Kisa
Korean restaurant · Lower East Side ·
Set Korean menu with protein choice, refillable banchan, & free coffee
Set Korean menu with protein choice, refillable banchan, & free coffee
"Run by brothers Steve and Eric Choi and friend David Yun, this cozy Lower East Side corner spot is an ode to the Korean taxi-driver cafeteria, delivering revolving circular metal platters piled with impressively diverse, hearty, impeccably seasoned banchan—standouts include mul hwe (raw fish in a cold spicy sauce) and bulgogi japchae—and paired with warm hospitality like complimentary canned Korean drinks, occasional gratis pours of Korean alcohol, and the old-school staple of a free coffee machine on the way out; I also love the yulmu-cha, a sweet, nutty, high-protein tea made with Job’s tears, grains, and nuts." - Irene Yoo
"Opened in 2024 as a casual kisa-style diner — modeled on the Korean spots that catered to taxi drivers — this Lower East Side sibling, run with co-partner Yong Min Kim, is known for its set meals and banchan and won Eater NY’s award for best new restaurant that year." - Nadia Chaudhury
"At Kisa on the Lower East Side, $32 will get you an entree, soup, rice, and a wreath of banchan including kimchi, mung bean jelly, and soy-marinated shrimp. It’s a great deal, especially for the area, where that much money usually only gets you a small plate or a few shrimp with cocktail sauce. The walk-in-only restaurant is compact, bustling, and decked out like a retro Korean diner, and the waits can be multiple hours. Put your name in around 5:30pm, grab a drink somewhere, then come back and eat some bulgogi or stir-fried spicy pork." - bryan kim, kenny yang, willa moore, will hartman
"Get in and out for $32. That’s the beauty of Kisa, a snug little spot serving set meals inspired by the old-school diners of Korea that cater to cab drivers. The quality of the homestyle food is just an added bonus. Choose from a few mains that include sweet bulgogi and charred spicy pork, then enjoy a wreath of bottomless sides like raw marinated shrimp and braised beef with potatoes. If you supplement with soju, plum liqueur, or one of the other Korean spirits on hand, your check will obviously exceed $32, but do it anyway. Kisa also does lunch—you can choose between gamjatang and donkatsu, both of which are under $20." - bryan kim, neha talreja, will hartman, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick
"When you don’t want to think too much about what to order, but still want some variety on your plate, this Korean restaurant on the Lower East Side is a great option. At Kisa, each of you picks one $32 entree, which comes ringed with little bowls of banchan (around nine different kinds). This spot isn’t exactly romantic, but the vintage fans and TVs might inspire thoughts of cozy domesticity—and they do have a nice selection of soju, fruit wines and cheongju for as little as $35 a bottle. Or get a drink nearby after putting your name in—there can be a wait." - bryan kim, molly fitzpatrick, willa moore, will hartman, sonal shah
