Bronto Bar

Cocktail bar · Ecco

Bronto Bar

Cocktail bar · Ecco

5

1432 W 31st St, Minneapolis, MN 55408

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Bronto Bar by Lucy Moroukian/Eater Twin Cities
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Highlights

Korean American cuisine with bold flavors and Midwest nods  

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1432 W 31st St, Minneapolis, MN 55408 Get directions

kimsmpls.com

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1432 W 31st St, Minneapolis, MN 55408 Get directions

+1 612 540 2554
kimsmpls.com

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restroom
alcohol
cocktails

Last updated

Aug 12, 2025

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@eater

The Hottest Spots for Cocktails in the Twin Cities Right Now

"Grab table at chef Ann Kim’s new Korean American restaurant, Kim’s, for corn tea whiskey highballs and lychee tinis — or head downstairs to Bronto Bar, the basement speakeasy, where the cocktail menu features plenty of juicy notes (a melon-infused Tokyo iced tea; a spiced mango-coconut mocktail) as well as Korean influences (effervescent shochu sours, ribbons of dongchimi floating in pine soju Gibsons, even canned makgeolli, a sparkling rice wine). Burgers and scratch-made Spam patties come on pillowy hotteok buns." - Eater Staff

https://twincities.eater.com/maps/best-new-bars-cocktails-minneapolis-st-paul-twin-cities
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Where to Find the Twin Cities’ Speakeasy-Style Bars

"Bronto Bar took the place of Sooki & Mimi’s subterranean Basement Bar in 2023, becoming, in a short time, just as popular for its shochu sours, Shin Ramyun fries, and music bouncing from the stereos behind the bar. Korean influences (the restaurant is part of Ann Kim’s hospitality group) permeate the menu, where drinks like a Gibson get kicked up with ribbons of dongchimi and pine soju. Crispy-edged smash burgers and homemade spam sandwiches are there to soak it all up, too." - Justine Jones, Alex Lodner

https://twincities.eater.com/maps/speakeasies-secret-bars-minneapolis-st-paul
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Bronto Bar Is Open Under Chef Ann Kim’s New Korean American Restaurant, Kim’s - Eater Twin Cities

"Bronto Bar is dark and moody, true to speakeasy form, but it’s also wading into the latest maximalist trends, serving scratch-made Spam and wedging candy sharks onto cocktail rims. Here’s a peek inside the new(ish) bar on a Friday night." - Justine Jones

https://twincities.eater.com/2023/11/16/23962670/bronto-bar-kims-ann-kim-restaurant-korean-american-minneapolis-uptown
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Details Emerge on Chef Diane Moua’s New Minneapolis Restaurant, Diane’s Place - Eater Twin Cities

"Bronto Bar opens on November 9 with a new cocktail menu divided into three sections and sandwich-like dishes served on hotteok buns." - Justine Jones

https://twincities.eater.com/2023/11/7/23950672/diane-moua-new-restaurant-food-building-dianes-place-ann-kim-kims-bronto-bar-opening
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A Sneak Peek of the Twin Cities’ Biggest Upcoming Restaurant Openings - Eater Twin Cities

"The former Basement Bar is transforming into Bronto Bar, a casual cocktail lounge that promises Korean fried chicken and chive biscuits." - Justine Jones

https://twincities.eater.com/2023/11/1/23933609/new-restaurant-openings-minneapolis-st-paul-2023-2024
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Amber O

Google
We put our names down for a table at Kim’s and had two hours until our table was ready. We had to wait about 20 min to get in to Bronto Bar - they only had a few people working and said they had to catch up before refilling the seats. The ambiance was cozy, dark and moody, as expected. The menu included a variety of drinks with multiple spirits, also ranging in high to low to no proof options. They also had a few food options, including fries and a spam n’ cheese burger. (I snuck a bite from a friend, it was delicious!) I had the Kim’s Gibson (piney, dry, pickled) and By the Sea (blue, sweet, shark gummy included). Both were satisfying and recommendable if you gravitate toward those flavor profiles. We’ll be back. Thanks Ann Kim & team!

Dram Seeker

Google
The food tasted great, the drinks were pleasing, and the atmosphere is the coolest cozy I can think of. I’ll definitely be back to try more of the menu. Check it out, and get there early if you can!

Sarah K

Google
Great spot for a pre or after dinner cocktail. Great vibe, nice music, cocktails are fun and very nice staff.

Willa Brown

Google
My husband’s opinion is that they’re trying too hard. My best friend’s opinion is that every speakeasy, by definition, is trying too hard. And this one is charming with good drinks. On this and so many other things, I side with my friend.

Cory Wray

Google
We put our name on the list and were seated quite quickly. We ended up sitting in the middle section with three other couples. The seating was tight and quite annoying. We were told by the server the we needed to be “cognizant” of our chairs so that we didn’t block the path from serving other guests. If you’re tall, your knees will be up against the table. The service was mediocre. The staff seem annoyed, despite charging a 21% service charge on your check. Go somewhere else, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

Lisa B

Google
Drinks were incredible! Amazing vibes! I’ve also been dreaming about the fries 😮‍💨😮‍💨

Peter Van Dyke

Google
Super cool retro atmosphere and great drinks

Welile Zwane

Google
Wonderful place! Highly recommend! Stuff is awesome!
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Sami S.

