I finally went to the one Michelin star restaurant named Kochi, which means skewer in Korean. They offer a 9 course tasting menu of skewered dishes inspired by traditional Korean cuisine. I tried to book their counter seating but it was completely booked out. Book early, since reservations fill up fast. I was very impressed by their service. There were so many workers at the restaurant working at once in order to ensure that everything was perfect. My favorite item was the king salmon bibimbap. I added the uni supplement, which was a Santa Barbara Uni and it was worth the splurge. They forgot to give me the uni when my bibimbap came out so I had to ask them for it and they gave it to me separately for me to add in myself. The salmon and uni was super fresh and the uni was really sweet. My least favorite dish was the pork belly. The skin was super crispy but was really hard and hard to chew. A few other things that stood out was the quinoa in the Hwe dish. I loved how it complemented the dish. The halibut had a nice smokey flavor to it and the fried leek was so unique. I also really liked the marinade on the skirt steak. The steak was a bit hard to cut through. Overall, I enjoyed my meal here and I'm glad that I finally got to try it. read more

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I came solo because I just had the urge to have a pre-fixed menu. After some research I decided I wanted to get Korean. The whole evening from start to finish was the definition of extravagant. The place setting was minimal but neat, and every dish was perfectly crafted. The service was excellent, everything I expected. After each course my tableware was replaced, the staff were beyond extremely attentive. Constantly refilling water, and tea. They also did they without being a bother. They maintained a very good balance of attentiveness without hanging around. When I asked for a recommendation or a question they were quick and knowledgeable to answer. The Artemisia tea was actually a recommendation and it was a fantastic one at that. I could go on and on about the food here, but honestly it is something you have to experience for yourself. Whether you have a large party, an evening for two or a solo night. If you are in the mood for a fulfilling and satisfying meal experience come here to Kochi. I am sure you will be blown away. read more

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Food 9/10 I am glad to say that this tasting menu really filled me up with a variety of dishes. It felt quite well-rounded, drawing elements from traditional Korean cuisine, while adding a unique twist. The halibut was lovely, and so was the mushroom sauce in the steak. The amberjack was absolutely gorgeous, but did not have as much flavor as I had hoped for. The soup was very creamy but delicate, which I quite enjoyed. The sesame ice cream cake roll was also a star for me. Overall, a great dining experience and it was super fun sitting at the chef counter watching them make the dishes. Atmosphere 9/10 Quite a snug little spot in Hell's Kitchen, but I liked the decor. Service 9/10 Great service, super attentive and provided everything we needed at a timely manner. read more

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Kochi is brilliant, 1 michelin star? 3 stars baby! Very underrated and the dishes are extremely creative Food: Amazing. Fresh. Beautiful Service: 1 Word. PHENOMINAL 5 STARS read more

Made reservations here for my birthday dinner. My wife and I were able to get seats at the counter overlooking the chefs working their magic in their open kitchen. I highly suggest trying to get seats at the counter if you decide to come here as it is like watching artists create edible art. We started out with a couple cocktails. I ordered the persimmon sour and my wife ordered the steel magnolias...both of which were well balanced and delicious. Kochi only offers a tasting menu with the choice of a few supplements and additional appetizers. We stuck with the standard tasting menu. Every course was delicious, but if I had to pick, I would say the highlights were the sunchoke soup, the halibut and the flank steak. The sunchoke soup was so creamy, slightly sweet and had lots of umami flavor. The halibut was cooked perfectly. It was firm and meaty yet easy to break apart. I believe it was topped with some crispy fried leeks which gave an excellent, slightly oniony, texture element to go with the bright vinaigrette. The wagyu flank steak was nicely marbled without feeling too fatty. It had a nice smoky taste from the grill. When you paired everything on the plate together (shishito, mushroom, barley, mushrooms and jjajang sauce) it made for a supremely satisfying bite. The one course I would say shined the least was the Berkshire pork tenderloin. The waiter said it was cooked at a low temperature for several hours so expected it be more tender but it was a little tough to eat it off the skewer. Nevertheless, each course had so many different elements and ingredients that the chef masterfully paired together and I loved how they made sure to include staple ingredients like gochujang, jjajang and ssamjang but with a modern twist. read more

