Fun and filling. It's been hyped up but they lived up to expectations. Proactive service, at check in and once we sat down. They need it to manage the stream of attempted walk-ins. Ambience is fine, it's a functional dining room, clean and comfortable enough. Minor things too like a clean and solid bathroom, but they matter. On to the food. Excellent selection of banchan. More thought and quality than the fillers you get on 32nd street these days. The marinated eggs were divine, full of flavor and with delightfully soft yolks. Fried seaweed rolls were a hit, adding a satisfying bite of texture and grease. Marinated shrimps were fine, decently flavored. You can refill 3 items for free before they start charging $2 a pop. Honestly if you can stomach it, it's not a bad deal at all. That said, the included portions were more than enough. Bulgogi is intensely delicious. I had to ask about the addictive and bewitching smokiness and the staff confirmed the bulgogi is sautéed and then smoked. I've had renditions that come out way too sweet but there was no problem here. The bulgogi is flavorful without being overpowering. Combined with the quality banchan, this is a top tier meal with a good mix of textures and flavors. I definitely appreciate the seemingly minor touches that make this place stand out. Someone put some thought, effort and love into these dishes. Sadly I think the hype will keep this place busy but it's a fantastic meal if you can get in. If they can scale up without losing the quality, they already have a winning recipe. read more

Kisa - Bulgogi - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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5/5!! My friend and I lined up shortly before 5pm, so we were one of the first diners on that Wednesday evening. The interior really is cute and I loved the theme. I ordered the spicy squid entree and it was delicious!!! I loved the concept of having all the banchan, which are all different flavors and textures so it prevents palate fatigue. They now allow you to refill up to 3 banchans each (apparently this changed from unlimited refills?) But I personally felt full even without refills, so I don't mind this change, personally. The service is truly amazing. The server is sooo nice and checked in multiple times, especially when we were finished with our first round and wanted to make sure we took advantage of the refills. My favorite banchans were Omelet Roll, Mung Bean Jelly Salad, Sausage & Rice Cake Skewers. I probably would have enjoyed the Soy Marinated Shrimp more, but it was just a bit too hot on that day so the shrimp wasn't very cold by the time I ate it, after letting it sit there for a bit. My friend and I got 3 refills together, and again the server kept coming back to make sure we didn't want to redeem the rest. We were so full but told him we appreciated it. I'm sure everyone's heard of the quarter they give you to get the drink at the end. I got the black bean latte and it was quite nice!! I think the service and the delicious spicy squid (that's one of my favorite Korean dishes) was enough to consider this a 5/5. I'd come again, and recommend it for others to try. read more

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Authentic Korean food at @kisarestaurant, which has a retro decor and in the theme of a taxi driver diner. The staff are all super nice and the food was so fulfilling! I got the vegetarian bibimbap and it was yummy read more

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This place is absolutely mind blowing! Right in New York, it has such a nostalgic vibe reminiscent of a vintage Korean restaurant. What an amazing concept paired with delicious food! My two kids had the bulgogi, the marinated beef, while I opted for the spicy squid. Everything was absolutely delicious, and the portions were perfect for adults. My kids, however, were so hungry that they finished almost everything! I made a reservation on Resy, which made it easier to get in. Even on a weekday, though, there's a long line before dinner service starts, so I recommend reserving in advance if you can! read more

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This place has been on my go-to list for a while & was finally excited to try everything out. It took a while to get a reservation. Seating is pretty tight within the restaurant but the service was friendly. For the food itself, it was good and the variety was nice, but nothing blew me away. Of the side dishes, I really liked the chicken. I got the bulgolgi as my main and it was flavorful. Overall the food was good, very nice homey dishes, but I was expecting something more on taste for the price. read more

