive, service is exceptional. All the staff is friendly and professional. They explained each course in details, clean set of utensils for every course, and the timing between each course is perfect as well. The decor is on the minimalist side. The size of the restaurant is considered to be on the smaller side and the reservations do fill up pretty fast.
I've been wanting to come Shia since watching the culinary class wars 😆 so I may have set some unrealistic expectations. All the dishes were well prepared and beautifully plated but I didn't get the wow factor I anticipated.
The pumpkin soup with chestnut cream and the Saengsun Jjim were delicious 😋 but everything else was just average. I have to say we were both disappointed at the strip loin. It was tender but didn't have much of the beefy taste, it was really bland.
Also the portion was small, we were both still hungry after dessert 😆 It may be good to serve the last main course with a bowl of rice each rather than two sharing one bowl of rice.
Last, this is a set menu course for $175 / person and you can also add pairing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Yentung Lieu
Went for a 5 course tasting menu on a weekday seated at the bar and it was absolutely fantastic! The entrance was a little obscure, but the atmosphere inside was cosy & chic. Warm service, great food & pairing drinks. Shoutout to Geoff for some great recommendations around the area too. Would definitely come back in future!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kaye Recella
Anything and everything that I wanted for! We celebrated our anniversary here and it was so worth the wait! Been wanting to go here since they opened. The food, the vibes and the service is extraordinary!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rushad
Shia in DC delivers one of the most exciting Korean‑inspired dining experiences in the city. Edward Lee leans all the way into deep, unapologetic Korean flavors—ferments, spice, smoke, and tang—while still keeping every dish refined and modern. Each plate feels both familiar and surprising, like he’s remixing the Korean pantry with a chef’s precision and a storyteller’s flair. And the dessert? A Juicy Fruit–evoking creation that’s playful, aromatic, and unlike anything I’ve had before. It’s the kind of dish that makes you laugh because it’s so unexpected yet so perfect. Shia is bold, confident, and absolutely worth the hype.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Quinn B
I took my daughter to SHIA to celebrate her birthday, and we had an absolutely incredible time. While it was definitely the most I’ve ever spent on a meal out, the experience was worth every penny. We sat at the bar for the five course tasting menu. While I could have used a little more knee room, the trade-off was worth it because we really enjoyed chatting with the fantastic bar staff throughout the evening. Every single dish on the tasting menu was amazing, but the biggest surprise of the night was the soon-dae course. It was completely unexpected, and we honestly haven't stopped talking about how much we loved it since we left. Highly recommend SHIA if you are looking for a special occasion spot.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michelle Fitzgerald
Had a wonderful anniversary dinner here this past weekend. All of the staff were knowledgeable about the food, drink, and sustainability initiative, and were very thoughtful in making our evening enjoyable. I have an unusual allergy that we communicated in advance and not only were they attentive to that request but the substitutions were fantastic. It goes without saying that the food and Korean pairing menu were excellent. We talked about how delicious the meal was the whole rest of the weekend and felt that we had experienced really creative and delicious flavor pairings.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marie Nguyen
After watching season 1 of culinary class wars, I knew I had to try Chef Edward Lee’s restaurant •Super intimate fine dining restaurant that is non-profit and focused on being environmentally friendly •You start off at the open kitchen with an appetizer and soju, and it really sets the tone of the night. Exciting, thrilling, and warmness once the soju hits •Our favorite dishes of the night were the osulloc & gamtae guksu, super fragment broth with cold noodles, the grilled strip lion, cooked to a perfect medium rare served with rice and kimchi with an assortment of sauces, and the INCREDIBLE gwail, a juicy fruit inspired dessert that tastes exactly like the candy •Our favorite drink was the bokbunja muscat, sweet flavors of muscat grape mixed with soju and tequila. Also try the apples to oranges, super fresh and sweet tasting fruity drink (non alcoholic) •I would highly recommend trying the restaurant out. Menu changes seasonally. You do need a reservation though
Truly exceptional experience. The staff makes you feel like you are the only person here. Had my new favorite tea ever, as well as my favorite makgeolli. Every dish nearly perfect. Relaxing environment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Filipe
What an amazing Valentine's Day experience. The waiter was very patient and throughly explained all of the courses in great detail. Food was amazing. Just wish we was Chef Edward!
