Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse

I don't mean to use superlatives, and it may be the effect of the soju, but my meal here was transcendental. The sides were delicious and my steak was the best I've ever had. Our server was also wonderful. We drove from 5 hours away to eat here and at Chef Lee's other restaurant on Magnolia over Easter weekend, and I'm so glad we did. We even came back to Nami for brunch before driving back and that was divine as well. If you live in the area, you need to go here for food.

Such a wonderful restaurant with amazing service and delicious food!! I traveled from a different time zone to take my family to celebrate my niece. We binged watch as a family Culinary Class Wars for her Fall Break from school, and her parents drove 4 hours to experience Chef Edward Lee's cuisine. The flavors are so unique and so good that I have not tasted anything like this in my worldwide travels. This is truly a gem, and we were so happy to take my niece to celebrate!! The team has excellent service, and we felt very special and welcome. I highly recommend, and I would definitely travel a few states to have such awesome food!!! If I were local, I would be a regular here at this fantastic restaurant. Cocktails are so good!! Thank you so much for a once in a lifetime experience! You made our day, and we are still smiling!!!

I was in this restaurant for the first time. I want to say from the bottom of my heart, that these are incredibly delicious dishes, very interesting presentations of dishes, and very friendly waiters. Very tasty steak in Korean style, Korean chicken is also incredibly delicious. Desserts are worth mentioning separately, just super! I strongly recommend it to everyone who loves modern Korean cuisine.

My personal experience at Nami in NuLu area was great overall! I did the right choice for me and I really enjoyed the food and service there. One downside was rice cake because it was not blended well with the sauce to me and hard to define. I think it was more like a fusion dish with downgraded interpretation, but still enjoyable. I absolutely visit Nami again and try new dishes there including Dakgalbi and black bean noodle.

I’m a Korean-American from New York.. and honestly, this restaurant was a letdown😢 First off, the place was practically empty.. yet the host still sat us right by the entrance. Only after we asked did they move us to a more comfortable spot inside. Not a great first impression. Then came the so-called “special” menu… 🤣😂 and we couldn’t help but chuckle. I mean, calling something that looks like fast food you’d get at a Korean McDonald’s a special? Come on. One of the dishes was literally a packet ramen (a new release from Nongshim, no less) with some miso paste thrown in… and they were charging premium prices for that? Wild🔥🔥🔥 To be fair, the food was creative… but honestly, that’s all it was. My husband’s galbi was passable.. but the “hwe bap”? If you’re expecting anything close to a proper Korean-style raw fish rice bowl… you’re in for a rude awakening. I left more than half my dish untouched… Of course this isn’t a traditional Korean restaurant at all. But it’s not really a fusion spot that delivers on flavor either. It’s… something in-between, and not in a good way. Like an identity crisis on a plate. Oh, and when I asked for a paper napkin, they brought over what was basically bathroom paper tower. I kid you not. Looking at the prices, I thought I was walking into a fine dining experience. Big mistake. If you’re craving real Korean food, skip this place and check out ‘Kum’s Cafe & Arirang’ instead… it’s a bit more of a trek and a lot more low-key, but it’s the real deal.. at nearly half the price. All in all, the name “Modern Korean Steakhouse” is seriously overselling it. Major disappointment.

Awesome. Fire. Dope. Lit. What an excellent meal from start to finish! The location is clean and modern. The staff was excellent and very attentive. We didn't realize they closed at 8pm and were never made to feel like we were keeping the staff. You have the option to cook your food at the table like a traditional Korean BBQ restaurant but we chose for the kitchen to cook it for us. They nailed the temp on our meats. Our only issue was the sun initially blazes through the front windows and can be very annoying.  But the staff quickly moved us to a table that out of the direct glare. This is really only an issue for 30 mins while the sun is going down.

If I could give Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse six stars, I would—but alas, the system is flawed. From the moment we walked in, the service was so good I briefly considered adopting our server as my new best friend. Attentive, friendly, and somehow always appearing at the exact moment I was about to think, hmm, I could use more kimchi. Now, the food? Absolute perfection. Every bite felt like a carefully orchestrated flavor explosion designed to ruin all future dining experiences for me. The steak was so tender I’m convinced it was massaged daily and read bedtime stories. And don’t even get me started on the side dishes—each one better than the last, to the point where I considered asking for a to-go box just for them. 10/10, would eat here every day if my wallet (and waistline) allowed it.

