We walked in and waited 1.5 hours. We roamed the area so it wasn't so bad. But next time I'll be making reservations. For $32 this is a steal. Everything is fresh and tastes great! You also get an extra 3 banchan refills. I was a bit hesitant about the spicy squid because I thought it was going to be a small amount of squid and majority veggies, but to my surprise it was a decent amount. I also really enjoyed the soup, it was very flavorful but light at the same time. I'd definitely will be back. read more

I mean, if I didn't eat all of it I feel like my grandmas up in the heavens would shun me and how could I not!?!? The beef bulgogi was phe-no-me-nal! It's that subconscious char flavour that comes through and turns on your happy dance. The banchan consisted of this layered crab / root cut up omelet which was delicious, the fried chicken - I could have 8 of these, the egg soufflé was fluffy, the marinaded salmon I could have 20 of... and the broth! The broooootn!!!! What is in this delicious broth!?!? This should be bottled and sold as a base for people who want to make soup and cheat the path of complexity. Service is lovely but waiiiiit! As you walk out there's a machine that will grant you a beverage to go! And since I've been googling where and how can I replicate this black bean latte situation - magic! read more

Best gamjatang of the town! Food and service were both top level! Price is also very good for the LES location - will come back for sure

I went there last week. The concept was good and evoked a sense of nostalgia. However, the food tasted mediocre. Additionally, the trays were so large that two couldn't fit on a table, causing one-third of the tray to hang off the edge, which made eating uncomfortable. On a positive note, the post-meal coffee/tea was a nice touch. read more

Kisa - Spicy squid baekban - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Very good food and service. Limited menu for lunch. Only 2 choices at lunch. Got there early and no problem seating

Food was very good, service was excellent. Great restaurant to experience classic Korean quick eats in an elevated fashion. If you're expecting a traditional "diner style" experience, you'll be quite surprised. Imagine a reservations only taqueria that uses wagyu for its carne asada burrito & creme fresh instead of sour cream...except the place serves Korean lunch style dishes. Great tastes on both ends of the ingredient and price spectrum. read more

We stumbled upon Kisa after hearing that its concept was a spot for tired Korean taxi drivers to get a great meal after work. The menu is short and simple: pick a protein for your platter, and get an assortment of banchan and side dishes to accompany it. The food is bountiful, flavorful, and seasoned very well. Each platter comes with sausage rice cake skewers, raw marinated shrimp, a rice bowl, side soup, and more. For $32/platter, it's absolutely impossible to beat! Drinks go phenomenal with the meal, especially. I recommend asking the waiter for their suggestions, they don't steer you wrong at all. Service is warm and friendly, and the owners are the same as those from "C as in Charlie", their sister location. Overall, I'd definitely come back and get another platter. My personal suggestions: get the spicy squid, it's so good! Accompany it with some soju and you'll be full before you can even finish half the platter. read more

Kisa - Spicy squid platter - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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We were lucky to secure a walk in less than 1 hour. The restaurant transports you to a casual korean restaurant and the food was good. You get a little bit of everything, from scorched rice starter to the main dish. If you're new to korean cuisine, I feel like this would be a great place to try it all. Nothing was bad, but also imo nothing was amazing. I ordered the bulgogi which was good, not too sweet and not too fatty. The portion was HUGE, I had a good half meal to take home. The vending machine drink to go was a fun way to end the meal. read more

Nice place to have lunch, brunch or dinner. Very clean. The service was good, very courteous and friendly staff. Food was fresh and delicious. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. read more

We were a party of 5 and the wait was not bad, about 20 minutes. The menu was simple and clear. When the food arrived, it was in a decent portion! And you can get 3 refills on 3 specific banchans! My friends and I left feeling very full and satisfied. I would definitely come back again. read more

