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Such a fun place to visit! If you do come, reserve in advance. I waited about an hour on a Friday night for 7pm seating. You choose one meat (we ordered spicy squid and bulgogi) and it comes with a bunch of banchan. These are no ordinary banchan. They have braised pork, fried tofu in a delicious soy sauce, beef tartare, fish cake, kimchi, cabbage, and shrimp with a horseradish sauce. All so good and we left extremely full. The main guy at the front goes out of his way to make it an enjoyable experience for the diners.
Stopped by Kisa and got the spicy squid baek ban, while my friend got the spicy pork. The menu is pretty short, but that's kind of the point -- they stick to a handful of dishes. Everything came out pretty quickly with all the banchan already on the table. The squid had a nice kick, and I stole a bite of my friend's spicy pork, which was really solid too. Everything felt homey and comforting, the seaweed soup especially. Honestly, I liked that the menu was simple. I'm too indecisive about what to get and what I'm missing out on, but the short menu made picking what to get really easy. Everyone was friendly, and our food came out pretty quickly. I'd come back and try one of the other baek ban dishes depending on what I'm in the mood for.
Went back to Kisa for lunch and it wasn't packed or a wait for a table. Service is fast and attentive. Scan QR code on table to menu. Got the bulgogi set which comes with an array of banchan and the donkatsu lunch set which is only available currently from Wednesday-Friday. Both meals came out quickly with big portions. Food is consistent and enough to eat for two meals. There was definitely leftovers. Love how it feels homey with quality service and food.
Finally went to try this place!! Got the spicy squid meal and it was delicious with all the Banchan and soup!! Around $46 with tips and tax tho.. will come back try the bibimbap and the donkatsu
If you dont have a reservation expect to wait an hour - it is already a small establishment and they are very popular. If youre not familiar with the theme if Kisa it's based off of Korea's taxi driver diners. That means a very small selective menu to be a quick in and out meal. You will get a choice iof 1 of the 4 entrees they offer and that's it. The ban chan you get is whatever they have made (if it's something like raw meat they will ask you to make sure it's okay or if they have to replace that). The four options you have are: Bulgogi, Spicy Pork, Stir-fried Squid, and Bimbimbap. Sometimes they have Donkatsu too. They also offer some beer/soju as well as sodas. They have hot water/coffee in a korean dispensing machine next to the door. The food came out really quickly and was great. The squid I got was well cooked without being chewy and I enjoyed the banchan options given. It's surprisingly more filling than you may think without making you feel super bloated.
I was in NYC for work and a colleague recommended this place. Waited an hour. But the food and service was worth the wait! They even gave me a shot of soju.
Finally had the chance to try Kisa while my parents were visiting, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say the food was AMAZING. I think my expectations weren't too high because this is the type of stuff I grew up eating, so it was somewhat familiar, but I'd say that meal took core Korean comfort food and elevated it without being too complicated. My family got the spicy pork and stir-fried squid, both of which I'd highly recommend. Especially the squid, because I feel like I'm not the biggest seafood person, but it was so good and succulent, marinated beautifully with the sweet and savory spicy sauce. The highlight of the side dishes had to be the mul hwe - like 10/10 if that was a main I'd eat a whole meal of it. It's a much more delicate sweet and spicy, and the fish itself is so clean and fresh. They were pretty packed when we got there as the restaurant itself isn't too big, so definitely would recommend making a reservation. Service was great, and idk if it was one of the owners or a manager, but he greeted us and was a super friendly guy. My parents and I were stuffed and satisfied, and it's great to have this diverse buffet of little bites to support the main because their side dishes seem to have their own personality and are different from the usual banchan I find in Korean restaurants. The one thing my parents and I would say is that the price is definitely not cheap because it's $36 per order. It is a hefty portion, but it was not the price we expected lol. Regardless, had a great meal and would love to try their seasonal menus!
After reading that they made the Top 100 NYT list for 2026, I decided to give it a try. The venue definitely did its best to recreate the nostalgic Korean diner vibe, and I have to admit, they captured the atmosphere quite well. The food? Preset banchan (side dishes) with your choice of a main dish , which was okay. I grew up surrounded by incredible home cooks: my mom, grandmother, and older sister. The hot sauce and tofu reminded me of those comforting homemade flavors, which I appreciated, but overall the meal itself was not as tasty as anticipated. That said, I truly hope this place lives up to the hype and continues to succeed.