Since Edward Lee has become so popular in Korea, it was difficult to get a reservation at his fine-dining restaurant, 601, so I decided to visit this place instead. Thankfully, it was easier to dine here without a reservation, and I had heard great things about the food. However, maybe I lack creativity? I felt that the flavors weren’t quite suited to the Korean palate. That being said, the bacon bibimbap served in a hot stone bowl was actually a great match for my taste! The bulgogi Benedict, which was served like an eggs Benedict, would have been even better if the egg had been slightly less cooked. Still, I truly appreciate Chef Edward Lee for representing Korean cuisine so well. Wishing you continued success!

Gorgeous, modern interior with natural elements, very clean and sleek. We were seated upstairs looking out a large window. To start, we ordered a glass of Cabernet and a wasabi margarita. Both came out promptly, and the margarita was made of true ingredients - no taste of bottled sweet and sour here! Not as much wasabi flavor as I anticipated, but enjoyable nonetheless. Loved the heavy salt rim. For dinner we ordered the skirt steak and pork ribs, and let me tell you, I've never had ribs so tender and meaty in my life. I'll order these every single time! Unbelievable flavor profiles in both dishes. Entrees were served with banchan consisting of spicy edamame, a cucumber salad, fermented spinach, and spicy kimchi. Everything was unique and delicious!

A couple of unique banchan items. Parking may be a challenge. We arrived late due to a traffic accident, yet they were still able to seat us for our reservation. We were tight on time, yet they did a great job to ensure we received our dishes in a timely manner. The best item is their Lychee mocktail. The pumpkin mandoo is well filled and has a nice balance of kick and flavor. The tenderness of the duck was perfect, and the dish was filling. The other dish ordered was chicken. It didn't come across as an elevated dish, and the feedback from my companion is the flavor of the dish did not stand out. This restaurant is likely ideal in its location and price point to appeal to the level of diners in this area. They do have other menus that look appealing, and knowing they have a karaoke lounge encourages a return visit. Before you decide whether or not to check this place out, know that this review is coming from a diner who's used to more for less. Given it's level of recognition, it would be fair to make an attempt for a return visit with plans to update the review. Those who are used to my review standards, this isn't a horrible experience, just one that would require an incentive to return. Thank you for honoring a military discount.

Tasty vegetarian options- the Vegetable Pajun was STELLAR. The Ya-Chae Bap bowl was good but I could have gone a bit spicier. Cocktails were great. Service was exceptional considering I was there with a large work group (14). We reserved the karaoke room for a couple of hours which was a whole lot of fun. I would definitely recommend to my foodie friends.

An exceptional space with great food wonderful drinks. And ever evolving entry to Korean food that I love brining friends to. The grilling prompts communal exploration of delusions items some might not have had before in delicious and fun upscale experience. Great for gatherings and wonderful for romantic night out or single at the bar talking bourbon and soju with the bartender all which Iv done.

Decided to give Nami's brunch a try for a change of pace. My wife and I have dined here before for dinner and since it was an amazing experience we knew the brunch would be just as great. Let me start with the ambiance, the setting is very open and relaxed with a decent amount of seating options. It doesn't feel cluttered or stuffy, instead it is very welcoming and comfortable. As for the food, we tried a variety of different dishes and each one was flavorful and unique in its own way. We highly recommend the bibimbap ball, fried chicken, pot stickers, and for shareable entrees the kimchi friend rice and banana pancakes. I wish we could have tried everything but we all got full. I will definitely be trying the katsu and egg sandwich! If you are looking for a different take on brunch, with delicious food and amazing service Nami is the place to go.

Food and service were wonderful! However, it is not an authentic restaurant although I loved everything that was presented to me. This restaurant is great for those who have never had real Korean food and want a softer introduction. I had a chicken dish that tasted a little less cooked, how do I know? Because chicken thigh meat tasted and felt a little slimy and not firm the way it should be when cooked. They immediately rectified the issue with no questions asked! This place is pricier than average and a nice restaurant to wear a cocktail dress or evening wear for a date night. Con - the tables are very small, it is good for one entree per person; having several food items like appetizers made the table very crowded and difficult to eat. I was always nervous I would tip my water over. NOTE - we made reservations and came on a night where all the tables were full and I was the only Asian . Not a bad thing for sure, since it seems they're doing well.

