SHIA Restaurant

Review summary

1. J

   Joyce

   Washington DC

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 1 day ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   From beginning to end, the thoughtfulness behind each decision made was what really made this experience so worthwhile. Each chef and host/hostess was so present and personable; I’ve never felt so welcomed and “at home” at a fine dining restaurant such as this. The food was, of course, delicious and reiterated the homey feelings of being in our grandparents’ kitchens. Thankful to have experienced Chef Edward’s dishes and to have met him in person. He is just as kind as one would imagine him to be.
   

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2. S

   Sarah

   San Francisco

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   From the moment you step inside, it’s clear that every aspect of the dining experience has been thoughtfully curated. Taste, of course, is subjective. Overall, I found most dishes to be not only delicious but also innovative and intriguing. I especially loved the apple juk, lovely flavor profile and texture. One or two dishes that didn’t fully resonate with me were the bibimbap and the grain jook. While bibimbap is so iconic, it was a bit salty for my taste, and the ratio of rice felt slightly heavy especially given that the next dish was another rice-based course. Overall, an amazing experience. I’m grateful to Chef Lee and his staff for showcasing Korean cuisine in such a beautiful way. I’m excited to see how this restaurant continues to evolve. ♥️
   

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3. A

   Alexander

   Washington DC

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 3 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Please thank the staff and Chef Lee for their graciousness.
   

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4. k

   kevin

   Baltimore

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 5 days ago

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   12/10/24 didn’t know what to expect as we were hoping for chef Edward lee’s presence, but wasn’t banking on it. Soon as we walked through the door, there he was and our excitement just rose through the roof. First course at the bar was a mandoo with all sorts of flavor profile you never expect from a dumpling. Sweet, acidic, sour, umami, it had everything in a small bite to launch off your culinary adventure. We then were escorted into main dining room where we were able to have a closer look at their kitchen and have another bite sized deliciousness of Saam, which was so clean in plate and fragrance of sesame leave set the tone of Korean cuisine expedition. Third course, the soon tofu soup……. So unexpected, so refined, and clean taste, it was most unexpected flavor punch of the night and to me the favorite course of entire meal. After that, we got the chef’s version of bibimbop. Then comes a dish surprised me which reminded me of traditional duwein Jang Jo gae that has pungent smell of fermented soy bean, which I thought no way he would out this on fine dining but yes he did, and he did not hold back on full flavor profile of Jjang and as I was eating the fish I was so proud that the could represent a Korean dish in such fine tuned way. Then next course was main course od protein which can’t go wrong and it came for time for dessert which ended up being my 2nd favorite dish of the night as it had salty, sweet, sour, all types of flavor, but I never expected to get umami taste out of noo roong ji, which was a huge surprise for me. We were able to take picture with chef Edward Lee and see him in person which was a icing on top, but impeccable attention to detail on dining experience from Shia team has left us with unforgettable memory and experience. Special thanks to Joe for making us feel at home and experiencing Korean “Jung aka service” first hand going above and beyond to make this night to Rember an cherish.
   

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5. T

   Taekyung

   San Francisco

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 8, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   One of the best Korean style foods I’ve EVER had. Thank you!
   

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6. E

   Esther

   Washington DC

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 7, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   This was my second time at Shia. I visited in November and was blown away by the experience. I was so impressed that I decided to celebrate my birthday here this weekend. I'm glad I did. They updated the menu so I was able to try some of the new items, such as the kalbi short ribs. The meat melts in your mouth and the fermented black bean garnish compliments the beef fat flawlessly. They also upgraded the entire course, like adding a new savory sauce to the mandu, sprinkling bits of homemade potato chips on the boricha ice cream, to bring out more complex flavors in all the dishes. The entire culinary team has put their hearts and souls into perfecting the tasting menu. Chef Lee himself came to present some of the dishes, making the night even more special. I cannot wait to try what the team brings out for spring. As for the service, they ensured I had the best experience possible. I was gifted a hand-written birthday card, and Shia even treated me and my friends each with our own glass of bubbles. And to top it all off, we were given a gift bag of goodies (reusable produce bag, spicy salts, copy of the menu, boricha tea bag, and a thank you note). DC is lucky to be the home of Shia with its groundbreaking commitment to sustainability and Korean American cuisine. Thank you so much!
   