Kisa is a literal blast from the past - the design of the restaurant is very nostalgic and cozy. It feels like you are transported to a very homey mom-and-pop shop. It's decorated with paper calendars on the wall, framed family photos, small square televisions, and more. It is also incredibly popular! A reservation is a MUST for this restaurant. My friend and I booked a reservation for 5 p.m., which is the start of dinner, and there was already a line forming to be let inside. Despite the crowdedness of the restaurant, I did not feel rushed at all, and the server addressed all our questions and checked in on us every so often. The menu is very simple - you have a choice of protein, bulgogi, squid, spicy pork, or bibimbap. Each meal comes with a variety of banchan for each guest. It's all seasonal and includes dishes such as kimchi, pollack soup, fruit salad, japchae, and raw fish (mul hwe). As someone who loves to eat family style and pick at various dishes throughout my meal, Kisa was perfect. I also felt very satisfied with the portions. I decided to pick the stir-fry squid as my protein, and I was incredibly happy with my choice!! After your meal, you will receive a coin to use a vintage coffee machine. You'll receive a to-go cup of coffee or tea! Overall, it was such a lovely experience. The food tasted great and felt authentic. I can not wait to come back. :)
I love the concept behind Kisa. Modeled after cheap eateries from the 80s, this restaurant is outfitted with all the nostalgic pieces from that time. A box television flickered to life with the weather report. An old electric metal fan perched on the ceiling. Framed family photos, a paper calendar, and a wooden clock lined the walls. The vibe is certainly homey. There's a cafeteria-like buzz here. Conversations, metal chopsticks clanging against metal plates, and upbeat music drown out what's spoken between two diners across the table. This place is indeed lively and so well desired. I was lucky to secure an 8 pm table on a Saturday for two, and about 45 minutes into our time, we were rushed out by our server as the seat was booked for another party at 9. This is the only snag in my experience. Restaurants should allow for patrons to stay for at least an hour and fifteen minutes. Standard dining times usually run for an hour and thirty to two hours. Nonetheless, the delicious meals made up for our hastened dining. The menu is simple: You have a pick of three mains -- bulgogi, pork, squid, or bibimbop -- with the banchan already pre-chosen for you. I ordered the bulgogi and my friend ordered the pork. Both were delicious, with the former leaning into the sweet soy sauce flavors while the latter leaned smokey. I enjoyed the banchan as well. The rice was hot and sticky. The tofu, as someone who doesn't normally like it, was silky smooth. The spicy soy-chili sauce that came with it was phenomenal. The sashimi was equally as good, fresh, and not at all polarizing, even for someone who doesn't normally like raw fish. Would I return to Kisa? I certainly would. Hopefully I won't be rushed out next time.
This cozy Korean restaurant is so delicious and unique! I love the idea of having a set menu and being able to choose your choice of protein. The Spicy Pork is so delicious and well-seasoned, and pairs perfectly with the white rice and banchans. The staff are nice and quick, and I enjoyed both times I came here. I recommended making a reservation if possible since it may be difficult getting a table with walk-in since it's first come first serve.
Was finally able to make it here. Made reservations and was promptly seated for lunch. There's only 4 mains on the menu which comes with 7 banchans (small sides) per person. Bulgogi (thin beef in a sweet soy), spicy squid, spicy pork, or vegetarian rice bowl. They have 1 special dish Wed- Fri. My friend and I both got the bulgogi beef. The banchans were the highlight of the meal. My favorite was the velvety raw beef with the Asian pear and the shrimp salad with the wasabi miso. It also comes with rice and a nice perilla soup. My only complaint was the noise level. It was too loud to have a conversation. We will be back
Kisa in NYC is such a fun dining experience. One thing to note is that everyone at the table has to order a plate set, but honestly, it's worth it. Each set comes loaded with a variety of Korean side dishes (banchan), so you get a lot to try. We ordered the beef and the squid. I'm usually not a squid person, but this one surprised me. It was tender, well-seasoned, and really flavorful. The japchae also included minced meat, which added a nice touch. Every order also comes with rice and a hot soup, making it feel like a complete, comforting meal. The space is on the smaller side, but we made a reservation so there was no wait, which I definitely recommend. Super convenient location too, especially if you're coming from Midtown since the subway is literally right in front. I'd definitely come back again and try the pork next time!