Amie
We went to Shia for an early valentines celebration dinner. The servers and wait staff were so kind and attentive. The food was delicious as well. With course menus, we often worry whether we would be satiated after. We were very satisfied with the portion sizes at the end. We would highly recommend Shia for a soft and intimate experience!
Christine Mehr
Incredible dinner!! We had Joe as our server and he made our meal and experience wonderful. the food was expertly put together with multiple layers of flavor that harmonized perfectly. But Joes kindness, attention to detail, and overall aura made this a restaurant we cannot wait to return to.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nhu Phung
We were so fortunate to see chef Edward Lee, and he was as humble, approachable and gracious as the gazillion videos I watch of him, but it was Sue the front manager who truly made my night. She made the experience felt like I was coming to a friend's house for a dinner party. The other chef we talked to was also so lovely, I truly appreciate the staff here so much. I'd describe the meal as an experience, it's at an approachable price point for fine dining, and each bite surprised me by the familiar notes of Korean food I've come to love, yet presented and harmonized in a completely different way. I also appreciate the attention to sustainability, it felt like fine dining without taking itself too seriously, rather the quiet luxury came from the thoughtfulness of the menu and intentionality behind the restaurant. Highly recommend!
I went for the 5-course tasting menu and had high expectations given the hype around the restaurant. Unfortunately, the experience didn’t live up to it. While the service was superb—attentive, professional, and genuinely welcoming—the food itself was underwhelming. For a tasting menu that’s supposed to showcase creativity and exceptional ingredients, the dishes felt surprisingly ordinary. Many of the components were things you could easily make at home, and the ingredients didn’t feel particularly special or elevated. Some of the flavor combinations were also a bit off, especially the dessert course, which I didn’t even finish. Portion sizes for a 5-course menu were reasonable, and again the service was excellent, but the overall quality of the food didn’t justify the hype surrounding this place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Everything was great. We did the tasting menu and also did the old & new world wine pairing. Service was awesome. It was a great experience.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I tried the 5 course tasting menu. Overall, great service, friendly staff, creative and tasty food, and nice ambiance. I would give 4.5 for the food since the pumpkin soup and kimchi could have been a bit better in my opinion. It would have been perfect if the pumpkin soup had a bit more density and texture-maybe not in the form of espuma?? Kimchi could have been better if it had a bit more flavor. It tasted like vegan Kimchi, which misses fish sauce. Also, the fermentation didnt seem to have occurred enough. My favorite was Soondae. The soondae (korean blood sausage) was surprisingly soft and tasty while keeping the texture of the ingredients. It had no porky smell or taste, yet the good taste and flavors were brought out from the ingredients. Given the fact that I really don't like pork, this is a huge compliment from me. The soojungkwa (the Korean drink) was on point striking the balance between sweet and nutty. The dessert was also excellent. It was not too sweet and the texture was great. Overall, this place was lovely and I would go back to try more, and will also recommend the place to others.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Let's begin by the positive, service is exceptional. All the staff is friendly and professional. They explained each course in details, clean set of utensils for every course, and the timing between each course is perfect as well. The decor is on the minimalist side. The size of the restaurant is considered to be on the smaller side and the reservations do fill up pretty fast.
I've been wanting to come Shia since watching the culinary class wars 😆 so I may have set some unrealistic expectations. All the dishes were well prepared and beautifully plated but I didn't get the wow factor I anticipated.
The pumpkin soup with chestnut cream and the Saengsun Jjim were delicious 😋 but everything else was just average. I have to say we were both disappointed at the strip loin. It was tender but didn't have much of the beefy taste, it was really bland.
Also the portion was small, we were both still hungry after dessert 😆 It may be good to serve the last main course with a bowl of rice each rather than two sharing one bowl of rice.