Yelp
The decore was great! I came for food and experience. I was very underwhelmed by the food. It came out the size of a kids meal, but they were charging way too much for what it was. I lived in California, where there are tons of amazing Korean food. And a very authentic at that. All the places that I went to that would give away side dishes for free. I have never seen a place charge for that. The quality doesn't even compare. Sorry The kimchi was sad unfortunately. I will not be returning. Once is plenty
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Jay S.

Yelp
Returning before they are no longer in operation is something I am grateful for, as prior to today I have only been here once, and I know there are items I have previously tried that are no longer existent. Regardless, my experience here twice have successfully provided me with enough context to give this establishment a review. There were some items that were more fusion while others resembled classic Korean dishes. I enjoyed the stone bowl bibimbap, although I will say one can easily recreate such in an even more modest setting. The Korean fried chicken wings were very well seasoned and very juicy. Even if one doesn't use the sauce, the wings themselves would taste great. My friend enjoyed the rice cakes 'n' cheese, which I have tried and decided that it very much resembled mac 'n' cheese. The salmon bowl was like a poke bowl except for with barley instead of rice, which I didn't mind at all because personally I am a fan of barley. The desserts are great as well, from the tiramisu (February 2024) to the marble bundt cake (August 2024). However, I will say that from the stone bowl bibimbap to the shrimp and vegetable pancakes and to the beef bulgogi, the traditional Korean dishes were not worth the price listed, which were close to $30 for the latter two items. One can easily recreate or order them in a more modest setting, especially since it is traditional home comfort food. So overall, the value is not there. While I am not sure about the details related to the restaurant's upcoming closing, I do wish that staff had been given an early enough notice, and that they will not be left without a potential plan once the place is no longer in operation. I also hope chef Ann Kim continue to prosper in her other establishments.
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Beth G.

Yelp
The restaurant is absolutely beautiful! It's so warm and inviting right when we walked in. We decided to sit at the bar and the bartender were so nice!! They gave great recommendations. We shared a bottle of soju and the fried chicken. It was 10/10 and definitely something I'd get again! We were a little bothered by the fact that there's a 21% surcharge that doesn't even go to the employees for tips. We wanted to tip but there wasn't even an option for that.
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Lu Z.

Yelp
I decided to try this restaurant after reading about the chef online, and their attractive website also caught my attention. The space is spacious, simple, and modern, offering a departure from traditional Korean decor. However, like many restaurants in Uptown, parking is challenging. My friends and I ended up paying for street parking. We ordered some of the most common Korean dishes. The egg soufflé was very plain, reminiscent of those from Japanese buffets, and not particularly impressive. The bulgogi had a flavor more akin to Chinese cuisine rather than traditional Korean style. On the other hand, the bibimbap was very delicious, likely due to the pickled vegetables, which added richness and flavor to the dish. Our waiter was very nice and took the time to explain how to eat each dish. I appreciated that he didn't assume we knew, even though we're Asians--it was a refreshing, non-judgmental approach. I'd consider coming back when they update the menu, but the current offerings didn't impress me as much as other Korean restaurants. Still, it wasn't a bad experience overall.
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Tushar A.

Yelp
Great food, nice service and amazing ambiance. We started with a few drinks, Makku is definitely recommended, and the lyche drink if you like sweet. Korean wings were good and juicy. The corn fritters were really good. We tried the Bulgogi, Fire chicken, Jiajanbap and Hot pot. Fire chicken was average, everything else was pretty good.
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Minh D.

Yelp
My friend really wanted to try this place so we went as a party of three on Thursday night. We did reserve but theres no need to on that day. This place is gorgeous, beautiful interior and space. Noise level and light are just right. The food are underwhelming especially considering how expensive they are. I had the salmon bowl - 6.5/10 which tasted more like a poke bowl with barley, raw salmon, roe eggs and seaweed etc. It comes with this tomato like spicy sauce. The bowl was fresh and the ingredients were high quality but together taste felt flat. Everything was just blending together. My friend had a sakura bulgogi rice bowl -7/10. It was not bad but also not phenomenal. Typical bulgogi with bell pepper and some thick sauce with rice. The jijangbap - 7.25/10 was interesting, with blackbean sauce and mushrooms. This would be good for vegetarians/vegans, I like this the most. Fried chicken was crunchy 7/10, I like the exterior but again flavor is bland. Overall the food was just okay, not terrible not great. Service was good though. They took longer for my friend's mocktail and server offered her another one on the house.
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Annie N.

Yelp
I've had the chance to visit Kim's twice--once for lunch and once during happy hour--and overall, it was a mixed experience. Here's the scoop: Lunch:I tried several items during my lunch visit, including the Kimchi Jigae Hot Pot, Beef Bulgogi with rice, Chewy Rice Cakes n Cheese, and Hwa Dup Bap. The standout for me was the Kimchi Jigae Hot Pot. It was hearty, warm, and had that comforting, cozy feeling--perfect for a chilly or rainy day. The flavors were rich, and it had just the right amount of spice. The Beef Bulgogi was decent but nothing extraordinary, while the Chewy Rice Cakes n Cheese felt like a creative twist but didn't leave a lasting impression. The Hwa Dup Bap was fresh and satisfying but didn't wow me. Happy Hour:Happy hour at Kim's was definitely enjoyable! I tried the Vegetable Pancake, Korean Fried Chicken Wings, and Shin Ramyun Fries. The snacks were tasty and lived up to the happy hour hype. However, a downside was that happy hour snacks are restricted to the bar area. If you're there on a date, it can feel a bit cramped and less intimate since you're sitting quite close to others. It also gets a bit noisy, making conversation a challenge. Drinks:The mocktails were a pleasant surprise, especially the Feel No Pain with its delightful blend of mango, orange, pineapple, coconut, and a hint of spice. It was refreshing and added a nice touch to the meal. Overall:While Kim's has its highlights, especially the Kimchi Jigae and the happy hour snacks, it feels a tad pricier than what you get in return. It's a good spot to try if you're in the Minneapolis area, but I'm not sure it's a place I'd rush back to frequently. Give it a go for a one-time experience and enjoy the cozy vibes and unique drinks!
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Stacy A.