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Above and beyond our expectations. The service was amazing, kind and informational. Before and after every dish the waiter/waitress would explain each component of every dish, the way they were designed to be enjoyed, and of course compliment the dish (rightfully so as every dish was impeccable). 100% recommend sitting at the bar to watch each chef meticulously cook and assemble each dish. The atmosphere of the restaurant was sophisticated casual, there were those dressed in casual street wear and those dressed in dress shirts. The entire set was delicious our favorite were the salmon bibimbap and the A5 wagyu (100% worth the additional cost). read more

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The food is worth 4 or 5 stars but we had a difficult experience last night, seated outside. There were many mosquitoes and we had a lot of bites. Toward the end of the meal we realized there was a fan behind us but it was off. When turned on, that helped a bit. The waiter should have turned it on at the beginning. There was also a fan in front of us but the table under it had aimed it at them so we weren't getting any wind from that. The food was very good, especially the halibut, wagyu and bibimbap. the "hwe" was bland and the carrot sorbet didn't come together. The final dessert was just OK. Two nights ago I had dinner at Frevo and it was MUCH better. read more

Impeccable! At $75, the quality of food and service was amazing and every dish was flawless. I went for my birthday and has a lovely time. Overall the tasting menu felt well-rounded, the service was attentive and friendly with special amenities for the occasion like a personalized menu which made my experience incredible. Definitley a memorable experience and would come back again. read more

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Came here with a friend to celebrate Christmas and they offered a holiday menu special. The dishes came in an organized timely fashion and the service was impeccable. I remembered when there was a small stain on my plate, the server would automatically notice it and send it back for it to be cleaned and polished. The steak and halibut were super tender and well seasoned. Not overbearing and did not leave a tingling aftertaste. Make sure to get the bar seats to get the full experience as you can see the attention to detail the chefs possess. read more

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First Michelin starred Korean restaurant I've been to. Sleek modern interior which is nice but not necessarily the best place for an intimate date. Sat at the counter of an open kitchen which I personally love as you can chat with chefs as you watch them create their magic. Tasting menu only for $145 which included Corn, hwe, shrimp twigim, halibut, pork, flat iron, king salmon bibimbap, froyo, ice cream. Everything was fantastic! read more

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Celebrated my friend's birthday with a tasting menu at kochi. The restaurant is a little small, and we were only able to get seatings outdoors. It is a one Michelin star restaurant but outdoor seatings kind of took away from that experience (lack of ambiance and all). Would definitely recommend making reservations well in advance, because seats go quick! I love Korean fusion cuisine and Kochi did not disappoint. Every course was unique and curated with much attention to detail. The service was great, the servers were attentive and knowledgable about the menu. The tasting was paced very well, it never felt like we were rushed between courses or waited for our next course for too long. read more

Kochi - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

After an evening at Kochi, it has become my favorite restaurant in New York! I was wowed by the attentive and considerate staff from when we were escorted to our seats at the bar. If you get seated at the bar, you get a full view of the kitchen, so you get to see your food getting prepared. That alone was a fun addition to our dining experience, as we were patiently anticipating what would come next. We tried the chef's menu, and being Korean, I had high expectations to begin with. I was wowed throughout my experience -- each course was carefully architected to both accentuate and modernize traditional Korean flavors. My standouts were the halibut and the appetizer skewer with the gochujang sauce, but every course was an excellent addition to the meal. We were so full by the end, but there were no regrets! read more