One of the best meals I've had in NYC; will be back Loved - Spicy squid - Spicy pork - Generous portions - Almost all of the banchan - would have been nice to see some more vegetable options since it's such a heavy meal overall OK - Spicy cured shrimp banchan Appreciate the casual/diner vibe but it can get pretty loud in the tight space read more

Great food, great staff. Shoutout to Andrew for the hospitality. Could eat here every week. Not a single bad banchan. Loved the spicy squid. But the spicy pork was next level. Will be back asap. read more

This location is right outside of the subway station, super convenient as Google maps told me to take a different exit and I managed to exit at the right area. They told us about an hour wait so we put our names down and walked around the area and ended up at empanada mama for a quick bite. Walked back right after and they were ready to seat us! I think all that was less than an hour. The tables are a bit tight but it'll fit everything just right. Our server checked in on us for drinks and water quite frequently which I appreciate. Unfortunately there is no A/C, just fans so it can get hot with the New York summer heat. They started us off with rice crackers and drinks. My partner and I both got spicy pork and ahhhh it was delicious and I wish I had the stomach to eat more. They offer refills on 3 of your banchan so choose wisely~ I personally went with the seaweed to make my little seaweed wraps, the egg, and the marinated shrimp since I haven't seen that anywhere else. Once we paid, they gave us coins to get a hot beverage by the door. We both got the black bean latte and what a way to end your meal. I would love to come back and get the spicy squid next time. read more

Kisa - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

wow. this was so amazing. perfect portions and perfect sum total portion. bulgogi was fire. crab soup fire. kimchi fire. ambience is so cute and homey. i would bring anyone here this is the spot read more

I had only heard rumors and was curious, so I decided to visit. With mixed feelings of anticipation and doubt, I went to this place that was said to be a completely authentic Oriental Korean-style restaurant. I was able to experience a completely new aspect of Korean culture. The main dish, spicy pork bulgogi, tasted as I expected, but the accompanying side dishes like nurungji (scorched rice), soy-marinated shrimp, and others were especially unique since they are not something you can usually buy at a regular market. It was evident that a lot of care went into every detail, from the decorations to the atmosphere. They even provided coins so that I could experience Korean-style vending machine coffee, and in the back, an old TV was playing broadcasts from the 1980s. It felt like I had taken a brief trip to a small version of Korea. If you're interested in learning about Korea, I think it would be worth experiencing at least once read more

Kisa - Spicy pork set! - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

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Such a great concept. Food was great, service was even better. I loved the "korean taxi cab diner" concept. And the little coffee you get at the end was always fun! read more

This place is so worth for everything you get for the price!! The food tastes so authentic and it's actually so much food I couldn't finish The wait is insane though considering this is normally an extremely cheap meal that taxi drivers eat. My family in Korea can't understand why there's a 2-3hr wait for this kind of food but hey it hits the spot and it's NYC *shrug read more

The food here is absolutely delicious. There is a bit of a wait if you go on the weekend like I did, but it is well worth it. Everything tastes fresh and flavorful. The price is fair and the service is great! I can't wait to go back. read more

The ambiance is great and the restaurant itself is well-decorated. Staff members were attentive to our orders and the food came out shortly after. Very solid korean food, but nothing crazy. Probably comparable to restaurants like olle and moono in terms of quality. Come by 4:30pm to be the first group to be seated as there is a line. read more

Not worth the hype, overpriced at $32pp. The theme of this review is "mediocre". We ordered the bulgogi, squid, and bibimbap. It was all fine, but the flavors were nothing special. I was not impressed with most of the banchan (side dishes). The kimchi tasted bland, the jorim (potato + beef) had your typical salt, soy, and sweet notes. The raw marinated shrimp was at least interesting, but otherwise, nothing stood out. The amount of rice was absolutely pitiful. A Korean restaurant should know to serve a full bowl of rice. Don't get me started on the gim. 3 sheets? Ambiance is great. I felt like I was back in Korea. Service was great and attentive. No problems there. read more