Yelp
I just want to start by saying that this place is so great! The space is open and sunny and serene. The menu is so unique, for the area, although I wish we had more Korean food in the Twin Cities! I came with a friend and we started with the pork mandu; they were a bit too crispy but the sauce they are served with was heavenly! For the main we got the bibimbap, which was good; I am a sucker for pickled vegetables! It's served with a seemingly spicy sauce but actually not spicy at all! We also got the "Jjajangbap" which is essentially rice with lots of different mushrooms cooked in the most amazing sauce. I truly could eat this everyday and be so happy!! The Jjajangbap was the star for me because I LOVE mushrooms and I haven't seen anything like this anywhere else!! I will be back and will be telling my friends about this place!
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Hilary F.

Yelp
I have been here a few times now and every time the food is great. Unique, delicious, and definitely hits that Korean craving. I still find it odd to go to a Korean place where banchan isn't included but that's a small picky point. The service the other two times I went was great. Very fun, attentive, and knowledgeable. This recent visit was off-took us 30 mins just to order drinks and it wasn't that busy. The server was very nice but just very slow! The ambiance is always nice. Fun location and great vibe for a special night out. Pretty relaxed and chill, not fancy but not too casual either. Parking is a bit of a pain as it is in uptown-especially now with the Hennepin traffic. We always find street parking 2-4 blocks out. Would definitely come again.
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Nicole N.

Yelp
I went here with a group of 6 people and had a delightful time! There is paid parking close to the restaurant. Otherwise, you can park in the neighborhoods and just walk a block or two to the restaurant for free. When you walk in, you'll be greeted by a cozy and warm vibe. This place definitely passed "the vibe check." It would be a great place to bring a date! They do have a happy hour which one of my friends did before we got there and he really liked the food and drink he got. We were seated in a booth and our server Nathanael came over right away. The service here was fantastic! Our server was funny and personable. Our water glasses never got close to empty as someone was always filling them! The food: I got a lychee tini which was delicious! It came with a flower which was pretty but the drink was not over powered by alcohol. I had the fire chicken and it was flavorful! It was not overly spicy for this Minnesotan haha. Overall I would happily go back! Definitely worth a try in my opinion!
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Samantha W.

Yelp
We went to Kim's in April 2024 for my birthday dinner. We were excited to try Ann Kim's new restaurant as we've enjoyed her other restaurants in the Twin Cities. Once reservations finally opened up, we jumped on it right away. The first thing I noticed about Kim's was the atmosphere/vibe--I love all the woodwork inside. We ordered the fried pork mandu (like a fried dumpling), the LA Style Grilled Kalbi and the Bibimbap. We enjoyed all the food but I wouldn't say we were completely blown away. For the Kalbi, I'd recommend adding on the lettuce, scallion salad and ssamjang. For drinks we got the Not an Espresso Martini, Pear Shaped cocktail and Kim's Gibson. We enjoyed all the drinks--the pear cocktail was so fresh! For dessert, we ordered the carrot cake were NOT disappointed--it was exquisite Our service was great--our server was attentive and helped explain the menu/dishes for us which was super helpful since we didn't know what everything was on the menu. I'm docking a star because I felt the prices were slightly inflated and I wasn't completely wowed. It was fun to go to but I don't think I'll feel the need to go back.
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Bob A.

Yelp
This new restaurant impressed me a lot! I went with two friends; it was the first visit for two of us and the other is a big fan. We arrived at 5:30 on a Wednesday and were able to get seated immediately, but it looked like it filled up quickly shortly thereafter. The three of us ate a lot of food. I felt full to an irresponsible degree afterward, and with no regrets. The service from Alana and Sequoia (I'm guessing at the spellings, if wrong I apologize) was extremely professional and informative; they seem prepared to live up to very high expectations. Gratuity was automatically factored into the bill, so if that's what it takes to get service this good, then I support that model. So much good food OMG. My entree was the modest Ann's Ham 'n' Cheese, which we were told is not a permanent menu item, but I loved it. Not huge in size or price, so I'm glad we were getting other things as well. Really nicely cooked chicken wings were shared as well as a simple, delicate bread appetizer called Hotteok. That was great. My friend got the Bulgogi with fantastic beef and awesome rice cakes, I definitely want my own order of that next time. THE FRIES, you guys. "Oh these are just some french fries with house sauce" they suggest, but they are just so good that I can't believe it. With the sauce, without the sauce, awesome either way. They only had two desserts available, a carrot cake and a tiramisu. Both were amazing. The carrot cake was particularly tasty, really sweet but with a combination of flavors that greatly sets it apart from what you normally think of as carrot cake. Again, those fries. Very nice interior design! I like this place. I'm coming back. I am recommending it to my friends and to out-of-town work acquaintances that I want to think highly of my restaurant recommendations.
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Ariel L.