Kisa was opened by the same people who run C as in Charlie (which I wasn't a huge fan of). This place got quite a bit a press even before they opened given their unique concept. "Kisa" is taxi driver in Korean, and the restaurant mimics a traditional taxi driver diner that you would find in Korea. The decor is very vintage and both the exterior signage and interior look like they copy pasted the decor of a restaurant straight from Korea. It took me a while to get around to going because I knew there was going to be a wait. You have to get there 30-40 minutes before opening to make sure you can get seated in the first wave. After that they take names and phone numbers and add you to a waitlist, which gets filled up pretty quickly. We got there 30 minutes early and were able to get seated right when they opened. The menu is super simple - you choose a set based on which main protein you want (I got spicy spork). Each set is $32 and comes with the same seven side dishes (acorn jelly, dried seaweed, kimchi, egg rolls, soy marinated raw shrimp with onions, braised potato with beef, and seottok seottok (rice cake and sausage skewers). It also comes with a bowl of soybean paste stew and rice. They give you 3 free refills of any of the side dishes (except the seaweed) or the rice and soup, but after that I think it's $2 per refill. Ever since I heard about this place I honestly thought $32 was too much for this kind of set, but it ended up being more than enough food for me. Obviously this would be way cheaper in Korea, but I thought all the dishes were solid and the ambiance was super unique. They give you each a quarter after you pay, which you can use for their drink machine by the entrance for either a mocha (instant coffee of course) or a black bean latte. The black bean latte was on the sweet side but it was a nice little dessert to cap the meal. I was honestly kind of skeptical of this place since I wasn't a huge fan of C as in Charlie and since the price point seemed high for what it is, but it's a fun concept and I had a great experience - would definitely come back again if I can get around the wait time. read more
Lunch review: i had the bibimbip and overall it was okay, but Im most excited to come back for dinner for the full banchan experience. I tried a little bit of my boyfriend's gamjatang dish and liked that dish more, though it was spicy. Don't miss getting a self serve black bean latte for free, which is at the machine near the door. It tastes delicious! read more
1 year ago
I made a reservation about a week and half ahead for a Thursday night. My friend ordered the Spicy Pork and I got the Bulgogi (I love pork and beef so this worked out perfectly for me personally). Both tasted great and the banchan was amazing (the shredded potato and kimchi were my favorites). The staff is super attentive and it's a nice little space. Definitely recommend and don't forget to grab a latte on the way out the door. read more
The wait time is an issue, we waited quite a bit before the wait list opens up and another while for us to be up for seating. The decor is very cozy and representative of casual old-timy restaurants in Korea, the atmosphere is also very alluring. The food is alright, each platter is set to have 7 rotating side dishes (up to 3 refills of a side dish) and the options of the main entree item are spicy pork, spicy squid, bulgogi, and bibimbap for $32 per person/platter. It comes with a bowl of soup and rice. They also provide you with a coin (per person) to get a hot drink at the coffee machine by the door. You can get a hot chocolate or coffee. Overall, you can get much better deal somewhere else with unlimited refills for side dishes... It's worth the try for the experience if you like the vibe and atmosphere of the place, but personally would not return since it's overpriced. read more
2 years ago
This is currently a popular Korean restaurant that is trending on all social media platforms and has a line that forms at least 30-40 mins before opening. The first time I went which was at 6:10pm, the waitlist was closed and I would need to arrive at 8pm to be lucky to get a seat. So by the second attempt, I arrived early and got a seat. This restaurant is nostalgic from the decor on the wall, childhood pictures, and music playing which is 70s Korean music. Now onto the food, the server asked if it is your first time and they welcome you as well as briefly explain what they serve and how they serve it. There are no menu only QR codes. I ordered my main dish which was bulgogi and replaced my kimchi with an extra 2 skewers of rice cake and sausage. They allow you to replace a side dishes you don't like or want an extra helping of one side dish. I almost forgot to change mine but my server was kind enough to make the last minute change for me and I got my extra skewers. It was quite a feast for the eyes. It was also an array of tastes and combination of side dishes with my main dish as well as soup and white rice. After your meal, they give you a quarter to take to the coffee/tea machine to get a small drink to go while digesting. I got a mocha coffee and it was much needed to relax and take in what I ate. To summarize, come with an open mind when trying the variety of side dishes, a lot of patience when waited to be seated, and overall an appetite to try the food at this restaurant which was an overall great time for me and worth the wait read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
