The fish dish was delicious and the traditional wine pairing went very well with the dishes. I was excited about the ssuk ice cream but everything was a little too much and didn’t go well together—but the ice cream itself was tasty. I wish I could have tasted more of the ssuk ice cream. The ambience was nice but the AC is close so it can be a little cold.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Ileene G.
Dining at Shia was a truly surreal experience!
As fans of Chef Edward Lee from Culinary Class Wars, my husband and I were beyond excited to try his restaurant, and it exceeded every expectation. Every course was beautifully prepared and packed with flavor, the drinks were outstanding, and the service was attentive and welcoming. You can feel the thought and care behind every detail. It was a memorable date night, and we’re already looking forward to coming back!
Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Angie Schwab
Amazing experience! I loved my evening here. We made the reservation for the wrong evening, but they were so accommodating and understanding. I will definitely come back for my next celebration.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John Kim
Food was very creative — my wife and I were pleasantly surprised by how familiar the Korean flavors were, yet plated and eaten in a very new way. Staff was very knowledgeable and friendly — we ordered an incorrect drink, but were offered a substitution straight away.
Would recommend to get the 5 course menu and add an entree item — you’ll leave full, for a good price!
We came in without expectations, and left with the desire to stop by more regularly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Benita T.
An excellent meal was had by all. The staff was friendly and welcoming, prices were reasonable for what you got, food was delicious, and the beverage pairing was perfect. The chef came out and touched base with us as we were finishing up our meal which made rounded out the evening nicely. Lovely atmosphere - we sat at the bar which we enjoyed but the restaurant area looks amazing. Our favorite bite was the duck. My daughter-in-law is already talking about coming back the next time I'm in DC. A+
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Eddie K
Chef/Owner Edward Lee’s non-profit restaurant which doesn’t use any plastics was a great dining experience. They even use electric stovetops. My wife who has been watching Netflix Culinary Class War really wanted to dine here. Tasting menu is $185 for eight courses, which isn’t too crazy high. We were happy Chef Lee was here. At the end of the meal, he greets you and you can take pictures with him.
I really enjoyed most of the courses. Your first course they bring you to the kitchen where you can observe the cooks and eat your first course. My favorites were the Black Sesame Guksu, Mul Hwe, Seared Saengsan and the Korean Gyeoja-Glazed Duck. The service was fantastic. My wife got the cocktail pairing while I had the 5050 cocktail and Old Fashioned.
It’s a great concept where it’s a non-profit restaurant. They don’t use any plastics nor do they use a gas range. It’s a small dining room, so definitely make reservations in advance. I’ve been to several fine dining Korean restaurants in NYC, and this one ranks up there with them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
張植康
Fantastic! Great experience started with welcoming staffs. The food was impressive with creativity and Korean flavors and ingredients. We're lucky enough to meet chef Edward! Surely a star-worthy restaurant. Can't wait to visit again.
Wonkee Kim
While it's great to see Korean cusine gaining popularity through dishes like bulgogi and bibimbap, Korean food is so much more than just bold, spicy flavors. This restaurant truly showcases the remarkable depth and diversity of Korean cuisine.
As someone who has lived most of my life in Korea, I was deeply impressed by how delicately and authentically the chef captured the unique flavors and aromas of Korean food.
For those who haven't experienced life in Korea, I believe dining here will be a completely new and delightful introduction to its culinary richness.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cay
If you’ve watched Culinary Class Wars, you may already have an understanding of Edward Lee’s philosophy and the heartfelt journey behind his cooking. Shia is different from a typical Michelin star restaurant. Let us take a small step into the childhood of Edward Lee, and experience it for ourselves. If you find that any individual dish feels a bit too bold or overwhelming in flavor, we kindly suggest mixing the elements together or trying a bit of everything in one bite. In doing so, you may come to feel the warmth and kindness that Edward Lee pours into his food. We truly hope you experience the same joy and comfort that we have. Even traveling all the way from Boston, it was an experience we truly unforgettable. No matter where you’ve come from—even from the farthest corner of the world—you will not regret it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Klara Raymond
This is in Union Market in DC, there is a parking garage nearby that provides parking up to 3 hours. We were a little early but had to wait for our entire party to be present to sit down. We were asked if we wanted water or something to drink at the bar. After everyone arrived, we were brought to the counter and given a welcome sip along with a Scallop and Fried Oyster Ssam which was delicious. I do wish the seaweed was just a little more crispy but the Fried Oyster was very good and added good texture.
We were then escorted to our table and there was a Birthday Card and a birthday note inside which was very considerate.
To start, we ordered a bottle of the White Lotus Makgeolli which we had chosen over the Red Monkey Makgeolli due to our server's recommendations as an overall better pairing with the menu. I enjoyed it but it was quite floral.
The Black Sesame Guksu was very good and I loved the pickled cucumber. There was a lot of Black Sesame sauce that did overpower the uni a little bit but it was all paired well together otherwise.
The Mul Hwe wasn't my favorite but the sauce on the bottom (I think it was a kimchi sauce) was probably the best part of the dish. A small kick but overall, it was just okay.