Yelp
No nonsense quick to order place but the food does come as it is finished which sadly some appetizers seems to take longer than the main so just be ready for it. Just order what you like, drinks are a plenty. You can experience variations of traditional Vietnamese cuisine but if you're looking for just the traditional dishes, this is probably not the place for you. Good casual ambiance that's good both for dinner with friends or to invite an out of town business guest.
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Michaela S.

Yelp
Super cute place, yummy food, but a little pricey. This place is definitely a vibe. Open kitchen concept and beautiful interior. It might be the same as the previous place Sooki and Mimi. The staff were very friendly and also conscious of allergens. The food itself was pretty good. I think it was quite authentic with an American twist. I thought the egg soufflé was a little bland and over cooked. Definitely eat family style and try multiple dishes. The only thing is it was a little pricey. The Hotteok was $6 for a single Hotteok. The pork belly was $22 for 6 pieces of pork belly. I wished the servings were just a little larger for the price, but I guess the vibes are worth it.
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Josmari L.

Yelp
I have tried Kim's twice, and I had left happy. The first time I went, I arrived close to 6:00 pm, and the restaurant was at total capacity. I had to wait for 45 minutes, which was okay. The table I got for two people was small, but the servers did a fantastic job pacing the food, so it never felt too crowded. I ordered both Sammies and the egg souffle, and both dishes' savory and umami taste was amazing. The second time, I went with a group to celebrate a birthday, and they gift us both desserts on the menu: the tiramisu and the carrot cake. The carrot cake is not a regular carrot cake. The flavor and texture are amazing, with a thick layer of cream on top. It's the best carrot cake I have eaten in a while. Ps. If you don't want to wait, get there right away when they open. I noticed that by 4:30 pm, the restaurant was getting pretty full.
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Shamir W.

Yelp
Been wanting to try this place out since it opened. Tried a couple of times but the waitlist was quite long. Finally got in this past Saturday. Called them beforehand and they said there was no wait so we rushed over. We got seated and the decor and ambiance is the same as with Sooki and Mimi. The change is to the menu, which is new and as we had heard, more Korean cuisine centric. We started with a couple drinks. The Smoky and Mommy and the Lychee Tini. The Smoky and Mommy was the standout. The Lychee Tini was good too but Smoky and Mommy was the standout that we ordered another. If you like coconut, I would also recommend the Pluto is (not) a Planet. The kiddo enjoyed the non alcoholic Poppin Pear. All the drinks were good. For appetizers, we started with the Shrimp and Vegetable Pancake and the bubbling egg souffle that the server recommended to get with the entree. The pancake was really tasty and the pickled onion and jalapenos really enhanced the flavor. Some of the best Korean style pancakes I have had. After the fantastic pancakes, we were really looking forward to the entrees. We had the salmon bowl, the stone bowl bibimbap and the grilled kalbi. The salmon bowl was the standout. Excellent combination of flavors and the nori sheets provided a nice crunch. We really enjoyed it and asked for more nori sheets. The bulgogi bibimbap and galbi were tasty as well. The galbi had good flavor and came on a sizzling platter. The portion size was a little small and adding the ssamjang add-on helped to round it out but you didn't get much ribs for the price. The bibimbap was also solid, but again, nothing extraordinary like the salmon bowl. Enjoyable none the less. The egg souffle was probably the weakest thing we had. A good accompaniment but not much to talk about on its own merit. The service was good and our server was attentive and helpful even though he had a bunch of tables. We had to wait just once to ask for the extra nori sheets. His insight to the menu was helpful in us ordering our dishes and drinks. Although I miss Sooki and Mimi, this new venture by chef Ann Kim is definitely worth a look and I will be back for the pancakes and salmon bowl. And that green drink which was oh so delicious.
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Luke G.

Yelp
This place was fantastic. It's a very kimchi forward menu... there variations in many of the dishes. For someone who doesn't love/hate kimchi I was very impressed. The dumplings were some of the best I've ever had. I especially liked the sear on one side that added a slight crunch. The pork wraps were also incredible. Ann Kim pays attention to the details. The pork belly was only seared on one side wish added texture and also retained the rendered fat. Lastly, the bread is perfect. Served piping hot with kimchi butter. I'll def go back and recommend.
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Kay K.

Yelp
Beautiful and inviting ambiance with lots of charm and color. Bar seating is smaller and limited - not designed for parties beyond 3 or 4 people. Happy hour prices are ideal given size proportions. Kim's is generous with their fry servings but far less so beyond that. Burger is small/petite. KFC is 4 small pieces at most. Mandu is a pricey at $12 for 4 pieces but they do taste delicious. Given small food portions, I think the better bang for your buck is happy hour and would return for that. Paying full price otherwise is far too expensive. Service is attentive and friendly, we never felt rushed and stayed past happy hour. It makes paying the mandatory gratuity charge of 21% easier to digest. I would rate Kim's 3.5 based on happy hour but felt generous and gave it 4 stars.
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Brian S.

Yelp
We had mixed reactions about Kim's. The food, drink, ambiance, and service are all good, but after discussing our meal, we really couldn't say that Kim's is any more "special" than a run-of-the-mill (and likely less expensive) Korean restaurant. Here's some more detail about each item: Friendly: overall very good. We got the fries, the bi bim bap, and then hangar steak, plus one pickled radish banchan. All were very good, but aside from the sauce that came with the bi bim bap (which WAS delicious) and the sauce that came with the hangar steak, the food quality/taste was about the same as any other Korean restaurant in town. Also, it was sort of strange that banchan were not included with the main dishes. The drinks: it's great that they had Korean beer, and the corn tea was a nice non-alcoholic option. Ambiance: nice, and a cut above most regular Korean restaurants, but also nothing super special. You can see part of the kitchen, but most of it is hidden in the back; I think it would help a lot to bring it all out in view of diners. Service: extremely friendly and attentive. They seem to have a high server-to-guest ratio, which is nice. However, you will pay an automatic 21% "tip," so that would be expected. They did make a mistake and forget to put an order in. They offered us desert to compensate, but I can't have dairy, and there were no dairy-free desert options, so it was sort of weird that they didn't offer anything else to compensate us. While Kim's has some nice qualities, it's really not that much more special than most of the traditional Korean restaurants in town, and the prices are definitely higher. In the end, you are really paying for ambiance and service.
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Greg W.