I secure my reservation to give to as a Christmas gift to my wife. Of all the gifts I gave her this was the one I looked forward to the most. About a year ago my wife decided she wanted Korean food. So I ran to the Asian market, bought a cook book, and started making Korean food despite never having it myself. I was very excited to try Korean food by someone who knows what they're doing. The restaurant was elegant and modern. The lighting fixtures were a standout element. The restaurant has 2 floors (there is an elevator) and we were seated on the second floor. The menu is tight. There's a variety of options but it all fits on one side of the menu. We ordered the kimchi sampler (which is in the salad section which I think is true but very funny) and the fried chicken dumplings. The dumplings were perfectly fried and the soy sauce it was served with was very rich and complex. The various kimchis were tasty. The persimmon kimchi was sweet and reminded me of sweet potatoes. The beet kimchi was chewier. The fennel kimchi had those delicious fennel flavors but with that acid freshness of kimchi. For my entree I ordered the duck breast and the rice blend as a side. I received the entree before the banchan (some sauces and more fermented veggies) so I tried the duck without sauce and it was still delicious. Perfectly tender and nice charred flavor. With the banchan and combining the different elements it elevated all the flavors. Overall I felt this was a great dining experience. Nothing was too spicy, the service really went out of their way to make sure you knew what to do with everything they've put in front of you. All the ingredients were of the utmost quality. There is clearly a lot of love put into every recipe and then care in executing them.

Date night #1 of our Louisville weekend. We got to dine at Chef Edward Lee's new restaurant, Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse. The inside was so modern and sleek. I enjoyed the fact that you could see the kitchen. We started with steamed shrimp mandu. These were dumplings topped with chili crunch oil. Next was the entrees. We couldn' decide so we ended up with three; filet mingnon, ribeye, and pork belly. I loved the banchan that came with the meal. I could have eaten a hundred of those pickles. The kimchi was also very good. The meals also came with a salad and it was some of the best asian dressings I've ever eaten. The whole meal was spot on. Great choice!

Came here for dinner with a group. We had a set dinner which includes appetizers, entrees and dessert. I enjoyed the fried mandu. The entrees of BBQ steak (very good), chicken (okay), veggies (King oyster mushrooms were very rubbery but asparagus was great) were abundant. So much food. Bibimbap was tasty though not really a Bibimbap as the rice wasn't scorched on the bottom of the pot and some of the ingredients were unique to say the least (crispy chickpeas). They brought out 3 banchan, I asked if they had kimchi, and it was brought out. Again, tasty but not traditional banchan. The food is Korean fusion and it's definitely that. Tasty, but not really Korean. Dessert was interesting as well. Taiyaki stuffed with pecan pie filling. That's southern for ya!

I have thought about this Wagyu a few times in the past few weeks -- it was sooo good! We really loved the mushroom pumpkin dumplings too. We enjoyed the Kimchi sampler, but our favorite Kimchi was the one that came with the Ribeye. It's a beautiful restaurant and great location.

Even 2 vegetarians can be delighted at this Korean steakhouse. We started with the pumpkin mushroom dumplings and then shared the Ya-Chae. Everything from presentation to flavor pairings was perfection. I can't wait until next time!

I have been wanting to try Nami and a friend suggested we go the other night and invited a big group! We went to celebrate some milestones of mine: gotcha day and starting a new job. We had originally 18 people but ended up with 12. We had 2 apps, 2 main courses, and desserts. I'd say overall the apps and main courses were the best. The lemon dessert was good but the chocolate one was a little plain and needed something like ice cream to go with it. I highly recommend checking this place out and enjoy a nice meal with friends!

A brilliant execution of dim sum! I wasn't a fan of the Korean BBQ flavor, but my husband loved it. My favorite was the dim sum and small plate options! Service was exceptional, and the space is designed beautifully! I look forward to visiting a second time and seeing if the menu has shifted at all!

Excellent service from start to finish. Erin took care of us and went the extra mile to go over the whole menu, considering this is our first visit. For our drinks, we ordered the Lovesick Girls and Stay Awake. Both are lovely. The Lovesick Girls aka lychee martini is light, refreshing and perfectly balanced. The sweetness coming from the lychee definitely paired well with the bitterness of the martini. Erin also gave us two flutes of champagne on the house which was a lovely addition to our dining experience. We appreciate it very much. For starters we tried the wagyu tataki handroll and the steamed shrimp mandu. Both are extremely flavorful. The steamed shrimp mandu is very delicate and light, and I really loved how the garlic chili sauce elevated the dish to new heights. The wagyu tataki is probably my favorite. Every component of the hand roll just made the roll very enjoyable. For our entree, we ordered prime tenderloin and kalbi (short ribs), and we loved them. Banchan's also exemplary. I also love that Nami made sure it differentiates itself from other competitors by ensuring great attention to detail is exercised. For one, they serve 3-grain rice instead of the usual steamed white rice. Side vegetables were also cleverly used as an added pop of color to the dish presentation while still making sure it is perfectly cooked and its flavor would add value to the whole dish. Nami also did not have any steak knives on the table, as meat comes in pre-cut already. One opportunity for improvement is to possibly try to cut the meat a little smaller (for kalbi, that is). While kalbi was served tender and full of flavor, some parts could be get challenging to chew (due to the nature of the cut) For dessert, we tried the taiyaki puff pastry and the lychee-ginger shaved ice. I enjoyed the shaved ice. It is light, refreshing, and just the right amount of sweet. Overall a great experience, we would love to go back and try out other dishes. We are so glad a modern contemporary Korean restaurant is finally in the area.

