Kim’s Aunt Kitchen Cart

Korean Vegetarian Cafe Little Kim Opens in Ann Arbor on July 31 | Eater Detroit

"An all-vegetarian, fast-casual cafe from chef Ji Hye Kim, this 24-seat, counter-service spot in Kerrytown opens Thursday, July 31, with prices lower than her full-service restaurant and a firm stance against fake meats (“We’re not going to have [plant-based] Impossible Meat or fake chicken nuggets”). Bowls are built from proteins like tofu, tempeh, kidney beans, chickpeas, or eggs over jasmine rice, greens, or french fries, then layered with fresh and house-pickled vegetables—tangles of pickled red onion, carrot salad, refreshing smashed cucumber—and finished with toppings such as sambal hot sauce, garlic vinaigrette, toasted seaweed, or fresh herbs. The menu draws from Korea, Japan, China, and India while tapping local partners: a fried tofu sandwich with red cabbage, cucumbers, and seaweed mayo comes on crusty Zingerman’s Bakehouse bread; Tracklements collaborates on smoked tofu; the Brinery supplies smoked tempeh. A mini-mart stocks grab-and-go bean salad, seasonal kimchi, and homemade marinades and sauces, including a sweet-and-spicy gochjung-based “marinara” meant to be tossed with hot noodles at home. Drinks span homemade sodas made with fruit juices, sweet vinegars, and bitters, plus iced tea, cold brew, and Vietnamese coffee. The cozy, courtyard-facing space is minimalist and welcoming, with clean white walls, leafy plants, and traditional Korean earthenware, just steps from the Ann Arbor Farmers Market. There’s no liquor license yet (Kim hopes to extend Miss Kim’s), and service is order-at-the-counter with food run to the table, with takeout and delivery via the restaurant website, Snackpass, UberEats, and Grubhub; hours are 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday." - Mary Hayes Weier