Last, this is a set menu course for $175 / person and you can also add pairing.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Went for a 5 course tasting menu on a weekday seated at the bar and it was absolutely fantastic! The entrance was a little obscure, but the atmosphere inside was cosy & chic. Warm service, great food & pairing drinks. Shoutout to Geoff for some great recommendations around the area too. Would definitely come back in future!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Anything and everything that I wanted for! We celebrated our anniversary here and it was so worth the wait! Been wanting to go here since they opened. The food, the vibes and the service is extraordinary!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shia in DC delivers one of the most exciting Korean‑inspired dining experiences in the city. Edward Lee leans all the way into deep, unapologetic Korean flavors—ferments, spice, smoke, and tang—while still keeping every dish refined and modern. Each plate feels both familiar and surprising, like he’s remixing the Korean pantry with a chef’s precision and a storyteller’s flair. And the dessert? A Juicy Fruit–evoking creation that’s playful, aromatic, and unlike anything I’ve had before. It’s the kind of dish that makes you laugh because it’s so unexpected yet so perfect. Shia is bold, confident, and absolutely worth the hype.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I took my daughter to SHIA to celebrate her birthday, and we had an absolutely incredible time. While it was definitely the most I’ve ever spent on a meal out, the experience was worth every penny.
We sat at the bar for the five course tasting menu. While I could have used a little more knee room, the trade-off was worth it because we really enjoyed chatting with the fantastic bar staff throughout the evening.
Every single dish on the tasting menu was amazing, but the biggest surprise of the night was the soon-dae course. It was completely unexpected, and we honestly haven't stopped talking about how much we loved it since we left. Highly recommend SHIA if you are looking for a special occasion spot.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Had a wonderful anniversary dinner here this past weekend. All of the staff were knowledgeable about the food, drink, and sustainability initiative, and were very thoughtful in making our evening enjoyable. I have an unusual allergy that we communicated in advance and not only were they attentive to that request but the substitutions were fantastic. It goes without saying that the food and Korean pairing menu were excellent. We talked about how delicious the meal was the whole rest of the weekend and felt that we had experienced really creative and delicious
flavor pairings.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
After watching season 1 of culinary class wars, I knew I had to try Chef Edward Lee’s restaurant
•Super intimate fine dining restaurant that is non-profit and focused on being environmentally friendly
•You start off at the open kitchen with an appetizer and soju, and it really sets the tone of the night. Exciting, thrilling, and warmness once the soju hits
•Our favorite dishes of the night were the osulloc & gamtae guksu, super fragment broth with cold noodles, the grilled strip lion, cooked to a perfect medium rare served with rice and kimchi with an assortment of sauces, and the INCREDIBLE gwail, a juicy fruit inspired dessert that tastes exactly like the candy
•Our favorite drink was the bokbunja muscat, sweet flavors of muscat grape mixed with soju and tequila. Also try the apples to oranges, super fresh and sweet tasting fruity drink (non alcoholic)
•I would highly recommend trying the restaurant out. Menu changes seasonally. You do need a reservation though
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Truly exceptional experience. The staff makes you feel like you are the only person here. Had my new favorite tea ever, as well as my favorite makgeolli. Every dish nearly perfect. Relaxing environment.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
What an amazing Valentine's Day experience. The waiter was very patient and throughly explained all of the courses in great detail. Food was amazing. Just wish we was Chef Edward!
We went to Shia for an early valentines celebration dinner. The servers and wait staff were so kind and attentive. The food was delicious as well. With course menus, we often worry whether we would be satiated after. We were very satisfied with the portion sizes at the end. We would highly recommend Shia for a soft and intimate experience!
Incredible dinner!! We had Joe as our server and he made our meal and experience wonderful. the food was expertly put together with multiple layers of flavor that harmonized perfectly. But Joes kindness, attention to detail, and overall aura made this a restaurant we cannot wait to return to.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were so fortunate to see chef Edward Lee, and he was as humble, approachable and gracious as the gazillion videos I watch of him, but it was Sue the front manager who truly made my night. She made the experience felt like I was coming to a friend's house for a dinner party. The other chef we talked to was also so lovely, I truly appreciate the staff here so much. I'd describe the meal as an experience, it's at an approachable price point for fine dining, and each bite surprised me by the familiar notes of Korean food I've come to love, yet presented and harmonized in a completely different way. I also appreciate the attention to sustainability, it felt like fine dining without taking itself too seriously, rather the quiet luxury came from the thoughtfulness of the menu and intentionality behind the restaurant. Highly recommend!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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