A preface: there are three reviews I wrote in a row, accidentally posting under an account I didn't mean to create. I am not sure why, but because of my gmail account, which is not the primary address I use, Yelp signed me in automatically under that, and I put up these reviews. I am putting a preface on this to avoid an issue of either AI or someone wondering if I copied myself. My friends and I knew we had picked a great restaurant as soon as we sat down at Kisa. This is a casual Korean spot that offers only four choices: beef; pork; squid; or vegetables. That is it, really. They all come with individual banchan, the little dishes (the silky tofu was my favorite). One member of our party wondered if he could have his beef made spicy. No, not so much. But it was fine as is. What was remarkable, however, was the very reasonable price, even with drinks. They have to keep the service brisk and "flip" the tables, and you'd have to accept that trade off. Our server was fast and friendly. We did not feel rushed. The New Yorker had a positive review. They noted the place had created the impression it had been there all along, despite being newish. That periodical -- I regard it as sophisticated, not having understood it when as a child I came across it at the doctor's office -- also had photos that look like Kodachrome. Their write up likely generated an audience that otherwise would not have come across this restaurant. Other than to compliment the quality, I have to say I marvel at how successful Korea has been, not just in the US but around the world, in advancing "soft power" through food, K-Pop, soap operas, and quality products. Other nations of similar size must be envious. (I found out just before the pandemic I am partly Korean, through a genetic test, but I don't believe I'm biased since my father was skeptical of the result and the family does not identify as Korean in any meaningful manner). One of my friends noticed something. This happens more and more. It's not a negative. It's just a fact. As we were finishing, he said, you know, we're the oldest people here. Indeed, we were, judging from a quick scan of the room. Of our group, I was the youngest, and I am sure, without being precocious, I could have been the father of any of the other diners. So if you're over the age of fifty (and our median for the quartet is probably 64), you will be among folks half your age. It just means you -- we -- still enjoy life and are getting out at night. We even had a nightcap next door. read more

I've been wanting to visit Kisa for a long time, but have been a little too lazy to wait in line, so I was really happy when they started offering reservations for a handful of their seats. We got the bulgogi and spicy squid, and our banchan were kimchi, a meat pancake, marinated egg, acorn jelly, spicy cured raw shrimp, deep fried seaweed roll, and cucumber salad. Everything was really good! I'm normally not super into the raw seafood banchan, but I enjoyed the shrimp more than expected. We ordered a refill of the egg, acorn jelly, meat pancake, and seaweed roll. The included rice and soup were also excellent. We ended our meal with the coffee machine. The hot chocolate was out, so our two choices were a mocha or a black bean latte. Both drinks were on the sweet side, but I enjoyed the black bean latte. Inside volume is a little loud but not so much that you have to shout to have a conversation. Staff is super friendly and attentive. $32pp initially feels a little pricey but I think you get a lot of really tasty food (we had leftovers). I think all in, $32+tax and tip is well worth it! read more

Kisa - The top platter as the spicy squid and the bulgogi is in the platter on the bottom. - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Service and vibes are great Love how it feels very Korean and stuff but the food is just okay For $32 pp not including tax and tip it just doesn't feel like it's worth it to go again... it was a good experience but I liked the vibe so much I was enjoying it but when I thought about it was okay. You can get 3 more side dishes or soup for free. I think after that there's a few. It's def not worth the wait. I've heard people have waited hours. My friend went cus of me and didn't care for it and didn't like that the side dishes weren't unlimited. I don't regret trying it cus it was a fun experience but I wouldn't take my friends here or recommend it. I'd go if my friends wanted to but it's not really worth it to me We got the bori bibimbap and spicy pork Both were good and the spicy pork had that grilled taste or fire taste.. They give you a quarter at the end so you can get a cup or mocha, hot chocolate, or black bean milk read more

