SHIA Restaurant

Review summary

1. C

   Christy

   Washington DC

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined 2 days ago

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

   Got the four course menu and was overall a great experience. I was a bit taken aback since the reservation on OpenTable says the menu is $65 but in-person, the menu said $90, did not appreciate that discrepancy. But food was excellent. I didn’t love the dessert, the apple syrup the ice cream sat on was a bit too syrupy—would’ve enjoyed the ice cream more without the apples. The main entrees with the short ribs and rockfish were good but not as special compared to the rest of the menu. The mandu, soondubu, jook were amazing and unique. The kalguksu that came with my rockfish was really good as well and because of that alone, I would recommend the rockfish over the short rib entree.
   

   SHIA RestaurantResponded 1 day ago

   Thank you for your thoughtful feedback, Christy! We're happy to hear you enjoyed the food and service at SHIA overall. I'm sorry that our four-course bar menu pricing communication was not clear. We could have done a better job, and we appreciate you letting us know so we can improve this. We had indeed started our four-course bar menu at $65 for a short period but then updated it to $90, which is likely what we'll keep. Given that our menu is seasonal, we'll continue to note how we communicate menu details and prices better. We appreciate you taking the time to let us know. Thanks also for letting us know what dishes you loved and what dishes we missed a bit. We strive for the best and will review your kind insights to continue to get better! Happy holidays, and see you again!
   

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2. H

   Hyung jin

   Washington DC

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

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

   Was unhappy that chef lee was not present but the food was good 😁
   

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   SHIA RestaurantResponded 2 days ago

   Hyung Jin, we're so happy you enjoyed the food and time at SHIA! It was wonderful having you. And yes! We hear you. Given how busy Chef Lee's schedule is, we're always delightfully surprised when we see him, too. Still, regardless of his presence, we're happy that SHIA's experience can be fully felt and enjoyed in terms of food and service, and we look forward to welcoming you again soon. Thank you for taking the time to share this. We look forward to welcoming you back again!
   

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3. K

   Kenny

   VIP

   Washington DC

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 3 days ago

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

   Amazing experience. Food and service were on another level. After each delicate course, I was left wanting more which is ingenious because now I have to come back again. Darn. Thank you SHIA.
   

   SHIA RestaurantResponded 2 days ago

   Thank you, Kenny, for this heartfelt message! We strive for the best in every element, so we're thrilled you enjoyed the food and service at SHIA. Thank you for taking the time to share this. We can't wait to welcome you back with more yummy food at SHIA! See you soon again!
   

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4. J

   Joyce

   Washington DC

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined 5 days 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.
   

   SHIA RestaurantResponded 2 days ago

   And thank you, Joyce, for this thoughtful and kind review! How do we respond with a hug and gratitude?! :)This means so much, given that we strive to provide an 'at home' experience for all our guests at SHIA. Thank you for taking a moment to share this message with us. We look forward to continuing to improve and welcoming you again at SHIA for another lovely evening. Happy holidays and we'll see you soon!
   

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5. S

   Sarah

   San Francisco

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined 7 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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   SHIA RestaurantResponded 1 day ago

   Thank you, Sarah, for this thoughtful sharing! ♥️ We're so happy you enjoyed the meal, experience, and service during your last visit to SHIA. Appreciate the detailed reflection on each of the dishes. We strive for the best and look forward to taking the notes you've shared to make your next visit to SHIA even better. Thank you for taking the time to share these notes with us. We loved having you and can't wait to see you soon again!
   

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6. A

   Alexander

   Washington DC

   4 reviews

   5.0

   4 reviews

   Dined 7 days ago

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

   Please thank the staff and Chef Lee for their graciousness.
   

   SHIA RestaurantResponded 2 days ago

   And thank you, Alexander, for your thoughtfulness in taking the time to share this note! We're so happy to hear you had a wonderful time at SHIA and can't wait to welcome you back. Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you soon again. :)
   

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7. k

   kevin

   Baltimore

   2 reviews

   5.0

   2 reviews

   Dined on 11 December 2024

   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.
   

   SHIA RestaurantResponded 1 day ago

   Thank you so much for sharing this thoughtful, detailed reflection, Kevin! We're thrilled you enjoyed the food and service at SHIA. We strive for the best and are delighted to hear how the details made you feel at home with Korean 'Jung'! And now you're making us feel the Jung and care in this heartfelt message. Thank you for taking the time to share your dining experience at SHIA. It was great having you, and we can't wait to welcome you back for another memorable evening with good food. Thank you, Kevin!
   

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8. T

   Taekyung

   San Francisco

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 8 December 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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   SHIA RestaurantResponded 2 days ago

   Taekyung, this means a lot, given how many Korean-styled foods are out there! :) Thank you for joining us at SHIA. We're happy to hear you had a great time and can't wait to welcome you back for another wonderful evening over good food. Thanks for taking a moment to share this note back with us!
   

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9. E

   Esther

   Washington DC

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 7 December 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!
   

   SHIA RestaurantResponded 2 days ago

   Esther, thank you so much for this heartfelt, thoughtful, detailed message back to us! :) We're so happy to welcome you at SHIA twice and share a lovely evening; we can't wait to welcome you again! We strive for the best in every element, and your insights will help us continue to improve and make your and future guests have a meaningful time, so thank you for sharing these detailed notes - about the food, experience, and staff care you felt. We appreciate your support and care in our sustainability mission and look forward to seeing you soon with more good food and a good time! Thank you for visiting SHIA and again for this lovely, thoughtful note.
   

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10. J

    Jin

    Washington DC

    4 reviews

    3.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on 5 December 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 5 December 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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