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7. J

   Jin

   Washington DC

   4 reviews

   3.0

   4 reviews

   Dined on December 5, 2024

   1. Overall 3
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Great Korean fusion food experience. Staffs are kind and food was great. We didn't know the wine pairing was separate charge even it was written with the menu as other pairing drinks, so be careful! I was a bit surprised to see the final price. Chef's innovative approaches to Korean food were definitely amazing and fantastic!
   

   SHIA RestaurantResponded on December 5, 2024

   Thank you so much for your thoughtful review and for sharing your experience with us! We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed our innovative take on Korean cuisine and that our team made you feel welcome. We do understand how important it is to have clarity around pricing, and we sincerely appreciate your feedback. To clarify, the wine pairing is listed as a separate charge on the tasting menu, as well as in our beverage booklet, but we’ll take another look to ensure it’s as clear as possible. Your input helps us improve, and we’re grateful for it. Thank you again for visiting SHIA! We hope to have the pleasure of serving you again soon.
   

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8. K

   Kaley

   Washington DC

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on December 4, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Shia was a wonderful experience. The food was incredible and the space was beautiful. I had asked for no pork on my menu but was given the pork dish. My date was very happy to have doubled up on pork as I gave mine to him. The staff was a bit suffocating. Our waters would be refilled before we even took a sip out of them and we were routinely asked the same questions and never really left alone. It felt like we had to perform rather than enjoy our meal. There was also a lot of hesitation about what exactly the timing was between the first bite in the front bar and moving to the main dining space. We weren't sure what we were supposed to do or how long we were supposed to sit or how quickly/slowly we were to enjoy the first bites. Overall, a wonderful experience that I'm sure will be refined over time as the staff settle in a bit more.
   

   SHIA RestaurantResponded on December 5, 2024

   Thank you so much for sharing your detailed feedback! We’re delighted to hear you enjoyed the food and found the space beautiful. That said, we sincerely apologize for the mix-up with your no-pork request. While we’re glad your date appreciated the extra serving, we understand it wasn’t what you had planned, and we’ll work to improve how we handle dietary preferences. We also appreciate your thoughts on service and pacing. Striking the right balance between attentiveness and giving guests space is something we’re actively refining. Your input about the bar-to-dining room transition is especially helpful as we work to smooth out the flow. We’re grateful for your understanding and hope to welcome you back for an even better experience in the future!
   

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9. Z

   Zumi

   Washington DC

   5 reviews

   vip
   5.0

   5 reviews

   Dined on November 27, 2024

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Everything about this restaurant was delicious and thoughtfully made. Even though Chef Edward Lee was not there in person, the Chef that was cooking did an amazing job because the food was very flavorful. This restaurant has exceeded my expectations and I am glad I did not give up on making the reservations.
   

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   SHIA RestaurantResponded on December 5, 2024

   Thank you so much for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your experience and found the food delicious and thoughtfully crafted. Our team is dedicated to delivering flavorful, memorable meals, and we’re so glad we could exceed your expectations. While Chef Edward Lee wasn’t present, we’re delighted that our talented team made your visit special. Thank you for your persistence in securing a reservation—it means the world to us! We can’t wait to welcome you back again soon.
   

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10. S

    Stephanie

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 23, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4

    We only truly enjoyed 3/7 courses. Dare I say the interpretive bibimbop was my least favorite?! Service was standard for the price point. Ambiance also fine and what you'd expect. Basically accepted that we paid for the novelty and hype of Chef Lee post-Culinary Class Wars. The group next to us travelled all the way from north New Jersey. As DMV locals, we would not recommend traveling for the meal if you're looking to be blown away. Overall, we had a good experience but wouldn't return because of overall value.
    

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