The Doenjang Pork Belly, while I loved the flavor of the Pork Belly and how tender it was, I do think the 7 Grain Jook could used just a tad more flavor. I did enjoy the White Kimchi and the clams and abalone as well.
The Seared Saengsun was cooked beautifully and the broth was delicious. I also loved how falvorful the Kelp Fish Cake was. The Spring Greens, however, were not fresh and quite stringy. They were difficult to eat.
The Korean Gyeoja-Glazed Duck was amazing with the Black Garlic and the Banchan were all very good. The duck was cooked very well and soft and tender.
The Ssuk Ice Cream was very good and quite refreshing. There was an additional birthday dessert prepared - a bruleed banana that was also very good. Finally, the Seoul Han-Ip was a quick and nice bite sized ending to the meal.
The only other notables of the experience was that there were some very long lags between courses which dragged out the experience to be longer than expected. In addition, the condensation from the AC dripped down on the table and some of our items that were next to us on the seat so be mindful of the above.
Otherwise, the service was mostly good, sometimes it was difficult to get the attention to get an additional drink but overall, food was pretty good and it was an interesting experience.
Went in last week and had a overall great experience! Felt a bit short on food with the 5 course meal. I’ll have to try the 7 course meal next time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kelly Park
We celebrated our son’s birthday at SHIA and had an absolutely amazing experience. The food was incredible—beautifully prepared with thoughtful flavors—and the service was just as impressive: warm, attentive, and professional. The ambiance was perfect for a special night, and every detail felt intentional. SHIA made our celebration truly memorable. We’ll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amanda Hu
I really wanted to say this place was amazing but the food fell a bit short. I thought the cold noodle was amazing and the fish dish was cooked perfectly, but everything else just was average.
Staff is super hospitable and friendly to talk to but not sure it was worth the hype behind being an Edward Lee restaurant. We were disappointed when we were told that only one dish was actually a creation by him (the pork belly—our least favorite), and all other dishes were conceived by the chefs employed there.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Celena Chandler
Got engaged on Saturday and my fiancé surprised me with a reservation at my dream restaurant SHIA! We were lucky enough to be able to meet Edward Lee and the food, service and atmosphere was absolutely amazing. We were congratulated with complimentary Prosecco at the end and treated so kindly by all the staff. Truly truly enjoyed every aspect of dining here! It was pricy but in my opinion 100% worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
J Han
I didn’t have much expectation before I visited. All dishes are delicate and represents fine mix of western and strong Korean flavors in a very balanced way. I would come back in 3 months when they change the menu again.
The fish dish was delicious and the traditional wine pairing went very well with the dishes. I was excited about the ssuk ice cream but everything was a little too much and didn’t go well together—but the ice cream itself was tasty. I wish I could have tasted more of the ssuk ice cream. The ambience was nice but the AC is close so it can be a little cold.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Dining at Shia was a truly surreal experience!
As fans of Chef Edward Lee from Culinary Class Wars, my husband and I were beyond excited to try his restaurant, and it exceeded every expectation. Every course was beautifully prepared and packed with flavor, the drinks were outstanding, and the service was attentive and welcoming. You can feel the thought and care behind every detail. It was a memorable date night, and we’re already looking forward to coming back!
Highly recommended!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing experience! I loved my evening here. We made the reservation for the wrong evening, but they were so accommodating and understanding. I will definitely come back for my next celebration.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was very creative — my wife and I were pleasantly surprised by how familiar the Korean flavors were, yet plated and eaten in a very new way. Staff was very knowledgeable and friendly — we ordered an incorrect drink, but were offered a substitution straight away.
Would recommend to get the 5 course menu and add an entree item — you’ll leave full, for a good price!
We came in without expectations, and left with the desire to stop by more regularly.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
An excellent meal was had by all. The staff was friendly and welcoming, prices were reasonable for what you got, food was delicious, and the beverage pairing was perfect. The chef came out and touched base with us as we were finishing up our meal which made rounded out the evening nicely. Lovely atmosphere - we sat at the bar which we enjoyed but the restaurant area looks amazing. Our favorite bite was the duck. My daughter-in-law is already talking about coming back the next time I'm in DC. A+
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chef/Owner Edward Lee’s non-profit restaurant which doesn’t use any plastics was a great dining experience. They even use electric stovetops. My wife who has been watching Netflix Culinary Class War really wanted to dine here. Tasting menu is $185 for eight courses, which isn’t too crazy high. We were happy Chef Lee was here. At the end of the meal, he greets you and you can take pictures with him.
I really enjoyed most of the courses. Your first course they bring you to the kitchen where you can observe the cooks and eat your first course. My favorites were the Black Sesame Guksu, Mul Hwe, Seared Saengsan and the Korean Gyeoja-Glazed Duck. The service was fantastic. My wife got the cocktail pairing while I had the 5050 cocktail and Old Fashioned.
