Just had a delicious Tofu Bibimbop. While waiting, we enjoyed some of the best miso soup I've had since moving to Atlanta. Lovely service. Check this place out! Tucked away next to Mellow Mushroom in the Trader Joe's parking lot. Highly recommended!! Especially for those looking to eat healthy without sacrificing flavor :)
(5)
Derrika H.
This place not so great. Glad they had great take-out containers. Good customer service food on the other hand....yea I wont be back!
(2)
Tom C.
Kiri is a rice bowl and sushi restaurant. I heard these rice bowl restuarants were becoming popular and wanted to try it out. Food was ok. Our group had volcano roll as appetizer, spicy pork entree, and the traditional bimbimbap. The roll was good but the spicy pork was salty. The meat slices were cut too small to actually enjoy. The meat in the beef in the bimbimbap was too salty as well but the rice bowl was really good. And the worst of all the miso soup we received was lukewarm. On a cold day like last night, the temperature could've been a little higher. Service was ok. It took the server awhile to get our orders after we sat down but while we were eating she was OK and filled up our orders.
(3)
Lindsey E.
Have your bibimbap, and eat it too! Kiri is my first bibimbap experience and aside from loving to say "bibimbap" the dish is delish and quite versatile. Kiri has a "make your own" option that allows you to pick your carb, pick your protein, and pick as many veggies as you want. The result is a fresh, healthy, filling bowl of goodness! Kiri also has a menu (including sushi) outside of their bibimbap bowl options. This is a great little spot to check out pre-movie as it's mighty close to Midtown Art Cinema! They also have beer and wine and great service.
(5)
Decia D.
Great service! Yummy food! My family loves to eat at this establishment!
(5)
Cook S.
My favorite lunch place in VH/Midtown area. Efficient, friendly, tasty. You can customize your lunch box (or your bibimbap) whichever way you want. I think they have a password-protected WiFi but you can also easily connect to the Starbucks one if you need to. Parking can be crazy at the plaza but they have one designated spot and I never had problems during lunchtime. Oh, and Jennifer, who works there, has to be one of the cutest waitresses ever (never hurts to be greeted by a beautiful woman).
(5)
Jaron H.
The food is excellent, fresh and flavorful. Service is friendly and prompt. Beyond that, though, the value is unbeatable. The bibimbap and bento boxes are the best value, and offer a quick and easy way to customize your meal to your liking. Try the spicy pork!
(5)
Samantha H.
Kiri, why I picked you over Ah-Ma's that night, I will never know. It was probably the $9.99 bento all day, errday special. 2 of my favorite things -- bentos and affordable. They coin themselves as a "fusion rice bar.". I have no idea what that means. I guess because they have sushi, bento and bibimbap? My roommate and I came in on a Monday around 7:30p. The service was a disaster. No one seated us, or brought us menus after we seated ourselves. Now, this may be service, or management because they did look under staffed. There were probably 10 groups of customers and 2 waitresses running from the kitchen to the dining area. The bento comes with a drink, miso soup, salad, sushi roll, entree and rice. You have pretty standard choices for each -- house or Caesar for the salad. Spicy tuna, California roll, salmon roll, vegetable roll, grilled fish roll were those that I remember for the sushi options, and for entrees, chicken/salmon teriyaki, shrimp tempura, tonkatsu, spicy pork, bulgogi. I ended up getting the house salad, spicy tuna roll, and chicken teriyaki. My roommate got the salmon roll, and salmon teriyaki. First, the soup. Holy crap... This was probably one of the saltiest soups I've ever tasted. Luckily, I ordered hot water and just dumped all of that into my soup. I ended with more soup than I started! I wasn't a fan of the firm tofu they used. The house salad, I assumed, was going to be like your hibachi restaurant salad. It was similar, except it had cheese on it. What the what? Both rolls were fine, ample fish and cucumber/avocado. It also was not rolled too thick, which was a plus. I thought the chicken teriyaki entree was fine. Sweet and saucy. It comes also with mushrooms, red peppers, and onions, all of which tasted fine.. nothing particularly memorable. Honestly, Kiri is a great "bang for your buck" type restaurant but don't expect authenticity or outstanding food. TL,DR -- if you like cheap, mediocre food, Kiri is the way to go!
(3)
Jaye W.
Food always great! Service sucks.... After waiting 15 min to have a server come to table, it was another 20 before we got drinks..... When confronted was given such attitude..... Not customer service focused.... I was told I was being rude for questioning if there was new management.
(1)
Shica B.
Ugh... To reduce it to a one-liner... I wish that I had my $20 back. I was in the area, wanted to try something new and decided to try out this place that claims to be the healthiest Korean eating I ever came across in my life. I decided to try an appetizer - I went for the pot sticker. For my main meal, I tried the salmon bento box. The pot stickers are supposed to be steamed and lightly grilled. Only one side of the pot stickers were grilled, so much to the point of being burned. The rest of them never touched the grill, so I had a crunchy, burned potsticker in one side, mushy nustiness on the other. The 'dipping sauce' is simply soy sauce with a bunch of green onions floating in it. Yuck. Bento box had a salad. It was lame and unremarkable. I initially upgraded the rice to fried rice. What a mistake. The rice was spicy (not mentioned on the menu). I exchanged it for brown rice. The salmon was in this ridiculously sweet sauce with a salty base that was nauseating. It tasted like it had been marinating in dishwater. It was soggy and the only flavoring was the sickingly sweet marinade. The California Rolls were basic. At least the sweet tea was good...