Absolutely delicious, I devoured every bite. Simple menu with lots of great sides. Quick, easy, filling, overall just a great spot. Small and intimate, good for a small group. read more

Kisa - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

I read some reviews regarding not an appropriate price for "Kisa", which translates to cabdriver's restaurant. But do we pay for "수라상(king's table)" or "궁(palace)"? And let's face it, we don't pay just for the food. We willingly pay for the service and ambiance. After experiencing a few elevated Korean restaurants, I found Kisa restaurant very satisfying in all aspects. The banchan was the best I've ever had and it's not something other Korean restaurants typically serve. They definitely put lots of thought and effort in creating next-level side dishes and I enjoyed them immensely! read more

Finally made it to Kisa! Been waiting for a good Korean spot to open downtown. Kisa hit my Korean craving and everything was so good! Staff and hospitality was also great! read more

I felt like I walked into a corner restaurant in Korea and took a trip back in time. I love the bathhouse interior and the feeling of home from all the banchan dishes and silverware. I loved that everyone gets their own little platter. The ambiance was cozy and the servers were very attentive! I can't wait to go back with friends! read more

I couldn't possibly love a place more than this spot. One of my favorite korean food experiences in manhattan. Minimal menu of only 2 options which is unreal. I haven't made a decision since chat gpt has come out, so this trimmed down menu was just what i wanted. I think each plate was around 17-20 dollars - with the mountain of banchan they provide/yummy tea - it's such a good deal around the LES. Extremely affordable. The restaurant replicates a korean cabby experience. I love this place so much. I'm holding back in this review - I'm afraid if I love it anymore they'll get traded to the lakers like Luka. read more

a cool taxi driver concept from Korea. good food and service. loved the decor and vibe and the food was good as well.

this place was so homey. me and my friend went and we shut up like it was so good we couldn't talks. i got the beef platter and damn all those side dishes were very good. i ate all of them up and you get to refill three of them. for 34 dollars, it a bit steep, but id say it's good to try. we joined the waitlist at 5:10 and waited about an hour on a tuesday night. very long wait but id say it worth it. then the black bean latte at the end was delicious too. id go back. read more

Very welcoming and clean. Our server ( he was missing his earring and lost it that day, just in case he sees this) was phenomenal. Very kind and patient as we stayed maybe longer than most talking. I wish this was in every nyc neighborhood. Also I think that coffee mocha machine should be everywhere. read more

this was a bit disappointing. the main dish wasn't that good but the side dishes were pretty good - but given this, i wouldn't go back again. i went early (right before it opened) so didn't have to wait that long on line (waited around 10 minutes). the service was good though and the concept is well thought out. read more

Kisa - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Delicious! The egg and seaweed rolls were my favorite banchan. Left very full and happy.