I enjoyed my meal at Kisa. They only have 4 items on the menu and I chose the bulgogi. It was very tasty and love the variety of banchans. The staff were friendly and attentive. Nice place, nothing fancy but the food was solid. Price was around $37 per person. It has gone up but so has food prices. Appreciated the cafe au lait at the end in the vending machine for free. read more
Definitely come here at least 15 min before they open if you dont want to wait in a long line! Love that the menu is super simple and service is fast. I got the stir-fried squid while my friend got the bulgogi. All the banchan were yummy but my favorite was the squid! It is spicy but I was able to enjoy it even though im someone that doesnt tolerate spice that well. My friend thought the bulgogi was pretty standard though and a little dry. Didnt know until I was quite full that you're able to get three free refills on any of the banchans so keep that in mind if theres any that you really like! Also make sure to get one of the free drinks from there coffee machine before you leave. The bean drink was very yummy :) read more
Good platter options with lots of banchan! Each platter is $32. You choose a main dish and it comes with the daily side dishes. We got the bulgogi, spicy pork, and spicy squid. Overall, everything tasted really good, was well-seasoned, and portioned well enough that we were all full. This is definite going to be a popular spot so come early. We got seated immediately when we got there at opening at 5pm but noticed a lot of people waiting for a table when we left at 6:30pm on a Thursday. read more
2 years ago
Lunch Edition: I have yet to try their dinner menu but was very happy to hear to they recently launched a lunch menu - only available Friday to Sunday from 11am to 2:30pm. They only have two options, Gamjatang ($18) and Donkatsu ($17).. - no substitutions . You will probably go for the gamjatang if you're dining alone, and will order both if you are a party of 2 or more. I did notice a single patron ordering both - yolo . Gamjatang - it is a spicy pork bone soup with potato and veggies. We got 4 bones. It was so good and so comforting. I have a weak spot for Korean soups, or sounds in general, especially when they have some sort of bone that has meat, I love gnawing on the bones to get into every nook and cranny. It was a tad spicy to me (I have very low spice level), but it was oh so good. The banchan was ok, they could have given a bit more of the chives if you ask me. But the banchans aren't the star here... . Donkatsu - Deep fried breaded pork cutlet - maybe the best donkatsu I've ever had.you get 2 pork cutlets and they were pretty big. It was so juicy. Perfect crisp on the outside. It did not taste greasy at all. And that mushroom & onion sauce, chefs kiss. I need that recipe. It was not salty, it didn't need the rice with every bite. The rice was mainly eaten with the Gamjatang. . Sorry, lunch isn't vegetarian friendly. . I was very very pleased with the meal and I see the hype. I can only imagine how the dinner tastes like. The dinner has more options to choose from, and more banchans. I can't wait to try it!!! . Side note: we arrived at exactly 11am on a Friday when the doors opened and there was already a line - about 10 ppl ahead of us, so we didn't have to wait at all. It didn't get packed while we dined, but around 12:30. A line started to form... read more
7 months ago
1 year ago
We had such a fun experience here! The place gives off the vibe of an authentic old-school Korean restaurant--it really felt like I was back in Korea. The interior is super cute, and the atmosphere makes it enjoyable overall. The food was above par--really tasty, with very generous portions. We ordered the donkatsu jeongsik and the gamjatang jeongsik, and both were satisfying. I especially liked the variety of side dishes that came with it. Prices were very reasonable for the amount of food you get. We went on a weekend around 11:30 AM and only waited about 5 minutes. But we must have been part of the first wave because soon after us, a long line started forming. I'd definitely recommend coming a little earlier than noon to avoid the wait. Overall, delicious food, fun atmosphere, and a very authentic Korean dining experience. Highly recommend! read more
1 year ago
Super long wait, so we got there at 5 to put our name down for 7. Service was very attentive and the restaurant has a very homey vibe despite being so popular. I got the veggie bibimbap and my friends got the beef bulgogi. The banchan were delicious and there was such a wide variety, and each order comes with three free refills. My favorite was the marinated egg and seaweed roll. I can't wait to come back :) read more
Best Korean spot in Manhattan outside of Ktown. The menu is super simple for lunch so just order one of each set and share if you do not mind. The service was excellent and the food was as authentic as authentic can be. I felt the 70 to 80's vibe once I walked in. read more