Yelp
Went for happy hour and, if you get one of the sandwiches, it's a decent deal. Service was great. The ambiance was great at Sookie & Mimi and hasn't changed much. We got there right after 4 as the first people but it started to fill up around 4:30-5. The old fashioned is excellent if you don't like sweet drinks. Heavy on the bitters. For $8 on HH it's a good deal. The N/A "poppin pear" was on the opposite side; super sweet and missing the bite of some booze. It had a nice floral Asian pear flavor, though. Worth $4 on HH if you want a fancy soda. Make sure to stir in the cinnamon stick and let it infuse a bit to get the aroma. Overall the food was good, but nothing amazing. The chilled tofu was alright but the portion was tiny for $7. Not a ton of flavor so I'm guessing it's not house made. Ponzu sauce was delicate and not enough going on to carry the bland tofu. Pickled daikon is always good. It's a starch given the standard kimchi treatment. Might get it again but nothing to write home about. Had a bite of the "ham n cheese" sandwich and was a little let down. Heard a lot about the hotteok bun but it was pretty bland. Texture and taste were like an unsalted, white bread English muffin. The ham was good, though. It's basically what you want spam to be. Cheese was standard American and the sauces/pickles were wrote Heinz. Fry seasoning was the star of the show. Given the size I'd say it's worth $9 from HH but $12 might be a stretch. I'd like to come back and try some other HH foods but I'm not jumping to deal with Uptown traffic and parking for it.
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Dale G.

Yelp
I was very excited for this. I love Ann's other restaurants. I also love Korean food. I think this is a 3.5 stars but I rounded down just because the value was really poor. None of the meals blew me away. The pear cocktail wasn't that interesting. I thought the food was a little under seasoned. This restaurant is in the Khaluna category and I think Khaluna is much better.
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Megan F.

Yelp
Went here a little bit ago for the first time. Food and service were great. Highly recommend the bipbimbap. The ingredients seem heartier, fresher and have a little twist compared to similar places. I really appreciated the unique interior design. They put lots of thought and effort into this place. Will definitely be going back.
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Jessica S.

Yelp
This was my first time trying Kim's since it was converted from Sooki & Mimi. Honestly, everything about this experience was so good. We came in on a Saturday night around 6pm and it was about an hour wait. This was to be expected as it was a weekend. Luckily we live close by so we just hung around the area until we were called. Our top picks had to be: - Shin Ranyun Fries: these were perfectly cooked and the fancy sauce had a nice hint of ginger - Pork Belly Ssam: Cooked perfectly and such a refreshing classic Korean dish - Kim Burger: Had the same fancy sauce as the fries and was super delicious - Stir fried Bulgogi: The rice cakes were such a nice touch in this dish. Highly recommend ordered a side of rice to go with the dish
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Molly A.

Yelp
Had the opportunity to try Kim's with my sister and I definitely think it lived up to my expectations. Though I realized I forgot to get photos of my absolute favorite dishes LOL - missing - the hotteok (with sesame butter) and hanger steak. The food was delicious. My favorite was the hotteok - somewhat different spin on traditional filled hotteok, but it tasted sooo good - right balances of fluffy and chewy with slight crispy edges, and right balance of rich, sweet, and salt. Kim's already gets 5/5 because at least one dish for me was a "wow this is one of the best things I've ever tasted" items and the hotteok was up there for me. Simple, but perfectly done. We also got the hanger steak - cooked perfect with a nice ssamjang and lettuces to pair. I also loved the bulgogi with rice cakes dish. My sister's fav dish is the cheesy rice cakes - I didn't care for it personally - too rich - but I'm one of those in the minority in this world that isn't a huge fan of mac and cheese so that's probably part of it. If you like cheesy noodles, I think you'd like this dish. The mustard greens were also quite tasty. The tiramisu was a decent tiramisu, though nothing "special" per se - still tasted good though so I don't regret getting, paying for, or eating it, FWIW. Service was just fine - we were at a large shared table, bar style - I tend to not like the bar stools as it's bothersome on my rapidly aging knees - so I would have liked if the hostess asked if that type of table was ok when we checked in - but that's ok. Will definitely plan to return again some time.
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Lauren S.

Yelp
I am a KDrama addict! I was so excited to try Kim's! Could go back tomorrow and order totally different items. The mezcal cocktail was awesome. We shared the pork mandu which were great. Then we had two bowls the bibimbap and the salmon rice. I would def have the bibimbap again but May pass on the salmon rice or just have it for lunch. We ended with the carrot cake. It's a must! Our server Nyanna was really special and had wonderful people skills! This has a great vibe and can't wait to go back.
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Vivian C.