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Update: Manager was extremely apologetic about the situation. They offered us a reservation and we took it. Ended up loving our meal and experience! At Kisa, all you do is choose your protein: bulgogi, spicy pork, squid, or a vegetable bibimbap. Each option is $32 and comes with 7 different banchan, rice, and soup which I think is a steal. You're able to pick three banchan to refill. I was super full by the end so I didn't refill any, but my favorite three were the rice cake and sausage skewers, egg, and kimchi. All of the staff we interacted with said their favorite option was the spicy pork. My friends got that while I got the bulgogi. I thought both were equally good. I loved the charred flavor of the meats. I genuinely think the bulgogi is some of the best I've had in the city. So addictive! I would encourage people to try the various sojus and cheongjus they have. There were a few interesting ones that we liked. There was a light and sweet one with camellia that was easy to drink. There was also a drier one with ginger that was great as well. After the meal, they give you quarters to enter into the drink machine near the entrance. We had the option of a "black bean latte" and hot chocolate. We all got the black bean latte and I thought it was a great end to the meal. It was sweet and comforting. Service was attentive and friendly. Never had to ask for more water, and everyone was happy to answer questions. Overall: if the wait wasn't so long I'd be there number one customer! Definitely one of my current favorite Korean restaurants in NYC. read more

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I got a 5 PM reservation at Kisa from my friend. I knew nothing going into it. She invited me out to dinner. Kisa is a humble Korean restaurant with simple my new choices of four major proteins. If you have decision paralysis is your place to go. I ended up choosing the Bulgogi protein, which comes with six banchans. I liked a few of the Bonchon's but the ones that weren't my liking had a weird gelatinous texture (etc. the shrimp and jello strips). I would come back again as the banchans rotate seasonally, and the meal was pretty affordable and under $45 per person. The ambience was a no-frills Korean styled restaurant. read more

Kisa - Bulgogi and banchan - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

I loved Kisa! I had heard some mixed reviews of the value given that the upfront cost is $32pp and everyone has to order their own platter, but it ended up being worth it to me. We came on a Monday at 9:30pm and there was no wait, several tables available. My friend and I both ordered the Bulgolgi as our main, though the real star of the show was the banchan. Everything was superb. The best part is that they allow 3 refills and you can take home leftovers. I do think the bulgolgi could've been better (a tad dry for me) but the quantity was really generous. I refilled the cucumbers, soup, and marinated egg. The leftovers fed me a second meal at home. Service was very friendly, with the owners and waiters coming by to chat and help explain the dishes. For some reason I didn't get any quarters like everyone is talking about, but maybe they ran out at the end of the night or machine was broken. Overall, I would definitely come back! read more

Kisa - Bulgolgi - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Maybe I give out 5's too easily but Kisa definitely deserves it. The interior was so reminiscent of the local restaurants I used to go to in Korea, so it was very comforting to enter that space. Also, the service was so kind right off the bat and I got my food so quick despite there being a good amount of people. It was super delicious too, and tasted authentic. Good portion, and the donkatsu was korean style which I loved. Finally, the price was also great for the portion you get ($18). I want to come back and try the gamja tang! read more

Kisa - Donkatsu - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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Got here 10 minutes after opening and was quoted a 30 min- 1 hour wait... ended up waiting an hour. Meal starts off with complimentary crispy rice which is the perfect crunchy snack in my opinion. Menu is pretty simple, choosing from 4 mains, which come with rice and soup, and you are allowed 3 refills of any banchan of your choosing (including the rice and soup). We opted for the bulgogi and the spicy pork. The spicy pork was my favorite, but to be honest, the meat overall was pretty dry and I feel like I can definitely get better quality meat in ktown. As for the banchan, my favorite was surprising the rice cake skewers (I don't usually like rice cakes but these had a very nice char and chew). the soy marinated shrimp was also not bad (to be fair, the only comparison I have is ones I've had in ktown LA). Other banchan was a bit disappointing though... the mung bean jelly was warm and tasted meh, the rolled omelette was good but a bit lacking in depth, the kimchi was just OK, and the beef in the potato jorim was especially dry. Overall, it was very filling though. The drinks at the end were honestly the best part of the meal. The black bean latte was on the sweeter side, but the mocha coffee was absolutely perfect. Tasted like a slightly bitter milk tea coffee, just how I like it. I would say it isn't worth the wait and is also a bit pricey for what you get, but the concept and ambiance is fun I guess. read more