It’s a great concept where it’s a non-profit restaurant. They don’t use any plastics nor do they use a gas range. It’s a small dining room, so definitely make reservations in advance. I’ve been to several fine dining Korean restaurants in NYC, and this one ranks up there with them.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Fantastic! Great experience started with welcoming staffs. The food was impressive with creativity and Korean flavors and ingredients. We're lucky enough to meet chef Edward! Surely a star-worthy restaurant. Can't wait to visit again.
While it's great to see Korean cusine gaining popularity through dishes like bulgogi and bibimbap, Korean food is so much more than just bold, spicy flavors.
This restaurant truly showcases the remarkable depth and diversity of Korean cuisine.
As someone who has lived most of my life in Korea, I was deeply impressed by how delicately and authentically the chef captured the unique flavors and aromas of Korean food.
For those who haven't experienced life in Korea, I believe dining here will be a completely new and delightful introduction to its culinary richness.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
If you’ve watched Culinary Class Wars, you may already have an understanding of Edward Lee’s philosophy and the heartfelt journey behind his cooking.
Shia is different from a typical Michelin star restaurant. Let us take a small step into the childhood of Edward Lee, and experience it for ourselves. If you find that any individual dish feels a bit too bold or overwhelming in flavor, we kindly suggest mixing the elements together or trying a bit of everything in one bite. In doing so, you may come to feel the warmth and kindness that Edward Lee pours into his food. We truly hope you experience the same joy and comfort that we have.
Even traveling all the way from Boston, it was an experience we truly unforgettable.
No matter where you’ve come from—even from the farthest corner of the world—you will not regret it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is in Union Market in DC, there is a parking garage nearby that provides parking up to 3 hours. We were a little early but had to wait for our entire party to be present to sit down. We were asked if we wanted water or something to drink at the bar. After everyone arrived, we were brought to the counter and given a welcome sip along with a Scallop and Fried Oyster Ssam which was delicious. I do wish the seaweed was just a little more crispy but the Fried Oyster was very good and added good texture.
We were then escorted to our table and there was a Birthday Card and a birthday note inside which was very considerate.
To start, we ordered a bottle of the White Lotus Makgeolli which we had chosen over the Red Monkey Makgeolli due to our server's recommendations as an overall better pairing with the menu. I enjoyed it but it was quite floral.
The Black Sesame Guksu was very good and I loved the pickled cucumber. There was a lot of Black Sesame sauce that did overpower the uni a little bit but it was all paired well together otherwise.
The Mul Hwe wasn't my favorite but the sauce on the bottom (I think it was a kimchi sauce) was probably the best part of the dish. A small kick but overall, it was just okay.
The Doenjang Pork Belly, while I loved the flavor of the Pork Belly and how tender it was, I do think the 7 Grain Jook could used just a tad more flavor. I did enjoy the White Kimchi and the clams and abalone as well.
The Seared Saengsun was cooked beautifully and the broth was delicious. I also loved how falvorful the Kelp Fish Cake was. The Spring Greens, however, were not fresh and quite stringy. They were difficult to eat.
The Korean Gyeoja-Glazed Duck was amazing with the Black Garlic and the Banchan were all very good. The duck was cooked very well and soft and tender.
The Ssuk Ice Cream was very good and quite refreshing. There was an additional birthday dessert prepared - a bruleed banana that was also very good. Finally, the Seoul Han-Ip was a quick and nice bite sized ending to the meal.
The only other notables of the experience was that there were some very long lags between courses which dragged out the experience to be longer than expected. In addition, the condensation from the AC dripped down on the table and some of our items that were next to us on the seat so be mindful of the above.
Otherwise, the service was mostly good, sometimes it was difficult to get the attention to get an additional drink but overall, food was pretty good and it was an interesting experience.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Went in last week and had a overall great experience! Felt a bit short on food with the 5 course meal. I’ll have to try the 7 course meal next time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We celebrated our son’s birthday at SHIA and had an absolutely amazing experience. The food was incredible—beautifully prepared with thoughtful flavors—and the service was just as impressive: warm, attentive, and professional. The ambiance was perfect for a special night, and every detail felt intentional. SHIA made our celebration truly memorable. We’ll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I really wanted to say this place was amazing but the food fell a bit short. I thought the cold noodle was amazing and the fish dish was cooked perfectly, but everything else just was average.
Staff is super hospitable and friendly to talk to but not sure it was worth the hype behind being an Edward Lee restaurant. We were disappointed when we were told that only one dish was actually a creation by him (the pork belly—our least favorite), and all other dishes were conceived by the chefs employed there.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 5
Got engaged on Saturday and my fiancé surprised me with a reservation at my dream restaurant SHIA! We were lucky enough to be able to meet Edward Lee and the food, service and atmosphere was absolutely amazing. We were congratulated with complimentary Prosecco at the end and treated so kindly by all the staff. Truly truly enjoyed every aspect of dining here! It was pricy but in my opinion 100% worth it.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I didn’t have much expectation before I visited. All dishes are delicate and represents fine mix of western and strong Korean flavors in a very balanced way. I would come back in 3 months when they change the menu again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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