Yelp
I've been a huge fan of Ann Kim's restaurants for years. I was very excited about the opening of this one that was an homage to her culture and foods she grew up with. We tried the mandu, shrimp and vegetable pancake, stir fried bulgogi, kabocha squash, and ham and cheese sandwich with their homemade version of Spam (now listed as ham on the menu). Each plate was smaller than expected. And the flavors were somewhat subtle, other than the bulgogi. They were comfort food, which is what Chef Kim wanted to achieve, and all pleasant enough. But it left me wanting a little more - more flavor, more quantity, more penache, more wow.
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Elizabeth M.

Yelp
I was blown away by the service, ambiance, and food here. This restaurant is a hidden gem. I'm sure it's not so hidden, but my fiance and I came here for lunch to use a gift card and man was the food GOOD! This is a place with a not huge menu but there is no way you can go wrong. I ordered a chicken and rice "cake" bowl that seemed small but was VERY filling, with rich flavor. My fiance ordered the bibimbap. We were both so impressed. We will be returning for dinner!!
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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!
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Lana T.

Yelp
OVERALL: I am such a fan of Kim's. This is a reason to visit uptown. PRO TIP: They do not take reservations, it is first come first serve. Even if it's way before you're ready to eat I recommend getting there early and at least getting your name on the list. If not, shoot for later dining times as I noticed the dining room would clear out after about 2 hours into service because everyone who came around 5pm has finished. Also come with a group so you can try more foods! FOOD: I ordered a lot of food for our table. Each dish surprised me (positively!) every step of the way. I absolutely loved the pork belly. I think this was my top dish. Other notable favorites are the rice cakes & cheese, fries, spam N cheese, and the stir fried bulgogi. My only qualm is that I wish there was more bulgogi - it was primarily rice cakes and veggies (we actually thought they forgot our meat!) still flavorful and still delicious, just wish there was more for the price. PRICE: Appetizers range from $6-$19 and mains $14-$28, sandwiches are $11. I think it's fairly reasonable for the quality of food and how shareable things are. Our total bill for 4 (including service charge of 21%) was $280. We got quite a few dishes and drinks for the table. SERVICE: The dishes come out as they are ready. That does mean sometimes some odd pacing if you get quite a few dishes and if you were hoping to eat certain dishes together it may not be possible. Otherwise, I felt my water cup was always full and the servers were well informed about each of the dishes and answer questions! I also went on the grand opening day, so they did awesome with such a busy restaurant.
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Dom E.

Yelp
Really enjoyed my time here. Met 2 friends out for happy. Have been wanting to come here for a long time. This restaurant is very intentional and I appreciate its thoughtfulness in food, space, design, and experience. We were lucky to have a server that was patient and gave us recommendations based off of the vibe/food limitations we had. Lived the drinks as well. I would recommend reservations. We walked in and sat in the bar area but the restaurant wasn't as full due to the weather + playoff game happening at the same time. Will be back !
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Maleewan K.

Yelp
Great foods particularly the sakura pork bulgogi and bibimbup. The service was excellent. They were willing to change table to accommodate our group of six. Our server checked on us often. The shrimp pancake is decent but may try sth different next time.
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Alyssa K.

Yelp
It was my first time going back after it had switched over to Kim's and I will admit I was very tearful to see the mushroom tacos gone but these dishes did b not disappoint. We had the JJAJANGBAP which was a delicious mushroom dish. We also had CHEWY RICE CAKES 'N' CHEESE which tasted like a delicious and rich Mac n cheese. Service was fantastic and the ambiance is so comfy and cozy.
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Haley P.

Yelp
Went to Kim's their first weekend open and it was so popular that I took the opportunity to try their Bronto Bar (which is located right beneath Kim's)! The environment feels elevated, welcoming, and comfortable with a strong retro vibe. You can even purchase a ticket for their Photo Booth! Bronto Bar offered a wide selection of creative drinks and they serve some Sammies that are also offered at Kim's! I got a taste of their "Shin Ramyun" Fries with their fancy sauce, the Breakfast for Dinner Sammie, Spam 'n' Cheese Sammie, and the Feel No Pain for a drink. The sauce with the fries was quite unique, and the fry seasoning was just perfect. The Sammies were both served on a hotteok bun, which added a slight sweetness that paired so well with the flavors in the Sammies. The Feel No Pain took me to somewhere tropical. Drinks are labeled as full, low, and no proof, with no shortage of any option. The menu had a range of food/drink prices which makes a nice restaurant/bar accessible to a larger audience. You may want to note: Kim's is not taking reservations at this time, so you may want to plan around a potential wait time. Their Bronto Bar may be a good alternative if you are unable to wait as they have some of the menu items from Kim's. I enjoyed my time there, the beverage, and food. I will be returning again soon to explore more of their offerings! It's a great place for any occasion
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Sarah W.

Yelp
Ann Kim is deserving of her awards and accolades. She has created a beautiful welcoming restaurant with a creative menu featuring Korean delicacies. Everything on the menu looked so good it was hard to choose. I was celebrating an anniversary with my husband so it was just the two of us. In the future we will come back with more people as this is the kind of restaurant where you should order many items in the menu to share family style. So many great choices! We ordered the Bibimbop (delicious with bulgogi beef, pickled veggies, and a sunny egg on top), shrimp and vegetable pancake (perfectly done with a side bowl of pickled jalapenos and onion) and the Spam and cheese Sammie (who knew how absolutely delicious home made spam can be and oh that bun is so good). Their cocktails were great. Don't forget to order a bottle of Soju for an after dinner drink! Light and very refreshing!
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Jennifer K.