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The C as in Charlie team has done it again! Kisa is a great spot to come to for some traditional Korean fare - the food and the ambience of the restaurant really bring you to another time and place. The menu is super easy here - for $32, you get a soup, rice, a meat dish, and a variety of banchan (all of which are delicious!). Each person that comes must get their own platter, and you can refill 3 banchan free of charge (additional after that is $2 each). We tried the bulgogi and the spicy pork, both of which were great and had a great smokey flavour. To finish off, you can choose from a cup of coffee milk, black bean, or hot chocolate from a little drink dispenser (FYI all have processed milk though, for my fellow lactose sensitive Asians). This is an awesome spot for some Korean fare for a decent price, considering the amount of food you get). They're walk in only, so if you're coming on a busy day or with a big group, I'd come to put your name down earlier than you want to eat. I plan to be back! read more

Kisa - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Got a spot with my party of 5 right away when we went around 8:30pm on a Wednesday night. Staff took our order right away and it came out pretty fast! The portion size did seem a little small (for both the rice and the stew). I heard the banchan is refillable but we decided to just finish everything without asking for more. I loved the fire/grill taste in the meat and it was really yummy but definitely felt like this was overpriced for what it's worth. Loved the retro/throwback vibes, and I can tell they really thought it through for the decorations, both just the restaurant and even in the bathroom! You get a quarter per person when you ask for the check so you can use the coffee machine near the entrance, which is a sweet finish to your meal. Overall, I think it's worth coming once for the vibes and hype but I don't think it is somewhere I would come regularly as I can find the same meal for much cheaper. read more

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As much as I love supporting small family businesses, $32 is a little pricey for what you are getting. I guess the attractiveness of this spot is the concept, but I don't think this is a place that I would go to on a weekly or even a monthly basis. It's a good one time experience type of restaurant for me at least. The food was good and it reminded me of bibimbap except everything was put separately and on the side for you to mix yourself. Also, the raw shrimp stood out. It isn't something I eat normally or something that I'd see normally. We visited when the store was opening and there was a 45 minute wait. I don't think I would wait 45 minutes for this experience, especially since after 6 PM or 7 PM that was little or no wait at all. The service was amazing. We spilled some soup and they rushed over with a ride pen and were very kind. Nonetheless, still more of a restaurant that I'd only eat at once just to try. TLDR - food and service was good but I probably wouldn't pay $32 or wait 45min for a comparable meal just to have the experience of getting coffee and tea with a quarter read more

Kisa - Lots of food - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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Put our names down on a Saturday night and were seated after a little under an hour. The ambiance was very cozy and nostalgic, and the food is objectively good. With their set menu, you get some sides, soup, and a bowl of rice. You can get a refill on three sides before they charge you extra. My overall thought after dining here is that everything is just a bit overpriced. The food was fine, and the serving was generous, but it came out to around $43 all in, which is just a bit more than what I feel like the food was worth. There was also no AC and the restaurant felt so humid inside, which peeved me throughout the experience. It's really difficult to enjoy a meal in those conditions. Overall, I'm glad I tried this restaurant as it's new, but I wouldn't go back. On the upside, the service was very friendly! At the end of the meal, they give you two quarters to use at their self serve drink station, and my friend and I loved the black bean latte it served. read more

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Honestly I didn't have too high hopes-- as a Korean that's used to eating these menus at the fraction of the price in Korea, I didn't go in expecting much. However, I was pleasantly surprised. The bulgogi was super good (loved the smoky taste). The side dishes were also all really good and they refill 3 of them for free! Overall this is definitely a good place the visit once for the unique vibe, good service, and for the experience! read more

Kisa - Squid, bulgogi - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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Food was great! Service was beyond accommodating, they went above and beyond for my family. Felt very authentic according to my in laws! Can't wait to come back! read more