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Almost every course was delicious. The abalone add on was just mediocre and not worth getting. The uni was just ok too - I probably wouldn't get this add on again even though I love uni. It wasn't the best grade of uni from Hokkaido. Some of my favorites were the rice cake skewers with eggplant, the duck, and the tomato bisque amuse. The wagyu was good but I don't think it's worth the extra supplement given that the duck was delicious. The desserts were outstanding. Service was good overall. I wish we could've sat inside. I also got a matcha drink with almond milk that was quite good. read more

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The service and menu/food deserves 5 stars. Olive(our server) was awesome and friendly! I have posted a few of my favorite dishes down below. Had to knock off a star due to our experience dining out doors. I would HIGHLY recommend making reservations for indoor dining due to the fact that we had a cockroach crawl over one of my guests foot and the tables were not completely enclosed to avoid the rain that day. My friend sitting near the sidewalk was exposed to some rain which resulted in her back/blouse getting soaked. Yes, its NYC and some of these issues are expected but when you are at a certain price point these mishaps should be addressed. Overall, I think the ambiance is much more enjoyable and esthetically pleasing indoors esp since that sidewalk/street is normally very busy. I have to mention that the team at Kochi did their best to accommodate my party and I appreciated it. I do not recommend Kochi for large groups but will be great for date nights and small groups of 4 or less indoors. read more

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Service was really great from the minute we walked in. The ambiance was unexpectedly casual. I expected more for the price and sophisticated menu. Food was unique, beautifully presented, delicious, great depth of flavor...what can I say. Fabulous. read more

We had an amazing evening at Kochi! Was immediately seated after arriving, and had the best waitress. She was incredibly kind and patient with us. Drinks were great, and the food was absolutely outstanding. 5/5 experience! read more

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Just an okay experience. Service was great but the food was mediocre for a tasting menu. We sat at the bar and really enjoyed the food making process but unfortunately the dishes felt subpar from the tastes to the texture. Most disappointing was the wagyu because it was very gamey read more

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Kochi serves a nine-course menu ($135) inspired by the Korean royal cuisine of the Joseon dynasty --which most of these dishes come on a skewer. Highlights of the menu, served one by one, include saengseon-gui (binchotan-grilled Mackerel) and a slow-cooked duck dish called andong jimdak,. A bossam course is also labor intensive, with pork belly requiring hours to cook before it receives a final skewering and grilling. And even dessert at Kochi comes on a stick: It's a black sesame ice cream pop, it was delish! read more

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I made a reservation here for our 1 year wedding anniversary and I can honestly say this was one the most stunning and amazing meals I've had in NYC. The only other restaurant to top this experience is Le Bernardin. I'd like to start by saying I am a vegetarian and my review is based on this experience. First - it was so easy to inform the restaurant of my dietary needs and they accommodated it stupendously. I had my own 9 course meal while my partner, who does eat meat, had their general 9 course menu. We paired this with their alcohol tasting and that also blew us away. The alcohol pairing was so many different types of alcohol to match the food and that really impressed me. It was also heart warming to see they were supporting local brews and creations. Rarely do I think it's worth it to spend a large amount of money on food but I found this 9 course meal to be responsibly priced and their alcohol pairing was also very fairly priced. The food was seasoned to perfection, unique, and delicious. I can't stop talking about what a worthwhile place this is to eat. I am attaching all the pictures of my vegetarian meal so you can see for yourself. Thank you Kochi for creating such a memorable meal that I know we will be bragging about for the rest of our life. read more