Yelp
Went out to HH with the kiddos (5/7). It is sun - thu | 4 - 5:30 pm (available in the bar). We got 1)KOREAN FRIED CHICKEN WINGS - great flavor with a decent kick 2) VEGETABLE PANCAKE - little too greasy for my liking, but i did love the taste 3) "SHIN RAMYUN" FRIES - Simple full of flavors frys 4) "HWE DUP BAP" CURED SALMON RICE BOWL - 10 out of 10 - all loved it (5 year old thought it was the best)
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Amanda N.

Yelp
Went for lunch with family and food was great! Favorite dishes were the kimchi jjigae hot pot and the hwe dup bap cured salmon rice bowl. Food took a while to come out but liked the ambiance and is a nice place to get together with friends and family. Will come back to try more items on the menu!
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Susan K.

Yelp
So glad they take reservations now! The decor is beautiful wood & well designed; service was amazing - great recommendations to make food even better; awesome drinks! 3 diners & we ordered 5 things (2 snacks & 3 plates) which was too much (but the leftovers are delicious!). The only downside is street parking only.
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Emilee J.

Yelp
this was a meal I won't forget. @kimsmpls knocked my socks off with every single bite. there wasn't a dish that didn't exceed my expectations. I'm still a bit in awe of how much I loved this place. the place was BUZZING and will continue to bring people back into uptown - it's a much needed high-end, yet reasonably priced staple to revive the community after these last few years. it might be my favorite restaurant of Ann's yet. no reservations, only walk-ins - be prepared for a worthy wait. how we filled our bellies: KFC wings & shin ramyun fries to start - holy freaking moly. these wings were small but mighty and entirely something else than what I've tasted before. likely in my top two bites of the night. stone bowl bibimbap - the picture speaks for itself, simply delicious and a crowd pleaser to share. kimchi fried rice - so yummy and crunchy with a hidden kick that rounded out the dish perfectly. shrimp & vegetable pancake - rock, paper scissored with my waiter on whether to order this one or something else. boy, I'm glad I won. so. freaking. good. those soy pickled jalapeños.... Ann's ham 'n' cheese - something I hadn't expected to see on the menu given its counterparts but a delightful surprise. watch out, she's filling! smoky & mommy cocktail but subbed mezcal for blanco tequila. ordered 3 to ensure I had a headache this morning. it worked.
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Ashlyn C.

Yelp
I almost missed the entry way of Kim's because the door blends seamlessly into the long windows outside giving it a speakeasy feel. On the happy hour menu I got a daiquiri (or 3), the shin ramyun fries and the vegetable pancake. All the food was hot and seasoned to perfection. The fries weren't too salty and the vegetable pancake was onion forward but had great flavor. You have to sit at the bar for happy hour but the bar staff was amazing!
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Elijah W.

Yelp
This place is absolutely amazing! The interior is so beautifully decorated and organized to nearly feel like you could be in someone's house. All the servers were also really nice and gave some great food recommendations. Kim has done it again with another amazing restaurant.
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Amy F.

Yelp
Good place for a date night. Ambience is awesome- great decor, music, and vibe. We started with the shrimp and veggie pancake 4/5. Great app for 2-3 people to share. The steak was our fave part of the meal seasoned well and with great accruements included. The kimchi fried rice with spam was okay. It had a nice kick but rice was mushy 3/5. Good experience but do not think I would venture back again
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Ellie B.

Yelp
Great food, service, and ambiance! We started with a glass of the tempranillo mas que vinos and a glass of the cabernet franc, Malbec domaine francois chidaine which were both great, I liked the cabernet franc more. We ordered the hotteok, "shin ramyun" fries, the Kim burger, the stone bowl bibimbap, the rice cakes 'n' cheese and the kimchi fried rice. Would highly recommend it all except I did not care for the rice cakes 'n' cheese. Look forward to going back soon!
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Whitney T.

Yelp
Where do I even begin with this review? The ambience, as well as the layout of the restaurant is absolutely gorgeous. It has a warm, welcoming feeling, but very calm. We had a Mocktail. "No pain" it literally taste like Christmas in a good fruit way. I absolutely loved it. We also had the Kim sandwich the toast was so soft, KFC wings, the fries with the special sauce, and the carrot cake for dessert. The experience was 10 out of 10. The best part is you don't even need a reservation to come here. If I had to pick one thing that was my top favorite item, It would definitely be the fries they were absolutely seasoned to the "T" and the sauce topped it off . Our server was very helpful with suggestions on food and mock tails. We will definitely be back one of our faves thus far!
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Tara L.

Yelp
First time trying this place and it was great. Atmosphere was nice and really cute restaurant. We got a drink at the speakeasy downstairs while we waited for our table which was super cute. Service was great, very attentive! Food was delicious and so were the drinks!
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Sandi L.

Yelp
Personally the food did not have enough flavor. There were only a few dishes that had a little bit of flavor. As for the portion and pricing, I thought that it was not worth the price for how little portion you got for each dish. Overall service was good and atmosphere was great as well.
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Allison C.

Yelp
Overall food is really good and presented nicely, but not 5/5 level good. And the portions for some of the items are pretty small considering the price. Standouts were the shin ramyun fried and the kfc wings. Salmon tartare wasn't as flavorful as I would have liked. Mixed reviews on the drinks as well.
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Dianna N.

Yelp
Chef Ann Kim and her team is no stranger to modern Korean cuisine. Kim weaves Western influences into her Korean prix-fixe in such an expert fashion that the results are nothing short of sumptuous and utterly crave-worthy. Space offers great ambience. We had excellent service, thanks to Sterling. One of the most satisfying meals in town, and it's also the perfect drinking food. Best to bring a few friends, order some soju, then order some more.
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Kevin E.