Wanting an incredible experience to put your tastebuds in overdrive? Feeling under the weather? Nothing like a little hot tea, dim sum and celebrity chef fan girling to make Feeling under the weather? Nothing like a little hot tea, dim sum and celebrity chef fan girling to make a girl feel better. Chef Edward Lee and Nami brunch for the win! Not only is the space beautiful, and the tastes exquisite, the icon himself brought carts around and asked if I'd like a picture! I loved watching him in his space and element, knowing these recipes served for brunch are those he holds close to his heart from generations of family memories. Dreams do come true! This is truly something you do not want to miss out on! a girl feel better. Chef Edward Lee and Nami brunch for the win! Not only is the space beautiful, and the tastes exquisite, the icon himself brought carts around and asked if I'd like a picture! I loved watching him in his space and element, knowing these recipes served for brunch are those he holds close to his heart from generations of family memories. Dreams do come true! This is truly something you do not want to miss out on!

Tonight, we celebrated my husband's birthday at Nami Modern Korean Steakhouse. He's a huge Chef Edward Lee fan, so this was an obvious choice for me when I was making reservations. I'm just going to start by saying, I've never been this intimidated to write a food review. This was one of our favorite meals. Ever. Nami is on the corner of Campbell and Main Street near Louisville's Nulu neighborhood. The ambience is everything I want in a restaurant. It wasn't overly loud, the decor was aesthetically pleasing, and the natural light gave it an airy spacious feel. The entrance, front room/bar area had 20+ foot ceilings with windows expanding from the bottom to the top. We dined downstairs in a booth. Our table had a grill on it and although we've enjoyed the experience of cooking Korean BBQ at our table elsewhere, we opted not to tonight. We started with crafted spirited cocktails. Kyle ordered a Burn the Memory- roasted, barley, black pepper bourbon, amari, togarashi (Manhattan with roasted tea) I had Best Friend Ever- cloudy rice wine, pear, brandy, chamomile (aromatic Asian pear margarita) For an appetizer, we ordered: Crispy Pork and Bacon Mandu- pickled shallot, Barrel Aged Soy Sauce. These were crispy dumplings and my toddlers fought over them. And we fought back. The Korean BBQ includes house made banchan, salad, and three sauces- ssamjang, gochuijang, citrus soy and bowl of 3 grain rice. We ordered the Ju-Mul-Luk- beef prime tenderloin in ginger garlic soy marinade. We also ordered a Bibimap Rice bowl. We chose the hwe bap- seared salmon, watercress, endive, salmon roe, white kimchi, and chili sauce. For dessert, we ordered Ginger Shaved Ice- lychee, ginger snap cookie, crushed black sesame, coconut condensed milk The house made banchan really exceeded my expectations. It included far more than similar restaurants in the area and the flavors were phenomenal. I'm not confident in my ability to adequately describe everything it included, but I will include a picture. The beef prime tenderloin melts in your mouth. This is what I pushed aside to save as my last bite. The ssamjang sauce was my favorite, the citrus soy was a close second, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't have licked my plate for the last drip of gochujang. The hwe bap was the best bibimbap rice I've ever had. The sear on the salmon couldn't have been better. The combination of flavors was perfect. If my 2-year-old didn't suddenly decide to be extra willing to be adventurous with her dinner tonight, I might have missed out on dessert. I don't even know how to describe the ginger shaved ice. To be completely honest, desserts aren't usually my forte. This one hit the spot. It was cool, refreshing, and made me feel like I might be able to make it to the car without help after all. I don't know how a dessert can do all that, but it sat JUST right with me. I'm not exaggerating when I say that this was one of the best meals we've had. It was more than dinner, it was an experience. Our server, Ashley, provided exceptional service. She was professional. She helped explain the menu, our cups were never empty. That being said, the highlight of our evening was the surprise of having Chef Edward Lee stop by our table to ensure we were satisfied. We're so impressed with his abilities as a chef, but equally impressed with the ways he contributes to our community, and who he is as a person. What a gift to have this treasure in Louisville.