Kisa - Store front - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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Came here for dinner for their opening week and it did not disappoint! Spicy Pork and Spicy Squid were my favorites! Nice array of banchan as well! Servers were all very nice and explained every dish. Would recommend coming in at opening 5pm if you want to avoid a wait. We got there around 5:15 and we were seated immediately, and there was a line by 5:45. read more

Finally got a chance to check out this place that was being so hyped up, especially on social media. Was it worth the hype? Not really? The food was definitely really good, but it was not sooooo amazing enough as a Korean to go back again. I was impressed by the side dishes, especially the soy marinated salmon, which was my favorite. The beef and radish soup was really good and I got the spicy pork, which was good. Surprisingly, we were so full and couldn't eat everything. My friends and I were there on a Sunday night and it was an hour and a half wait. Everyone working there was so nice and so polite and so patient and helpful with any questions and to make sure that we were having a good meal. So, it's definitely a unique experience, but more of a tourist spot, making you really feel like you are sitting somewhere in Korea in the past in the 80s. It was like a blast to the past. Ultimately, one time experience was good enough. I feel like I could have this kind of food anytime in North Jersey for a lesser price, too. FYI: -Don't forget to get your hot drink from the coffee vending machine by the door before leaving - mocha, black sesame, or hot chocolate. I got the black sesame and it was good. -Each person has to get their own meal set, which was $32 per person for dinner. There is a different price listed for lunch on their website ($18-$19). -The refill policy for the side dishes (banchan) has been constantly changing according to past reviews. When I went, the only refill you can get is for kimchi. For everything else, if you want a refill, you'll have to pay for it, which we didn't because we barely finished what he had. read more

Heard about this place when it opened. Thought the hype would die down in a bit after a month, but it's still massively packed. We arrived close to the opening time but were still part of the second seating. When we left maybe around 6:30pm, they officially closed their waitlist for the night. Menu is very simple. There's only 4 different main dishes, and they all come with the same set of banchan. I got the bulgogi myself. My friends got the spicy squid and spicy pork. Bulgogi was okay. It lacked the smokiness that you get from a direct BBQ grill. However, the portion is massive. I liked the spicy squid the best because it was a little more savory, and it's not something you find too often. Nurungji at the beginning of the meal had a light sweetness but stuck to your teeth a little. I liked the soup, might have been kimchi soybean. Kimchi was average definitely a little more spicy than other restaurants I've been to. Beef in the potato jorim was tender. I was excited about the soy marinated shrimp, but it wasn't that fresh. The shrimp was on the chewier side and had a big fishy taste. Mung bean jelly salad was a good cleanser between stronger tasting foods. Omelet roll was pretty good. Sausage and rice cake skewers were my favorite. A good balance between sweet, savory, and spice for the sauce, and the sausage had a good bite. They do have a vegetarian bibimbap option, but it's pointless because you can't eat half the banchan as they don't have vegetarian substitutes for those. Really enjoyed the black bean latte at the end of the meal. Strong bean taste with notes of sesame, and it's not insanely sweet. However, it's not mixed too well since all the powder sunk to the bottom. Would be nice to have a stir stick for it. You could also choose hot chocolate or coffee. The portions are massive, and they do let you refill some banchan. Just not sure which one other than the seaweed. Definitely struggled to finish everything. Considering banchan is free at most Korean places, this is a little overpriced for just okay food. read more