Yelp
I really want to give Kim's 5 stars but a few things need to be worked out first since this was their opening week. The food is great, drinks and service were good. Like anything Ann Kim touches, people want to be there since we know it will be special and I'm so thankful that she converted Sooki & Mimi into a restaurant that serves some terrific Korean food. Since this was opening weekend, like on opening day, Jang-Mi drummers were performing in front of the restaurant with traditional Korean drumming - my nieces were part of this group when they were young and it was so good to see some familiar faces (Brooke Newmaster and an old college friend who I didn't know would be there). Kim's does NOT take reservations or call aheads (yet to both) so it's walk-in only. Got there just before 5:00 pm when they open and there was a line. Upon getting in to see the hostess, we found out there was a 1 to 1 1/2 hour wait (checked in at 5:15ish and was told to come back around 6:30 but then there was an additional wait) - the good thing is they take your cell phone so you get a text when your table is ready, then you have 10 minutes to get back to the restaurant. We tried to go to Bronto Bar downstairs but it was full (literally the people in front of us got the last table) so we opted for the wine bar next door (it's OK and serves it's purpose, another option is to go around the corner down Hennepin to Taste of Thailand for a drink). OK, let's get into the food: 4 1/2 to 5 stars - very good. We ordered a variety of things to share: Beef and Kimchi Mandu, KFC Wings, Shrimp and Veggie Pancake, Kimchi Fried Rice, and Bulgogi. * the mandu (4 1/2 stars) to was very good and loved the sauce, kind of hard to taste the kimchi stuffed inside the dumpling with the beef but the presentation was great and loved how it was cooked. * KFC wings (3 1/2 to 4 stars) - very crispy as one would expect, dusted with gochugaru tajin for a little flavor (but not much) and there was a side of ranch which helped. I really liked that the wings were served with dongchimi (Korean radish) which is a nice Korean touch. It's a smaller portion and not much meat on the wings (not necessarily a bad thing) * Shrimp and veggie pancake (4 1/2 stars) - if you like traditional Korean seafood or scallion pancakes, this is a perfect dish to share. We had 4 people and cut it into smaller pieces and it was very filling. This dish is served with a soy pickled jalapeno and onion sauce for adding to the pancake - they should bottle this and sell it separately! * Stir Fried Bulgogi (4 stars) - not a huge dish like other Korean restaurants but very good. The sauce might be the best I've had (even better than my brother in-laws bulgogi) and I liked the rice cakes and veggies (gai lan = Chinese broccoli which I originally thought was asparagus stems). One little disappointment was the beef itself - not sure it was rib eye, if it was, it wasn't as thin or tender as I've had in the past, since this was a little tougher and chewier but it was still good) * Kimchi Fried Rice (4 stars) - hard to not have Korean food without a) rice, or b) kimchi, so why not have them together. This is a very good, filling and spicy dish. Love that there's SPAM chunks, nori, onion and fresno peppers scattered throughout each bite. The unfortunate thing for us is the fried rice came out last after we had finished our bulgogi and other dishes so we had to almost eat this like the main course. I know it can be tough to do and it's only week 1 but Kim's could work on the timing of when our dishes come out. I had to ask about our fried rice near the end of our meal because I wasn't even sure our server noticed we hadn't gotten it when we finished the bulgogi - would have really liked to mix the bulgogi and it's delicious sauce with the fried rice but that wasn't an option for us on this night. Final thoughts: 1) drinks were good and priced right - I wasn't a fan of the Gibson but the couple next to us liked it. 2) prices - not bad at all in my opinion, especially if you are going in a group to share a bunch of dishes 3) seating - another point of contention - we were sat at the small narrow "community" table right at the front of the restaurant so every time someone entered or left, you catch a nice draft of the cold air coming in. Good and bad - some people might like this table because you see everyone and others will hate it - I wasn't a fan and not sure they should seat people in this high traffic area. 4) service - very good Again, Kim's just opened and as one would expect, it was very good but a few minor things need to be worked out, in my view. I'll be back soon!
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Michael K.

Yelp
Based on the food alone this would have been a 5 star review. The flavors and quality of every dish I tried was spectacular, by far one of the best Korean restaurants in the cities! We got in around 4:30 and the place was absolutely packed, which isn't surprising for a brand new trending restaurant. Also Ann Kim is a James Beard award-winning chef! Kim's opens right at 4:00 pm and does not take reservations, so something to keep in mind. The space near the bar had tiny tables that could really only fit 2 comfortably but due to the 1 hr+ wait for tables was the best option for my family and I. We ordered the Rice Cakes n' Cheese ($15), Kimchi Fried Rice ($19), and Sakura Pork Belly ($21). Price was a little high for the portions but the flavor was out of this world. I personally had the pork belly which had a sake glaze, came with daikon kimchi, and lettuce for wrapping. It was so good, I wish I had more! My mom loved her rice n cakes, so cheesy, I had a bite and it reminded me so much of a decadent mac n cheese, the rice cakes had a nice texture. My dad really liked his kimchi fried rice, I also had a bite of this and it was super spicy but again, flavors were so spot on and really enjoyable! Chef Ann Kim just gets it! I'd be curious to try this spot again in a few months when the hype dies down a bit to try sitting in their main dining room, but I would definitely come back. I was really impressed by taste of everything!