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one Michelin starred Kochi, meaning skewer in Korean, combines the accessibility of street food with the depth of traditional Korean flavors. Located in Hell's Kitchen. Ideal to make reservations as it can take a while to get in, we were able to snag a last minute 5 pm reservation at the bar. Service was good but I can't say amazing, maybe it was an off day for our server but we had told them a couple restrictions on food that we had and were told they would totally be accommodated however, they must have forgotten because we were served items we had told we couldn't eat, was only 2 things, but that held up our meal as they had to make it over again while one of us waited to eat the dish to cook. Food was fantastic and worth the wait. It is a tasting menu and pre priced but again absolutely great pairings and flow Eggplant twigm on a skewer had great flavors as well as texture, I couldn't believe it wasn't shrimp, such a great vegetarian dish, if preferred. Duck breast was perfectly cooked, and the accompanying sauces paired nicely with it. The duck melted in your mouth. My favorite was the snow crab bibimbap, taste and textures were spot on We had a whiskey cocktail that was to mimic egg nog, it was good but I think adding a tad more whiskey even a dash or two would have brought out the flavor a bit more. But I would recommend ordering it read more

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We came to New York to see a show on Broadway, and it was an easy decision for us to visit Kochi while we were local! We are big fans of Chef Sungchul Shim's other restaurants such as Mari and Mari.Ne, so this was a no-brainer. We were seated at the counter, which allowed us to see all the prep work being done. The menu was so delicious, and I am still thinking about the crab bibimbap with uni! We also added the supplemental course of abalone, which was one of the best bites I've ever had. Service was phenomenal and the place was gorgeous. We cannot wait to come back already! read more

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My favorite meal over the past few months! I'm not surprised this place earned its first Michelin star in such a short period of time. The tasting menu at Kochi is excellent. Skewer based Korean food, with a seafood focus. Each dish was fantastic - multiple times I thought to myself how familiar everything tasted, but at the same time elevated and taken to another level. Such unique flavor combinations, and the fish/proteins were all cooked perfectly. The service was attentive and flawless throughout the entire meal. There is a ton of attention to detail, all the way from the Jono Pandolfi plates and bowls, to the the custom aprons worn by all the staff. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, which you can specify on reservation. This place needs to be on every New Yorker's restaurant hit list! read more

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I was extremely underwhelmed by my experience and am unsure about the hype. It's very expensive for mediocre food. The wagyu and uni dish were good, but it absolutely did not warrant the price. I especially did not enjoy this dish that involved a cold soup. I understand that this is a Michelin star restaurant so I didn't expect it to be cheap. However, there are many other options to try in NYC with better tasting food at a lower price point. Service and ambiance was like everything else - fine, not a huge standout but no major issues. This was unfortunately a miss for me. read more

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The food is exquisite with strong balancing flavors in every bite. I am very impressed with their food, service and presentation. The ambiance was good, not too loud and not too quiet. I will be coming back for sure! read more

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Is it good, yeah - but for 135$ per person, I want it to be more than good. Every dish was just fine, but there were no standouts. And for a tasting menu, I want each bite to be worth remembering. Dessert was two kinds of ice-cream/froyo which was really underwhelming. This was neither a standout tasting menu (which there are many of in NYC for the same or less in terms of price) nor was it really great Korean food (again, so many great Korean restaurants around) read more

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Every dish was amazing! Loved the tasting menu. Celebrated my birthday here and they were so nice. Even printed the menu for me! Highly recommend. read more

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For $145/pp we had high expectations but we felt like the dishes were a bit over seasoned/salty for our liking. Taste Price Aesthetic Service We were excited to try this spot because it looked promising. In terms of taste, we felt like it was either over seasoned or had too much going on. Flavors were developed but sometimes clashed with each other. There was no dish that made me want more With that being said, we did appreciate the chefs effort in creating elevated dishes. The staff was excellent! They are professional, attentive and accommodating. We sat at the chefs table and enjoyed being able to watch the dishes being prepped. Overall vibe was fine dining and special occasion appropriate. read more

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The signature tasting menu here was amazing! The dishes are spaced out so that the full tasting takes about two hours altogether. There are a total of nine courses, two of which are dessert. There was a great mix of seafood, meat, and veggies. My personal favorite items were the Hwe and Ice Cream Sandwich. This dessert was definitely life changing and set a whole new standard for all future ice cream sandwiches. An optional chef's special, which was abalone when we were here, can also be added on and shared among two people give or take. We also opted for the White Lotus tea, which was fairly light with a very slight bitterness to it. The staff were also very attentive throughout the meal. They were kind enough to brew our tea twice so we did not need to order more. We also denoted birthday on the reservation and received a complimentary chocopie dessert with a candle! read more