Kisa - Bulgogi Set - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

I can't stop thinking about Kisa! I had my expectations low because I thought it was just going to be overhyped from TikTok but the food was actually amazing and I can't wait to come back. The only thing is that you have to know before 4:30 pm the same day if you want to eat dinner at Kisa. Honestly the wait / reservation system wasn't that bad compared to the hoops you have to jump through for other restaurants. As long as you show up at the latest 4:45 you should be able to get a table for dinner. You can leave and have 15 minutes to come back when they text you, so we only ended up waiting in line about 20 minutes total and just did some shopping in soho until we got the text. If you come by after 5 you cannot put your name on the list and have to check back at 7pm. The menu only has a few choices, and we tried the bulgogi which had a wonderful smoky flavor while my bf enjoyed the spicy pork. They give you a limited number of refills on banchan/rice/soup but to be honest we were so stuffed by the end that we couldn't even take advantage of refills. My favorite was the soybean soup and the Tteokbokki with sausage. Usually I don't enjoy tteokbokki because the sauce is too sweet, but this one was smoky and not too sweet. The black bean latte was also a favorite. read more

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Kisa offers an experience unrivaled. They have a small dinner selection but recently debuted an additional lunch menu. I went for the bulgogi but the spicy octopus also sounded so good. There was a wait on a weekday. Mind you Kisa is more of an experience than a place i'd go mainly for the food. They come with side dishes to justify the pricing but side dishes usually come for free at other korean places. My body was not used to the raw shrimp so I ended up throwing up afterwards. You can get a refill of a few sides and your main dish comes with soup as well. At the end, you get a free coin to use their hot drink machine which was super yummy. I wouldn't come here again but definitely recommend trying it once for the experience. read more

Kisa - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

We came around 6pm on a Friday night and had to wait about 30-40 mins for the two of us. They're now taking resy, but it's still hard to snag a reservation, so we tried our luck to see if there was a wait in person. We ended up waiting at the bar next door, which he recommended when he took our name/# down The restaurant is pretty small, but the decor makes it very homey! I love how simple their menu is, making it much easier for an indecisive person like myself to choose. Each set comes with the same banchan, so all you have to do is pick your main! And at about $35 pp, it was a good amount of food. I ended up getting the spicy squid and my husband got the spicy pork. Both had a great char flavor! My only specific recommendation is to not sub any of the banchan if you're pregnant and can't eat raw! They ended up giving me doubles of potato salad and kimchi. I would've rather just given the raw apps to my husband Would definitely come back and looking forward to trying their lunch menu on the weekends. read more

Pretty good Korean Food. I liked the quality and taste of the food as well as the simplicity of ordering. I don't necessarily feel the long wait times makes the food worth it, but it's due to the viral-ity of the tiktok and instagram reels. Due to the lines, we felt rushed eating here. read more

Had a really fun time at Kisa in Manhattan. The decor is nostalstic and reminds me of 1980's Korea, which is the point. The main dish and banchans were good. We got the bibimbab, bulgogi, and pork as a main dish. The bibimbab was straightforward, solid, traditional bibimbab. The bulgogi was not sweet which is a plus, and tender and flavorful. The pork was also not sweet, but soft and smoky. Both meats were excellent. There were 7 different kinds of banchan and a dried fish, radish soup. You can get free refills on the vegetable banchans but for the chicken, chapchae and mulhoe you need to pay $2 per refill. The banchan were individually good with the exception of the chicken wings which lacked seasoning and was a bit bland. The chapchae was tasty but was almost all noodles and no vegetables or meat. The soup was good and had a little kick to it. We also ordered some Korean ipa's. I cannot remember which one they were - we tried a few - but they were all excellent and decently priced. The service was top notch. They seemed to anticipate our needs and were extremely attentive. I really appreciated that they collected feedback from customers asking what they liked and what could be done better. They are already a super popular restaurant with lines going out the door, yet instead of resting on their laurels they show a willingness to iterate and grow which I find commendable. On our way out, the owner recomended the black sesame drink from the automatic hot drink vending machine. It was delicious and a good non-caffeinated alternative after dinner drink. read more

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This was a bucket list stop for us based on other reviews. We went at lunch time on a weekday and waited about 45 minutes without a reservation (due to our party size they didn't take reservations for 5). The restaurant itself is tiny - that's why they work on a reservation system. There are only a few tables. The food was delicious, but we left feeling underwhelmed by the smallish entree portions and the steep price. Glad we tried it, but it's not a must return spot for us. The coffee machine was cool, though! read more