Overall atmosphere is good. Pacing of table seating seemed comfortable and the staff during the meal were very attentive and quick to handle things. The tables were far too small to be 4-tops, and would even likely be a little tight for a 2-top with the amount of oddly shaped dishes that come out filling the table quickly. But, the staff made a comment about the size and let us know they're getting newer larger tables in soon. The small bites were lovely. The fried chicken add on was very flavorful and delicious, some of the best in town for sure. The shrimp dumplings were really good, the chili crisp/oil was marvelous but could have been a lil spicier. The salads were great and plated well. The hand rolls were delicious, bright and tasty. The kbbq steak we got was very tender and great. The pork belly was tough and felt like overcooked porkchop. So, 50/50 on the kbbq portion which was a bummer as it's the heart of the menu/concept. Drinks were good, but unbalanced. The offerings could be expanded in bottles to be able to make some classic cocktails. We got one whiskey sour and it was very very tasty. When dinner wrapped our waitress trailed off and started bussing tables and cleaning around and such so it took a long time for us to close out. We had to flag someone else down to get her to tab us out. Overall it was good, pricing was a lil high but fair. Would try again but I was expecting much more for all the buzz and the name behind it.

My husband recommended this to me when we had a last minute change of plans for dinner. We got there early and were able to sit at the bar where their full menu is served. Staff were all kind and helpful! We got the Stay Awake and their Manhattan. Both were great. For appetizers we got the vegetable Pajun and the steamed shrimp Mandu. We loved both but the steamed shrimp mandu was our favorite of the two. The bartender recommended the Ju-Mul-Luk and the Gogi Bap Bowl so we ordered those as our mains and they were incredible. The Ju-Mul-Luk was the star of the show. So tender and delicious. Definitely must get. For the Gogi Bap, add the gochujang sauce that comes with it into the bowl! it really stepped the flavor up a ton! This is such a nice restaurant with a cool and laid back feel. We will definitely be back!

NAMI is such a welcome addition to the Nulu/Butchertown area and I am so glad my husband and I were finally able to check it out, especially as long-time fans of Chef Edward Lee! While our food and drinks were fantastic, I was bummed that we missed out on the atmosphere and ambiance of the restaurant, as we were tucked away into a corner upstairs with our daughter. We called several weeks ago to confirm the restaurant had high chairs. I made our reservation online for an early dinner (4:30 pm) and when we arrived, we were the only people in the entire restaurant, other than staff. We were taken upstairs and placed at a corner table near a window, which I wouldn't have thought twice about, except for the fact that we were the only people there. The area we were seated in does not have the same ambience as the first floor dining area and feels more like an overflow space. As time passed, I noticed other families with children were also tucked away upstairs. While there is a restroom in this area, there is no changing table, which seems like a bad call for a restaurant that 1) has high chairs and 2) seems to place families with children in this particular space. Moving on to food/drinks: I had the Best Friend Ever cocktail, described as an "aromatic asian pear margarita" if I'm not mistaken. It was such a subtle and delicious cocktail, just right for anyone who wants a drink that isn't overpowering. We shared the dukbokki rice cakes with fried chicken, which is packed with flavor. The chicken is such a perfect compliment, I can't imagine ordering this dish without it. For dinner, we each opted for BBQ. I went with the Kalbi and my husband the Galmae-Gisal and added rice. Both dishes were phenomenal! The ginger garlic soy marinade (Kalbi) and spicy gochujang marinade (Galmae-Gisal) were flavorful and the cuts of meat were perfectly cut and cooked. We've already talked about which dishes we'll try during our next dinner! And yes, even with the less-than-stellar seating experience, we will be back! And we'll be bringing our daughter. I'm curious to see if we are once again seated away from the main dining area on the first floor... I really hope not because children are deserving of exceptional dining experiences too.

While the food for meat eaters seemed ok, it isn't even remotely vegetarian friendly. Which is fine, not all restaurants need to be. I went as a guest to a birthday party, so not my pick of places. While they have two main courses listed as vegetarian- they are completely inedible. For 30 dollars you can get half a cauliflower seared and what seemed to be half a portobello cap but was too tough and chewy. It's shameful for a place to charge so much for half a cauliflower. There are also no knives at the table so the chewy inedible food couldn't even be cut down to manageable bites. If you don't eat meat avoid this place and don't waste your money. The wine was good.

I can not say enough good things about NAMI! we had a wonderful time here and will be bringing guests from now on. The food was delicious and loved the cooking at our own table. The staff were wonderful and so helpful with any questions we had. My only complaint is that when you put it into maps, make sure you have the right location! Our friends ending up at the North American Mental Institute downtown haha

Loved the vibe!!!! Chef Lee was working the room visiting every table. The spicy shrimp dumplings were delicious. The salmon bibimbop was very tasty and the beef tenderloin was fantastic. Chocolate pecan fish shaped pastry was great!