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easy enough to make reservations online several weeks out; may be difficult if you do it less than 2 weeks out and are looking for indoor dining. that being said, even in this wintery weather (december 2023), the "outdoor" section was enclosed and there was a heater. i'm betting that's pretty comfortable to sit out there. it is quite a small restaurant in size, so having that outdoor seating really doubles their space. the service was excellent, prompt and coordinated, all the staff were very knowledgeable about the menu and the drink pairings we got. there were 9 courses, 7 savory and 2 sweet. i enjoyed each course, esp the hwe course and the fish course, those were my favorite. i was really looking forward to the BBB course, which still tasted good but didn't blow me away, so i was slightly disappointed. overall, the food was tasty, well cooked, beautiful; however, the 2 meat courses we had (pork jowl and duck) did feel a bit similar in taste. i wish those were a little more distinct and that the savory courses ended with the duck instead of the BBB. the first sweet course was a nice refreshing palette cleanser and the second sweet course was delicious and felt a bit more rich, i loved both a lot. read more

So glad we got the chance to eat here again. This time we sat at the counter. What a different experience. Total respect for the hard working staff. From the moment we arrived, the managers, waitstaff and chefs were amazing. The food was fantastic. We had the abalone add on (superb) and white truffles which of course was aromatic and delicious. The tasting menu was memorable. We're planning our next visit already. read more

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Surprise birthday dinner at this amazing Michelin-star Korean Omakase restaurant in Hell's Kitchen. I had walked past it several times without researching, but knew of their sister restaurant Mari over on 9th. Reservations are apparently very tough to get, so book well in advance, especially if you want counter seating to watch the chefs prepare everything. Unlike other omakase restaurants I've enjoyed, the chefs here are too busy to chat / discuss with the guests. Further, most dishes are served from a waiter, even when sitting at the counter. Rest assured he/she would explain every dish in detail. That said, I enjoyed watching the militarized assembly-line of chefs working tirelessly at their individual stations preparing different dishes. The food was outstanding to say the least. Many dishes came out on skewers, a playful way of presenting / eating the cuisine. Everything is bite size. Flavors bountiful - easily one of the best meals I've ever enjoyed. Highly, highly recommend coming here, especially for a date night / impress someone / celebration. Totally worth the splurge. read more

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This was very easily the best meal we had all year. We left thinking that was one of the best meals of our lives. Pricey for sure, but easily, easily worth it. It was a lot of food, but not an uncomfortable amount - we left pleasantly full. Hard to pick the best options, but my personal favorite was the walnut dessert, which was wildly good. Strongly recommend this place. read more

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Great fast service! Nice attention to detail. Great food and drinks. Small intimate environment. Prices a little expensive, but do recommend. read more

Kochi - Korean Near Me - New York, New York

The first and last time I was here was pre pandemic when it had just opened. The price then was 75 dollars and BYOB. Since then, it not only survived the pandemic, but also garnered a Michelin one star. Plus, now they have their own cocktail menu which was limited. I don't mind a limited cocktail menu, but I was hoping for more unique cocktails! We did the tasting for 135 dollars and added on the abalone at the persuasion of my sister who was here more recently. She said she was more impressed with the abalone from her last eating adventure here. I felt that the fish cake overpowered the taste of the abalone. I loved the first course the best. The pine nut soup was divine. Otherwise, the menu was good, but nothing was amazing. My least favorite dish was the duck as it was too salty! I enjoyed the two dessert options. Jua and Atoboy should try to get their desserts on par to Kochi! read more

