Little Kim is the upcoming Ann Arbor restaurant from Miss Kim | Eater Detroit

"Chef and owner Ji Hye Kim is riding high after a fifth James Beard Foundation semifinal nod this winter for Best Chef: Great Lakes. She uniquely embraces Michigan by celebrating locally grown ingredients and aligns with the Zingerman’s umbrella approach—paying workers fair wages and carving out a community hub—her Kerrytown space fostering collaboration with visiting chefs for pop-ups, book readings, and hands-on demonstrations. Kim grew up in Seoul, immigrated to New Jersey, arrived in Ann Arbor for college at the University of Michigan, and opened the restaurant in late 2016 after honing her skills at the Zingerman’s cheese counter; she also studied cooking in Tuscany and Rome and has traveled frequently to Korea, Taiwan, New York, and Hong Kong, experiences that helped her recognize similarities across global cooking traditions and build a loyal following. Signature examples on the menu include a tteokbokki given a cacio e pepe treatment—“bouncy crispy rice cake batons with umami-rich miso butter, Parmigiano-Reggiano, and black pepper”—and other dishes that blend Korean identity with broader influences. Kim acknowledges economic headwinds—“not the most expensive upscale restaurant in town” yet seeing food costs skyrocket and diners eating out less—but remains focused on community and craft, saying, “I’m coming from a place of gratitude,” and, “This is a gift, it’s not something that I’m entitled to, and it’s definitely something that I didn’t expect to see.”" - Serena Maria Daniels