Love this neighborhood gem! We walked in on a Monday night and waited 20 min. Totally worth it. I didn't know they take reservation so I will do that next time. The wait staff made us feel very welcome and kept assuring us our table will be ready soon. The estimated wait time he had given us was also on point. They have a small menu but this is honestly just what I need. I ordered the spicy pork and it was amazing. All the side dishes that goes with it are great too! They also didn't rush us to leave which is a big plus for me since i always dine with friends that I haven't seen for awhile. Can't wait to go back! read more
Revising my initial review because I'm pretty disappointed that their policies keep changing. first from unlimited banchan at no additional cost, to 3 free refills which seemed like a great compromise, to now, no free refills, and what's even more ridiculous, 2$ per refill for banchan. Seems like bad business etiquette to keep changing their policies, and pricing. The charge on banchan definitely changes the entire experience, which had previously made the price seem pretty justified. read more
Kisa is an ode to the "Kisasikdang", which are Korean diners catering to taxi drivers. They are conveniently located eateries serving nourishing, inexpensive food. There is only one thing on the menu (Baek Ban), a traditional Korean meal comprised of rice, soup, and banchan (side dishes), centered around your choice of protein. It costs $32, and does not include refills. The interior reminded my husband of his Korean grandma's house. I opted for the Sanchae Bibimbap (the only meatless option on the menu) which included a generous portion of tender, flavorful mountain vegetables. My husband enjoyed the Bulgogi. The Banchan were delicious; I loved the variety of textures and flavors. My favorites were the house made kimchi, tri-color Jeon, spicy squid Jeotgal, and Radish Namul. It was the perfect amount of food. Highly recommended for a casual lunch or dinner. read more
2 years ago
I was a bit torn between a three and four star review here. Five stars for the service and the banchan: the marinated salmon is amazing!!! Our table definitely asked for extras of this side. I liked all of the side dishes; the soup was really good, the bean sprouts were great, the kimchi was great, the radish was great, the chicken was good... The servers were fast. It was ~1 hour wait from putting our names down to being seated, but I think I can only blame ourselves for not anticipating a longer wait at an instagram-popular establishment. (We hung out at the cute churro shop across the street while waiting). Also, visually impressive to see all of the banchan in a ring around our entrees! I'm also usually definitely someone who enjoys the banchan more than the entrees, even the best galbi in LA...but ultimately, I really wasn't impressed by my entree (the bulgogi). I think that if there are only 4 different entree options, they should all be reliably good, and our bulgogi was too dry. All the banchan beside kimchi is $2 extra. Without prompting, the servers told us that this was to reduce food waste, because people were wasting a lot more food before they started this policy. (We thought that was an odd explanation when you can take food home.) They're probably not /wrong/ in that people are wasting less food, but it feels a little silly that replacing a little dish of bean sprouts should be $2. I know they rotate their entrees and I think I would still come back (the price isn't insane for New York, and the banchan was great...) to try something else, but for now, I wouldn't comeback for the bulgogi. read more
Amazing authentic Gamja-tang soup you would've never tasted in the city! It was 34 degrees out Saturday around 1:30- Thanks god it was packed but only one table was available! People were very happy with their warmth. Their service was wonderful! Cute and neat really Korean local vibes both the taste and atmosphere and I so loved the place :) Be sure that you can make it! They close lunch at 2:30 :) I'll definitely come back xx read more
Not my first meal of the 2025 but already stamping the food as the bet i'm going to have this year. The inside is v small and super homey. The decor around the restaurant honestly makes you feel like you're dining in someone's home which I kinda like. The menu is simple and straight forward and we came for the korean bbq dishes. I got the spicy pork and my friend got the bulgogi. LOVED BOTH. The assortment of banchan was also pretty tasty. One thing I wish they did though was have their servers explain what each of the banchan dishes are -- we had to call someone over to let us know. i'll def be returning to the spot for her, it's a no brainer. read more
2 years ago
OMG found the best Korean comfort food in NYC! We waited about 1.5 hours in the line to get in, Kisa is translated as "taxi driver". Inside looks very cozy, and really packed. We got the crispy rice and some soup when we got in. It's really easy to order there, a set came with 7 sides and main dish (~$32) All the sides are amazing, and various, 10/10!! Can refill upto 3 sides, which is great!! After the dinner, they gave us a quarter for the drink machine(came with hot chocolate, tea, etc) really fun experience! Love coming here again! read more
1 year ago
The portions are huge! All the banchan were simple and tasty, and the main meat had a wonderful and smokey flavor. I just think it's overpriced and doesn't compare to the Korean food I've had in LA. It's a cool spot though! read more