I was lucky to have dined at Nami opening night with some friends. The food, service, and ambiance were all wonderful. It's a sleek building at the corner of E Main and Campbell Streets. When I arrived I was immediately greeted and saw my group. Everyone was already enjoying lechi drink cocktail. Our server was quick to arrive and I joined in on the cocktail. It was very fresh and sweet. Good to start the meal, but I probably couldn't drink more than one. After we drooled over the menu we ordered a lot of appetizers to start. They make three dumplings in house and we tried them all. Crispy pork & bacon mandu -$8 Steamed shrimp mandu - $9 Sweet potato edamame dumplings -$7 They were all delicious but I think my favorite was the crispy pork mandu. We also ordered the spicy tuna tartare -$16, which might have been my favorite overall. Only complaint is they served with sesame crisps and only had three on the plate. I asked for more which I was charged for, but again basically my only complaint. Vegetable pajun -$10 - so good and a traditional staple. Dukbokki rice cakes with bear claw fried chicken -$18 Very good but rice cakes were cut like carrots, which threw me off a bit. I'm used to more traditional style but still very good and the chicken was so tender. We also ordered the ahi tuna and wagyu beer Kimbap hand rolls. They were harder to share. Entrees - most of the table ordered the Korean BBQ which includes the banchan dishes. They are limited on the number of dishes and once you are out there are no refills. The star was the meat - a good portion but would suggest more than one to taste the different flavors. I ordered the Gogi bibimbap rice bowl -$28 which was fresh and hot. The bowl was so hot that the rice became crispy at the bottom of the bowl, just the way I like it. I would highly recommend. The crispy skin snapper -$32 was also delicious. The fish was perfect on top of a fried rice. Finally, we ordered the ginger shaved ice, white chocolate and strawberry, and chocolate bread. I didn't have room to try anything but the overall favorite was the ginger. The upstairs area will have grilling tables and karaoke! I would highly recommend!

The new restaurant is a high-end eatery by renowned Korean-American chef Edward Lee. All menus are a little pricy, but it's a great place to treat someone special on a special occasion. The food is more of a fusion/modern style than authentic Korean food. If you're looking for authentic Korean food, look elsewhere. The food and atmosphere are worth the price, and I would go again if I want to show my appreciation to someone.

Finally got to try Nami and it lived up to my expectations! The menu is a good mix of traditional Korean dishes and some with a modern twist. My partner and I arrived hungry so we ordered several dishes. My favorites were the starters--I loved the tuna tartare made with gochujang, and the dukbokki was perhaps my favorite I've ever had. For mains we ordered the snapper with crab fried rice and the kalbi, and we really enjoyed both. We'd wish we could have gotten a grill table, but we weren't able to reserve one with just 2 people. I'm already looking forward to going back soon!

Wow! Double wow! It's been a long time since any restaurant has captivated my thoughts along with my taste buds. Chef Ed Lee's Nami Steakhouse located in bustling NuLu in the Martin Apartment building is such a breath of fresh air. The entire staff is highly skilled and provides a level of service that makes me so happy. The menu has many options. Last night I enjoyed the Ori-Kalbi which is the most succulent duck breast in a chili ginger garlic marinade. Need I say more? But I will! Outstanding. I am still thinking about it today as I write this review. The duck comes with banchan, lettuce with a yummy dressing and 3 excellent sauces. Add the 3 grain rice bowl to soak up all the delicious sauces. You'll be glad you did. The restaurant has a gorgeous, luxurious bar with plenty of seating. Nami currently offers an excellent Happy Hour at the bar from 4:30-6:30. Last night was also Meat Happy Hour!!!! Yes Meat Happy Hour! What a concept & a pleasant surprise when we noticed it on our check. Make a reservation for Nami. It is booking briskly. They use Resy. Nami is - without question - my new favorite concept and I look forward to working my way through the outrageous fantastic menu in 2024. Make plans. Your taste buds will rejoice. In closing all our food was so beautiful and inviting that I did not think about taking any pictures this visit until dessert arrived! Next time.....

The restaurant and the experience was 5 stars. Food was amazing and Chef Ed Lee was so nice. He came to our table to introduce himself and thanked us for eating there and later brought our food out. Not overly crowded at the bar but every table was full and very clean. We ordered: - Lychee Martini - Asian Pear Margarita - Sweet Potato Edamame Dumplings - Crispy Pork & Bacon Mandu - Vegetable Pajun with Steak Tartare - Ju-Mul-Luk (tenderloin) - Dueng-Shim (ribeye)

Thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Nami (which means beautiful btw ). The staff was very accommodating. We arrived before our reservation to have some drinks at the bar which I was pleasantly surprised by how well priced the cocktails were (ranging from $8-12). Additionally we were seated upstairs near the green mural wall for dinner. Our server was amazing and offered wonderful suggestions. Since we had a later reservation some of the choices we wanted were already sold out but the food we had was absolutely amazing. Chef Edward Lee was seen visiting tables and making suggestions all night. Will definitely be back. Beautiful restaurant and experience!

