Rachael S.
Yelp
I had to resist comparing Kim's to Sooki and Mimi, Chef Ann Kim's former restaurant that occupied the same space. In my opinion, the food at Sooki was superior, but the space preserves the same excellent service and relaxing, community vibe.
Given that Kim's doesn't accept reservations, I was fully prepared to wait at least an hour on a Friday evening. However, when I arrived at 5:30pm, they could seat us at a community table immediately or we could wait 45 minutes for our own table. We elected community seating and were pleasantly surprised: a large wood table with at least 12 bar stools stands at the center of the dining area. Kim's interior is tastefully decorated with high ceilings, exposed wood beams, plenty of pottery, unique lighting, and small plants. It gives a very easy going, comfortable feel.
Our server was attentive and confidently walked us through the menu, prepared with detailed responses to our questions. My friends ordered the Lychee Tinis and I the Kim's Gibson. The martini was less spirit forward and quite sweet, taking hints from the lychee and sherry. The Gibson, although coming in a small cocktail glass, was certainly strong, vodka forward, and somewhat earthy from the pine soju.
For starters, we split an order of the Mandu (Korean dumplings). Four perfectly seared pockets stuffed with beef and kimchi came bathed in a drinkable sweet soy glaze. We agreed to split the fourth Mandu in thirds, each wanting another little sliver. I wish they had been a bit more generous with the beef and kimchi filling, but overall the flavor, soy glaze, and texture was delightful.
We opted to order own own mains and try bites of each. I went with the Kim Burger and can confidently say there are a handful of better burgers in the cities. However, I appreciated this one for some of its unique features: a hotteok bun instead of an egg or brioche, flavorful onion jam, and house made pickles. The hotteok bun, reminding me of a dense English muffin, was good but plain. The onion jam was sweet and savory and the pickles were thin and tangy. The single smash patty was quite petite and not super flavorful. The special sauce was similar to other aioli like sauces I've had on burgers. It sort of felt like one of those sausage and cheese biscuits you can get at Holiday (iykyk).
Ann's Ham N' Cheese was served on another hotteok bun with Ann's Ham (think Spam), mayo, mustard, pickles, and American cheese. Really tasty with simple ingredients. The Kimchi Fried Rice was perhaps the most Korean dish. Spicy with pickled Fresno peppers, I really loved the flavor combination with a mix of rice, Ann's ham, smoked onion, nori, and crispy ginger.
Portion sizes are definitely small, but I think pricing is well reflected. For instance, the sandwiches were each $12 and the rice was under $20. I wouldn't expect to leave incredibly full unless you plan on ordering a lot of dishes. Next time, I would do multiple shareable plates instead of my own meal. Overall, Kim's maintains the service and ambiance of Sooki and Mimi while lacking a bit in the food department, just a little less Korean forward that what I imagined.
Extra: Bronto Bar! The basement bar located just below Kim's is a hip spot to pop in for a drink before or after your meal. They are also a no reservation establishment and we waited about 20 minutes on a Friday evening, not terrible. Definitely worth checking out for great music, jean couches, comfy chairs, and old school decor to transport you to a different decade. You can also get a beer and a bump for $9 - a steal!