Kisa - Vintage coffee - free, just press the button on the machine. - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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Definitely one of my new fave Korean eats in the city! Pro tips - Come early (before they open) on a weekday if possible: I went on a Monday and there was barely a wait! - Make use of the refills: you can get 3 side dishes refilled half way through your meal and you bet that I got multiple of those soy marinated shrimps (so good!) - Get the black bean latte from the coin machine on your way out, perfect way to end the meal :) read more

Kisa - spicy pork entree w/ side dishes - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

I was lucky that my friend snagged a reservation on Resy before the hype really took off here / right before Kisa was named one of the best 2024 new restaurants in NYC by The Infatuation . . For $32, you get a main dish, soup, rice, and a bunch of Korean sides (banchan) that change throughout the seasons. The fried japchae was my favorite, but honestly, everything we had was amazing. I got the beef bulgogi and my friend got the spicy pork. Both were seasoned to perfection. . The service and decor were superb. Our waiter helped with all our menu questions and gave me a hefty sake pour. You can get refills of the sides you finish during your meal. I thought that was really cool but I only refilled on the japchae because there was just so much food to eat . During our meal, I overheard someone next to us say this restaurant felt like eating at grandmas house and that's definitely the vibe it gave off. It was like eating in someone's home. . Don't forget to grab the black bean latte at the end of your meal, bring a quarter for the coffee machine. read more

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The more I think about Kisa the more I like it, and I feel like there should be more restaurants like it in NYC. The restaurant is deliberately casual and decorated as if you plucked it straight out of Seoul. Kisa features set menus with a few choices to make for a protein main, accompanied by a set amount of banchan (Korean sides). I think everything was executed and I didn't find any weak spots in what was provided. Apparently, the restaurant rotates side dishes every once in a while to keep things interesting. Overall, service was great! Food came out fast and the servers were willing to accommodate. They allow you to refill three of your sides as well, though I was way too full for that anyways. It's a cute spot and you should check it out if you're in the LES. Just a heads up, it's walk-in only. read more

Kisa - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Kisa reminds me of 70's and 80's Korean Taxi Driver(Kisa) Diner. My wife and I arrived 30 minutes before its opening on Sunday, but there were already about 30 people waiting outside. Probably we were the only generation who actually visited Kisa Diners in Korea back then; its location (between SOHO and East Village) and authentic exterior/interior may be among the reasons why this restaurant is successful. A simple menu (only four platter selections), BGM (70s and 80s Korean Folk Songs) and interiors (old wall-mounted fans and TVs) are the items that I attest authentic. The quality of the platter including side dishes are quite good, probably much better than actual Kisa diners in Korea, and the price ($32 for one platter excluding tax and tip) is clearly set for foodies who want to experience authentic, not fusion, Korean foods which used to be prepared for tax drivers. Highly recommended for anyone, but you should be patient enough to wait minimum 30 mins or more. P.S. Korean Tax Drivers had to finish their lunch very quickly so that they did not have enough time to enjoy a cup of coffee at the table, which should be prepared for next patrons. Reminding this tradition, there is a 'surprise' given to Kisa patrons after the check. You should enjoy a similar treat. read more

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Cool and fun experience! I was intrigued by the presentation of food at this restaurant where you get 10 different small bowls of food that consist of a main entree, banchans, soup, and rice. Love how simple the menu is and that you just need to pick the entree and everything else is the same for everyone. I got the spicy squid as my entree and thought that it was standard spicy squid. I really like trying the different banchans. Also love the coffee you can get from the machine after your meal. The staffs are super friendly and attentive. read more