This is an upscale Korean restaurant! The food has some traditional items with a classic twist.

Treated my dad for a Father's Day on Saturday evening and everything lived up to the expectations and then some. The atmosphere is top-notch with a variety of seating options, we got lucky and could see into the busy open kitchen concept. We tried both "Mandu" (dumpling) offerings for appetizers and the Steamed Shrimp was to die for with the mouth watering garlic chili oil crisp. For entrees, the Beef Prime Tenderloin (Ju-Mul-Luk) was the big hit between us. Each BBQ entree comes with three different dipping sauces (chili paste, ginger soy, ground mustard) and grain rice. Service was very attentive and helpful as well. Excited to see Nami continue to improve in the near future and become a staple for a night out in NuLu!

3rd time back in a month. Try different things each time. Still had to get the rice cake dish with the fried chicken ! And the ginger shaved ice. Did notice that the portions were very much less than the first two times I went. Compared the pictures. The red snapper with crab fried rice was delicious. The place is just so elegant when it get dark outside. Feel like you are in a bigger city.

Hwe (raw) dinner was delicious and delicately prepared. The hamachi was my favorite dish. Great atmosphere and service. Appropriately priced as well.

It's nice to have something new and different in Louisville. Bit pricey perhaps. The bbq dish came with a ton of sides. The bibimbap dish had great taste, rich textures- feels like you're eating pretty healthy.

In addition to the modern/minimalist design (which I found soothing), you can SMELL the flavors with high anticipation. We sat at the bar while the staff prepared our table, which gave us a chance to sample the mocktail menu. We landed on a mocktail with N/A rum and a refreshing, citrusy finish. Once seated, our waitress arrived with a warm welcome and helped us make various selections (we needed help with all the delicious options on the menu). We started with a wagyu hand roll that was the perfect start to our meal. In addition to being quick to whip up (we were super hungry that evening), the hand roll hit the spot with a combination of rich decadence and comfortable familiarity. The two different dumpling options provided a nice contrast of satisfying textures, but both with beautiful flavors. The main course, Korean bbq, was hearty, savory, and delicious. Nicely done all around

Wow, what a great time! The attention to detail, the food, the ambience, the personal service from the chef and the quick and professional service from our waitress Anna just made our entire night! I would recommend every dish and cocktail we ordered as well as the dessert (not pictured) the persimmon and pear mochi cake. My husband was even surprised by a cute little matcha(?) mochi for his birthday. Would recommend to anyone visiting or living in the area!

I enjoyed this restaurant. I tried a lot of the menu offerings. All the food I had was phenomenal. The only complaint is that the table we were dining on was very small. Did not accommodate our order very well. The sweet potato dumpling was a little hard. The service was on the money. Nami is a must visit in Nulu. Great job guys.

Exceptional service, high-class ambiance and the food was an explosion of flavor! Could not recommend this restaurant enough! We will surely be back for brunch and dinner to try even more amazing dishes. Without a doubt, A fantastic edition to the Louisville food-scene.

Food was pretty good! The snapper was very flavorful & the beef short rib was good. The puff pastry was deceiving (photo attached), tasted ok.

The only thing I was able to take a picture of was the steamed shrimp dumplings because as soon as our main dishes hit the table we devoured them. I am not one for spice but the chili oil was not overpowering and added great flavor. Highly recommend!

I was super excited to finally go to Nami. Charim was my absolute favorite Korean spot so this seemed like it could be heaven on earth. The food was good, but nothing I can't stop thinking about. I think the price is solely for the atmosphere because the service was not at all impressive and I regularly have comparable meals for much less elsewhere.

My husband and I went there for anniversary. They were super sweet and celebrated with us. As a vegetarian, I will not be visiting again.I was unimpressed with the Ya-chae. My husband loved his ju-mul-luk.