I heard that a new Korean taxi driver cafeteria themed restaurant had opened up in the Lower East Side and it immediately piqued my interest. But I was quickly disappointed upon further research. Kisa, in its interior decoration and online marketing, seems to really take advantage of the feeling of an old timey taxi driver diner and the "nostalgia" that comes with it. But, this is mostly through aesthetic and less through concept or practice, resulting in a perversion of the culture. They are only open for dinner. The restaurant typology they are trying to emulate, is an establishment that primarily functions to provide LUNCH to a working class demographic. This is already a drastic reinterpretation by the restaurant owners. Ultimately, the consequence of this decision has shifted its target demographic away from the people it was meant to cater to. The price point also reflects this shift. While 32 dollars per person is not wildly expensive for New York standards, the price point is still inflated from what one might expect from an authentic gisa shikdang. The food itself is fine. The spicy pork, bulgogi, and the banchan is on par with any other Korean restaurant in Flushing for a fraction of the price. But, it is just that: enough. The flavors are not elevated, not what you would expect from a co-founder that has a michelin star. What leaves a sour taste is that the menu can exist without misrepresenting a staple of korean culture. It is an example of gentrified poverty/culture. Customers are paying a premium in order to dine in an establishment that advertises a working class aesthetic. Whether this misrepresentation is a product of negligence or intention, the result is that the emotional connection that people have to this concept is exploited. It seems painfully offensive to boast any semblance to gisa shikdangs while not respecting its core identity. If a Korean taxi driver were to visit Kisa, they may find the place unrecognizable and uncomfortable. UPDATE: review has been taken down by yelp for not talking enough about the customer experience. While I did gear this review mainly towards the conceptual identity of this restaurant, I would argue that the customer experience is directly related to said identity. Experience is based on perception and the components that make up the identity of a restaurant dictate what is to be perceived. ALSO recently they have come out with a limited lunch menu only on fri-sun. Due to my previous comment on them not serving lunch while basing their entire identity on a lunch centered restaurant, I went to see how it was. The meat of Korean donkatsu is usually pounded too thin leaving an unappealing ratio of meat to fried breading, and usually relies on the sauce to deliver most of its flavor. The donkatsu at the lunch menu had a thicker layer of meat along with breading with what appears to be higher quality panko which gave it a nice light texture. While the action of serving lunch is movement towards the right direction, it still feels blind and disingenuous to the original concept that the restaurant is based on. read more

The whole purpose of a kisa shikdang is to provide affordable meals for blue collar workers back in Korea, especially taxi driver ahjusshis. $32 pp for lackluster banchan? That seems to be quite offensive to its namesake. Maybe go once for the experience, but otherwise, hard pass. Seems like social media got the best of its patrons. read more

This restaurant is all over social media so I had to try it. Went there on a rainy Sunday around 4:45pm and there was already a long lined formed outside. My friends and I just missed the first seating since one person didn't get there in time and they don't seat you until everyone in your party shows up. We ended up waiting 45 minutes for the second seating, but the entire time the host was very friendly and time passed by easily despite the rain. Once inside we quickly ordered since there are only 4 items to choose from on the menu. I got the spicy pork which seemed to be a staff favorite and my friend got the bulgogi. Both items were really tasty - I especially liked the char flavor on the bulgogi. All the meals come with a variety of banchans and you can get up to 3 refills which we definitely got. Of the banchans, I really liked the egg omelet, the raw marinated shrimp, and the stewed beef with potatoes. I definitely left the place feeling very full and will return. read more

I have never written a review before. Kisa is so special I felt compelled to write one to express my gratitude to this very kind, considerate, and thoughtful team who deliver an excellent and exciting dining experience every time! I love the food here, and eagerly anticipate the changing banchan dishes while I always miss the ones I have already had. Kisa is a vibrant and fun addition to the neighborhood! Proud to be a supporter from day one! read more

we actually got seated right away which is pretty crazy considering the hype around this place! def on the pricey side but i thought the food was good and our server was actually the cutest girl in the whole world ... shoutout renee :3 love u down read more

Kisa - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

Delicious and great service. Recommend going on a week day as it may be less busy but was so good I wanna go back

This place is a gem. The host/wait staff/managers are all so lovely, filled with so much energy and enthusiasm. I would definitely recommend this place to anyone in search of yummy traditional Korean food. The food itself is great, with big portions. The touch at the end with the hot chocolate was such a cute touch. This place is cozy, delicious, and overall filled with fabulous vibes. read more

The food was amazing, and the portions were generous. I had the squid and the bulgogi, both of which were excellent. I enjoyed every single side dish. The servers were very attentive and friendly. I had a fantastic experience there! read more

Great. Went with my girlfriend from Seoul and she was quite impressed (and this was her second time). Beef bulgogi had that nice smokiness. Loved the nostalgiac coffee machine too which even had black bean latte. Good service and Andrew was nice to talk to as well. read more

Food was solid and atmosphere was good but it's way too pricey for what they self describe as taxi driver food that satisfies the wallet.