MICHELIN Guide California 2025: Ki Kim Wins Star and Young Chef Award

Korean American chef Ki Kim, who operates the 10-seat Restaurant Ki in Little Tokyo, has received both a MICHELIN Star and the Young Chef Award in the MICHELIN Guide California 2025—just two months after opening the restaurant.

According to the MICHELIN Guide, Kim “focuses entirely on his guests and creatively reinterprets traditional Korean cuisine.” The guide praised his dishes for their “remarkable balance of ingredients, technique, and personality.” One standout item is a dessert featuring grilled lettuce ice cream topped with caviar and Cheongju cream (traditional Korean rice wine), highlighting Kim’s inventive culinary approach.

Kim previously trained at MICHELIN-starred restaurants including Jungsik (Three Stars) and Atomix (Two Stars) in New York, as well as Nobu, Blanca, and Benu in the United States and Japan. “Good food speaks instantly the moment it enters your mouth,” he said, describing his philosophy as one grounded in clarity and honesty of flavor.

At Restaurant Ki, Kim emphasizes ingredient precision and sustainability. Based in California, he visits local farmers markets three times a week, builds the menu around seasonal produce, and minimizes food waste. “With just ten seats, we can insist on only the best ingredients,” he explained.

In 2021, Kim opened his first restaurant, Kinn, in Koreatown, which was featured in the MICHELIN Guide as a “restaurant to watch.” However, he closed it in 2023, citing burnout and mental health struggles. “I prioritized guest satisfaction over my own well-being and ended up severely underweight and anxious,” he previously shared. “I didn’t think I was qualified to be a chef, but I kept going one step at a time.”

Now, with Restaurant Ki, Kim has staged a striking comeback—earning two of the MICHELIN Guide’s top distinctions in record time.

BY YOONJAE JUNG [jung.yoonjae@koreadaily.com]