If you've got Korean on the mind, a recent opening is need-to-know. Called Kochi, the fresh arrival is located at 652 10th Ave. in Hell's Kitchen.
Kochi is the first solo restaurant from chef Sung Shim, previously of Greenwich Village sushi spot Neta, which shuttered in September. For the menu, Shim was inspired by the cuisine once found in the royal court of the Joseon dynasty, which ruled Korea for 500 years. “It’s traditional Korean royal cuisine transformed into the modern way with a Korean approach, with French technique, with Japanese ingredients,” he told Grub Street.
The restaurant, which can accommodate around 30 guests, offers a nine-course chef's tasting menu for $75, which focuses on a seasonal assortment of skewers. Expect dishes that highlight proteins like slow-cooked chicken, pork belly, rib eye steak, seafood and quail eggs, as well as pickled vegetables, rice, toasted seaweed puree and more. On the drink list, you'll find a selection of house cocktails incorporating Asian spirits and flavors, such as the Signature Pear (with soju and Korean pear syrup) and the Plum Island (with rum, Korean plum extract and ginger bitters).
With a five-star rating out of 20 reviews on Yelp, Kochi has received an enthusiastic response so far.
Tae K., who was among the first Yelpers to review the new spot on Dec. 1, wrote, "Simply well-executed food. The dishes are 'skewer'-themed, but this concept doesn't do justice to how well balanced the flavors are and how carefully thought-out the dishes are."
And Yelper Tony Y. noted, "We opted for the caviar and uni. We sat at the bar, which I think is more fun for this type of dinner. Everything was delicious, but my favorites were the jjimdak broth and pork belly bossam. And for dessert, the scorched rice ice cream was totally what I wanted. I'll definitely be back."
Intrigued? Stop in to try it for yourself. Kochi is open from 5–11 p.m. on Sunday-Thursday and 5 p.m.–midnight on Friday and Saturday. (It's closed on Monday.)
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