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A smaller space with some chef counter seating, larger tables, and enclosed "outside" dining area. Tasting menu centered about different skewers did not disappoint! Without supplements such as uni and the abalone special, the base menu starts at $145 pp. With the 9 courses + 1 special , it was a pretty filling meal by the time the rice bowl came out. It was a creative meal with different but familiar flavors and textures coming together. None of the dishes were overly heavy nor skimpy while still holding their own as individual plates. My personal favorite happened to be the pork shoulder skewer with three different sauces and cabbage on the side. And my friend's favorite was the duck (crispy skin and good vegetables). Service was good, not over bearing at all but still very attentive. Overall, would recommend if you're looking for a sub $200 tasting menu. Want to caution that as with any tasting menu, supplements and drinks do also need to be factored in. With uni supplement for one and 3 drinks, it ended up being approx $240 per person. read more

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Decided to try this Michelin star skewer spot for a date night. We made reservations for 2 at 5pm on a Sunday evening. When we got there, a table has been seated but not busy. By 5:30PM, it got packed! This is a nine course meal for $135/person. We also opted to try the abalone dish as well. Had high expectations which were mostly met. The first course was fried asparagus with soup on the side. This dish confused me as the soup was a bit heavy for a first course to set the tone for the rest. The dishes improved in quality and taste as we approached the end of the courses. The standouts were the abalone, the galbi skirt steak and the duck confit. The abalone was extremely tasty and nicely cooked. This was heaven in my taste buds as soon as I tasted it. The galbi skirt steak was nicely marinated and served medium rare. Each piece melted away in our mouths. The duck confit was nicely seared. For dessert, the sesame ice cream sandwiched between 2 thin slices of chocolate sponge cake was a great way to end the meal. It wasn't too sweet and the flavors didn't overwhelm each other. A great dessert! It was also my date's birthday and they brought a little cake as a surprise which was a great touch. The service is so top notch, with each dish being thoroughly explained. read more

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Great service, and food was phenomenal! I believe they only offer a tasting menu, but I highly enjoyed the variety and creativity of the tasting menu. There was a large variety of flavors and the tastes, and the foods they used were really creative. I particularly liked a lot of their yuzu flavored sauces and creams. I would recommend sitting at the bar, it was honestly a lot of fun watching the chefs make the plates as well! read more

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Tasting menu here was very good looking and tasted amazing. The seating near the chef's side is good option to have where you can see how much harder it is to decorate the food with precision for all cooks. We opted for vegetarian option and they didn't disappoint us. We'll be back again. read more

Have a hard time ordering? This menu makes it easy! A mandatory 9-course tasting where every single Korean-inspired course will blow you away. Corn Soup is sweet and creamy with a gochujang pico to add some punch. Hwe is a scallop of summer, sweetened by melon and chilled with fruity ice. The chef's special is optional but it should be required - at a mere $24 for an entire piece of yuzu-foamed abalone cooked to perfection, this is a steal. Eggplant Twigim is exquisitely grilled, skewered alongside a silky rice cake. Halibut is absolutely flawless - a lot of depth in this dish between the savory butter poach and a caviar that makes it come alive. The Chicken is simple but exquisite, so juicy, and mine has enough white truffle to get a person fired. Flat Iron Steak is a choose-your-own-adventure plate with lots of veggie colors and tastes to mix and match. Snow Crab Bibimbap is a signature, and the uni and crab conceal the complexity that lies beneath. This is so much more than seafood and rice. The Froyo is the beginning of the end, a sour yogurt atop a tangy compote, with a sesame sable crunch. Then comes the Ice Cream proper, a simple milk sandwiching a berry stripe. It's a beautiful meal, and probably my favorite in all of NYC so far. In a Manhattan full of Michelin stars, Kochi still stands out, and although the savory-sweet flavor profiles will not please every palate, I highly recommend you give them a try if you can. read more

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Kochi was amazing! We were there for a private wine dinner and everything was perfect