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Food: the sides and main course was honestly pretty mid. Nothing really stood out. We got the squid and the pork bulgogi. The omelette and rice cakes skewers were our favorite sides. You also get three free additional sides of your choosing at the end. Overall I don't think the price is worth the value of the food and there are definitely better Korean spots in the city but it was a nice experience. Service: the guy at the front was prompt and attentive. Server was nice as well. We went right at 5pm and there was already a line and wait to get in. It seemed like they started to let people in earlier than the opening time. We waited 20ish minutes which wasn't too bad. But by the time we got seated, the wait was like over an hour. Side note, I did try to go once before at 10pm while I was in the area and was told that the kitchen had already closed even though there was still people inside eating and their closing time is supposedly 11pm. Just a heads up! Ambiance: decor inside is cute and there is plenty of seating. The free drink at the end was a nice experience but it was a little too sweet for our liking. We got the black sesame drink and a mocha. read more

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Since we enjoyed their dinner so much, we decided to come back to Kisa for their lunch menu on weekends. Lunch menu consists of 2 options: tonkatsu ($18) and gamjatang ($19), so of course we had to order both to share. Pork katsu came with 2 cutlets that were breaded and fried well, salad, and rice. Crispy exterior and the interior was not dry despite it being thinner. The katsu was good on its own, but sauce was thick and had a sweet/tangy flavor that paired nicely with it. The mini macaroni salad was good. and rice was fluffy. Gamjatang felt like comfort food to me. The broth was great for a cold, rainy day. It was hearty and great for dipping rice into. It wasn't spicy, and there were 4 big tender pieces meat, so don't be afraid to eat them with your hands so you can get every last piece of meat on the bones! Service is consistently attentive. There wasn't a wait for the lunch compared to dinner, and they don't offer coffee machine during their lunch hours. read more

Kisa - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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My Korean friend said this is the most authentic Korean food she's had since leaving Korea. Needless to say, it was delicious. We got the squid and the bbq which were both absolutely delicious. It was authentic all the way down to the atmosphere. It was a hot summer day they, in typical Korean fashion, did not have air conditioning - they just had fans around which really added to the ambiance in a good way. My friend said this is the kind of place where in Korea truck drivers would stop for quick homey meal. The flavors and textures of everything was so yummy. The only thing I didn't love was the hot dog rice cake one but I guess it's a newer trend. At the end, they give you a quarter to use at the drink machine and this was probably my favorite part. The little sweet drink at the end was the perfect way to finish the meal. I got the purple one. read more

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We knew there was going to be a wait given the social media presence so we arrived at 4:30pm on a Saturday. Surprisingly the line wasn't too bad but it grew quickly and went down the block by 4:55pm. We were able to get seated for the first seating at 5pm. Pro tip is to look at the menu while waiting in line so you can order as soon as you are sat. Doing so, we got our food pretty quickly. Not sure what happened to the table of two next to us as they got their food when we were done - an hour later. We tried spicy squid and vegetable bibimbap. It's SO much food but $32 per person does seem a bit excessive. It's nice that everyone gets their own banchan and they give refills for 3 of them if you want. We opted out since we were way too full. I get the novelty of how the dishes are served and the whole old school vibe but I can order the same dishes at other restaurants in KTown for about the same amount of banchans and around $5-$10 less in price. The A/C seemed to be down or not working 100%. The staff were really nice and attentive but I can't help but think about the restaurant bottlenecking from all the orders to a point where they had some diners wait for their food for an hour after seating. I would be pretty hangry if that was me. Cute concept though, especially the departure beverage machine at the end of your meal. read more

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The diversity of banchan is quite great. The mains were decent but I think the soup was my favorite thing there. read more

Kisa - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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I had so much to say abt kisa unfortunately the food was rlly good idk if that means i need to stfu up now read more

Kisa - Squid, pork - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

My friends and I booked a resy a month or so in advance; thank goodness they finally made a reservation system because the wait here has been really long. The interior gives grandma's home vibes and is really nostalgic. They did a great job recreating the 80s-90s. The menu is pretty small and features different meats with all of the side dishes. Overall I would say the amount of food you get is definitely worth what you pay! This was a fun experience and would recommend if you're looking for a more homey dinner read more

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