9 months ago
Delicious food for a great price!!!! Heard about Kisa but didn't get to try until they announced they were open for lunch hours as well! As a party of 3, we managed to get seated real quick on a weekend. The lunch menu only has 2 items: Gamjatang vs Donkatsu. Gamjatang: If you're looking for a hearty soup with super tender meat, look no further! Enjoyed its seasoning and the balance between pork, veggies, and glass noodles. Comes with side dishes featuring chives and radish. Donkatsu: Tender pork cutlets that were fried very nicely. The demi-glaze was a little sweeter and less tangy than other places, but that's why I think I enjoyed it more! The ratio of sauce to meat was also spot on. Enjoyed the salad with sesame sauce and the other side dishes. In addition, they partnered up with this Korean instant coffee company, Newmix, and are giving out free samples at the end of your meal! I loved the matcha and roasted rice flavors. I love the home-y and cozy decor. Staff were really nice and attentive with water/napkins. The price performance was great too! I left with a full belly of yummy food and only spent about $20 per person which is rare in NYC!! Looking forward to coming back for dinner! read more
2 years ago
Decent spot with good portion size. This has been very popular, so we wanted to try it! There are only four choices for the main entree, I chose the spicy pork. The banchan is one of the best and the main is tasty. I do think it will be better if there's not as long of a wait. The ambiance is very cozy and the service is very efficient. read more
8 months ago
2 years ago
Came on a Saturday night and waited 2 hours to be sat despite being told the wait was only an hour and a half. I got the spicy pork, which was nothing special, but I did enjoy the banchans on the side. I especially liked the egg, Korean pancake (전), and gimmari (김마리). The soup on the side was delicious, and the black bean latte you get as you leave by the door is so good. This was pretty fairly priced for the amount of food, but certainly not worth waiting more than an hour for. Servers were all very friendly and the interior was decorated in such a familiarly nostalgic Korean way. read more
2 years ago
Just finished dining at Kisa for dinner. My party of 2 got here 15 minutes before it opens. We were able to make the first seating which is great. I got the spicy pork. Honestly, the pork was delicious. It got a spicy kick but not too much that I couldn't handle. It was juicy. The side dishes were good but there's no dukbo. It has this seaweed wrap around rice noodle. I was really filled from the dish and I only ate half of it. Definitely would come back before it opens to eat. read more
I feel a little silly writing this review because a fellow Yelper already posted everything I wanted to say. So here's my review to backup the other Yelper's claims. I also waiver giving a three stars. The food was decent but the service and ambiance deserves five stars. They set aside a number of tables for walk ins. If you couldn't get a reservation, the walk in wait isn't so bad. We went on a Monday evening as walk ins. We were told there's a half hour wait. We gave them our # in which we received a text when our table was ready. The host and servers were all courteous and welcoming. There was a complimentary plate of rice puffs sprinkled with soy bean powder on every table. They gave us plenty of time to scan the QR code to see the menu. It's a small menu - there are four choices of protein that comes with many side dishes. The only other things for purchase are drinks and lettuce add on. Each person gets their own tray of side dishes and their choice of protein. I got the beef bulgogi and my friend got the spicy pork. The other two proteins were squid and bibimbap. The server explained every dish and recommended ways to go about eating all the dishes. I thought the bulgogi had a fragrant taste that I wasn't fond of. My friend's spicy pork was good but honestly, nothing special. It tasted like Hmart marinated pork. Some of the side dishes stood out like the raw marinated salmon which was fresh. And the spicy squid had a nice chewy texture. It was about $45 per person after tax and tips. There's a coffee machine by the door that you can grab a complimentary cup (about 4oz?) of latte, black bean latte (no caffeine) or hot chocolate. Since it didn't break the bank, I wasn't mad about it. Also, understanding their concept - it makes sense the food is hearty and filling. read more
Came with two other friends when it was extremely hyped up and the wait was exactly 2.5 hours. They're super busy so I recommend putting down your name then finding something to do. We all ordered a different main, and they were all pretty good. The side dishes were also tasty, and with free refills of three dishes of your choice. Service was okay since they're so busy. At the end they give you a coin to get a free drink and whatever I had was delicious and a cute way to end the meal. Overall really tasty and I loved the theme of the restaurant, however, I would never wait that long again to eat here. read more