Wow! Food here was amazing, probably the best I've had in Louisville! The flavors are all unique and delicious and everything is prepared so well. Our bartender/waitress was very knowledgeable about the menu and did a great job helping us make selections. The whole restaurant is beautiful, and we enjoyed sitting up at the bar while we ordered and ate the whole spread

Enjoyed our experience. Sat at a table with a grill so we chose to cook our own ShortRibs and Chicken along with Tuna Tartar and chicken dumplings and Kimchi. Will be back to try other entrees

Ambience is just bad. Felt like we were eating in a hallway. I'm sure upstairs around the grills might've have been more intimate. Fluorescent light from the kitchen shines so bright into the dining area that it ruins the experience. Bar way too lit--nothing cozy about it at all. Food 7.5/10. Pork belly was essentially a pork chop. Tough and barely any fat. I would be surprised if it was, in fact, pork belly. Skirt steak was not tender. Taste was sufficient. Best thing we had was the pajun--a vegetable pancake. Food and dining experience did not reflect the price point. Service was decent, but servers were wearing flannels and jeans. Didn't seem appropriate for the setting or food. My suggestions: 1) get the entire wait staff in black. period. and educate them on the food. 2) bring the lighting down at the bar. Dark and amber. 3) get rid of all the four tops along the windows and put in one long bench with two tops there like you've done opposite the bar. Or individual booths. This place is absolutely sterile. Lunch experience for dinner. 4) work on presentation. It may be Korean, but these dishes had no imagination whatsoever. A plate of meat (looking like a kebab) as an entree without some finer dining touches added cannot justify the cost or the hype of this place 5) make the experience reflect the price point--effectively 2 kebabs worth of meat, two mocktails and a vegetable pancake: $110 + $30 tip. Food doesn't reflect price. Restaurant needs major facelift. sorry to write a bad review. hoping it somehow helps the business work out some kinks.

We were lucky enough to eat here on opening night! The service was great as was the food, which is what we expected from Chef Edward Lee. The food was outstanding, super flavorful sauces to go with the Korean bbq dishes that were cooked to perfection. Tried 3 of the beef cuts, pork belly and eggplant (highly recommend). Nice tasty banchan Dukbokki (rice cake), tuna tartare were our favorite starters. The steamed shrimp mandu were a little too spicy for most of us and we can handle heat. Asparagus tofu salad was light and fresh Loved the black bean noodles Ja Jang Myun and even the dessert sesame coconut shaved ice was a hit! The rice bowls were solid and pretty large portion size Only complaints from our table were that the Manhattan cocktail was not enjoyed by two guests at our table who said it should not be on the menu and the other cocktails could've been stronger (lychee martini and best friend ever, soju punch) Can't wait to go back! Overall excellent opening night!

Got to enjoy Nami last night. Was throughly impressed by the flavors and combinations, and the portion size was greater than expected. The platting left something to be desired and the price is not cheap, but overall I loved the flavors. One note, and not sure how to address in a review, but received very poor service and I'm not the first to visit that's felt the same.

Ambiance and the service were great! I have been here twice and the food was excellent. Chef, Edward Lee, came to my table and that was a surprise. He was so, so nice. If you are looking for a consistent place, good food, and good vibes this is the place to go!

Had a great time at Nami Friday night. The food was delicious. Will definitely be back.

Three visits so far, and never a disappointment. You get a sense of what's to come as soon as you walk in the door. Stunning dining area, but not over done. Edward Lee has put his many years of dining experience into every detail, and I'm sure that there is more to come, but Nami could turn out to be his most critically acclaimed effort. Kimbap hand rolls are as tasty as they are beautiful. I'm sure it's like asking for salt in a fine dining establishment, but I wish they came with a dipping sauce, but the excellent staff were happy to oblige my request for one. The Wagyu beef ribeye may be the best bite of meat I've had, as it was perfectly cooked and lightly seasoned as to not cover up the natural flavors of that beautiful cut. I usually check out menus of restaurants I'm excited about prior to going, but the menu at Nami is a great one to familiarize yourself with, because there may be some things on it that might not be on your everyday plate. But whatever you choose, you can't go wrong. So happy to see the culinary scene in Louisville getting back on its feet and can't wait for my next visit to Nami.

Two of the best culinary experiences I've had in Louisville are both from Chef Edward Lee's restaurants. With the first one being 610 Magnolia and now, Nami. I ordered Lovesick Girls which is a lychee martini. It was a nice sweet drink. We then had a sweet potato mandu & crispy pork mandu to start. Both very good and interesting flavors. For the kbbq, we got galbi and samgyupsal. As expected, it was premium meat marinated in exciting flavors. My favorite was the ssamjang sauce. The taste is unforgettable and it blended well with the already savory meats. We ended our dinner on a high note with yummy desserts. The shaved ice is the best dessert I've had in a long time, and their taiyaki was excellent too. Make sure to try something from their dessert menu! Every drink and dish are very well curated and thought of, we were excited about what lands on our table next. I think that's what constitutes a 5-star dining experience. Nami easily is.