Cozy Korean spot in LES. They are really inaccurate with the wait times - both times I've been they've quoted me about an hour to hour and a half and we've been in within 15 mins. But do expect at least some wait. The menu is quite simple, you just pick between 4 options. Bulgogi ($32) - I really liked the smoky flavor of the bulgogi, which was well-seasoned and flavorful. Did find it dry though. Nice portion size. Comes with a side of soup and rice. I think the banchan is hit or miss. Some I really liked (salmon, chicken, squid) but the others were mid (pancake, egg, potato) and lacked a lot of flavor. The kimchi was particularly bad but it's the only free refill one. I dislike that it's $2 to refill a banchan and they keep changing the policy. Black sesame latte at the end is very tasty though! read more
Kisa is all the rage in LES right now and I'd say it lived up to the hype. It striked a good balance between homey meals and fancy dining (mainly cause of the price per set). Simple setup, you pick your choice of protein during the dinner service from Spicy Squid, Beef Bulgogi, Spicy Pork, and Tofu Bibimbap. Everybody gets an array of tasty banchans with some less common ones like raw whole shrimps which you can refill up to three times. So you do get pretty darn full. They're generous with the protein portion as well. Ingredients were fresh and flavorful. Overall a very fun casual, cute dinner spot that you should checkout at least once. read more
My best friend & I have been eyeing Kisa since they opened, but were initially deterred by the long lines and wait times. As a fan of C as in Charlie, I knew I would enjoy Kisa as well, but just had to get myself through those doors! After waiting for the hype to die down a bit, we came by with a friend at 4:50 pm on a Monday in hopes of getting in with the first wave of diners. It was the perfect time - we were 4th in line behind 2 other small groups. As a party of 3, the obvious choice for us was to get all 3 protein options (spicy pork, spicy squid, and bulgogi). The concept is quite genius, and makes for easy ordering. Each entree was $32, and veggies for saam are $3 (skip!). We received our orders really quickly after - probably all within 10 minutes. Each order came with rice, soup, the entree choice, and 7 banchan dishes. After splitting our protein choices amongst the 3 of us, there was plenty left for us to enjoy. My favorites of the night were probably the spicy pork and bulgogi, both of which had that yummy smoky flavor to it. The spicy squid was also really good, but I probably wouldn't be able to eat a whole bowl of it myself (splitting was perfect). I enjoyed 5 of the banchan dishes - the soy marinated egg, kimchi, cucumbers, raw shrimp, and fried seaweed rolls. The acorn jelly & an egg/tofu(?) dish unfortunately didn't do it for me. I also really loooved the soup, which was a clear chicken & radish soup. My only gripe is, I wish the food couldve been hotter. It was warm, but I like my soup and meals piping hot! But anywho, as others have mentioned, 3 banchan refills (including the soup) are allowed; rice is an extra $2. I refilled my soup, kimchi, and fried seaweed rolls, and everything came out HOT for the refills (yay!). The wait staff here is really attentive and kind. Our water cups were never empty, and they weren't avoidant when we needed banchan refills. Overall - definitely worth trying at least once. Truth be told, you can definitely get the same meal with unlimited banchan for cheaper in Ktown or Queens. But it's worth checking out for the concept and experience. I'd come back if someone else wanted to try it. Last note - highly recommend the black sesame drink for dessert. read more
I've passed by this place so many times on my way to DCP and there's always been a long line going out the door! I started seeing this over my feed and knew that I had to check this place out. I arrived before opening at 4:30 to line up and there was already ~10 people waiting in line. From 4:30 until opening, ~10 more people lined up after me. Thankfully, we made it into the first wave of people. The outside looks pretty small and unassuming but the inside of the restaurant was actually bigger ,albeit not large, than I had expected. The menu's pretty self explanatory: each person needs to get a plate and there's only 3 different entrees to choose from and a bunch of different sides. It didn't sound like a lot of food but their banchan was actually super top tier banchan and they were super generous with the bulgogi entree! They had such unique banchan options: my favorite were the steamed egg rolls, fried rice cake (these were fried to the perfect amount of crispiness) and their potato (you can never go wrong with the sweet potato). They let you refill three of the banchan dishes, and I had a ton of leftovers. We also noticed that pretty much every table had one of their drinks, so we decided to try one for ourselves. We got the grape drink and it was actually not too sweet, though the jellies in the drink were somewhat sweet. All in all, pretty good value. I would recommend coming early to avoid the crowds! read more
More info about Kisa
205 Allen St
New York, NY 10002
Lower East Side
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(646) 866-8622
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https://www.kisaus.com
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