(2)
Jang C.
When I first walked in, we were trying to figure out what Kiri meant. In Japanese, it means, "to cut." But I noticed this was not a Japanese restaurant. So me and my co-worker, who can speak Korean fluently, were trying to figure out what Kiri meant in Korean. Well, we found out it means togetherness or kkiri. They could've named it "hamkke." I guess Kiri can be pronounced easier. Anyway, this is a Korean restaurant in the middle of Midtown Atlanta. It's hard to find. Look for the Starbucks in the Midtown Promenade , and it's behind there. They claim it's Asian fusion, but they just serve Korean and sushi rolls. I went in during lunch, they seem to have 2 menus for lunch: their lunch combo and their bibimbap. For their bibimbap, you can choose among various ingredients to put in your bibimbap. For the lunch combo, you can choose from the type of salad, the roll you want, the main dish, and the type of rice you want. I chose the kimchi salad, the salmon roll, the spicy pork, and white rice. For the rice, you can choose among white, brown, and fried (for extra cost). The entire combo comes with a miso soup. And the miso soup was pretty standard. I think you can change it to miyuk soup (Seaweed soup), but I'm not sure. The kimchi salad is just a pile of kimchi. There's nothing salad-y about it. I was expecting some innovative dish, but it's just a pile of kimchi. Their kimchi tastes fresh. I'm not a fan of fresh kimchi, I like the more pickled and fermented kind. But that's just a preference. The rolls were rolls. I can't really say much about them. Their spicy pork tasted fine. It had a lot of jalapenos in it. I felt it had too much jalapenos and not enough pork. I also tried their tonkatsu. It tasted like a decent tonkatsu. The lunch combo comes with a free soda as well. For under $10, it seemed like a great deal. In the end, the food tasted average. It's not bad, but it's not mind blowing either. It fits the location. Non-Koreans might enjoy something more ethnic. Also, I can see Georgia Tech Koreans that might come here when they crave something from home and can't go farther.
(3)
Peter K.
This is a nice Japanese - Korean restaurant that makes rolls fresh on the spot. Their bento boxes (~$10) and rice bowls (~$9) are great values. I ordered the bento box with: - Salad with house sauce that is the typical Japanese house sauce. There wasn't anything spectacular about it but it was done right. - Spicy tuna rolls were good. The rice wasn't old and it wasn't overly spicy which I liked. - Chicken teriyaki wasn't great. I think they used chicken breasts and the sauce didn't really mix in well with the meat. - White rice. The service was really good as I got there late with my party and they were able to take my order and get my food out really quick. It's a nice place to grab a lunch but nothing amazing.
(3)
Katie R.
This is a good basic quick Asian restaurant. It seems like their main offerings are bibimbap bowls and sushi. I've usually had sushi there, and it's fresh and tasty. I'll likely keep coming back for a quick meal because it is so convenient, but I think there are better places for sushi. Kiri seems to be overpriced for quick sushi and has lower quality than higher-priced locations.
(3)
JJ G.
Sometimes you just want a huge bowl of bibimbap. When we wandered over to Kiri (after negotiating the nightmare that is parking), we wanted to enjoy the sunny and surprising warm afternoon by eating on the patio. The hostess obliged and seated us out there. We ordered waters and the Mr went with some standard sushi choices; nothing too adventurous. I opted for the "create your own" bibimbap, and am so glad I did. They hand you a paper with happy check boxes, and you can load up on ingredients of your choosing. I ordered almost all the vegetables and tofu, which came in tiny, fried cubes. I absolutely ordered the fried egg on top, and chose the spicy BBQ sauce (which wasn't all that spicy). Before my bibimbap came out, we were brought our miso soups. Nothing too crazy there. The price for my bowl was incredibly low, given all the food I received. I really enjoyed coming to Kiri, and hope to again, soon. Note: service was quite nice, and I believe they offer Coke products.
(4)
Tristyn B.
The people that work here are nice, they really are! But I just can't get with the bento box they serve... I got the one with teriyaki salmon and found it to be WAY too salty. As of this writing, I can feel my blood pressure rising lol. No but seriously... I can say, though, that the brown rice was prepared well! I just won't be returning here... not worth the $10.
(2)
James W.
I have seen this place whenever I come to the Plaza for UPS, movies, etc. I never stopped in until today as my husband wanted rice. We walked in and truly admired the modern decor. The open vibe makes you feel invited and welcome. The hostess was extremely friendly. She took care of us thought the entire time we ate. The food was absolutely great. I ordered a Bento Box comprised of miso, sushi choice, protein choice, and rice choice. Additionally, the meal comes with a choice of soda. All for $9.99. We were deeply satisfied and had to take a break during eating cause the food was that good! I would encourage you to give the place a try. Maybe even on a warm day, we will visit again to enjoy the patio and sun :)
(4)
Sul K.
Consistently fresh and delicious food! Traditional bibimbap is very healthy and spot on! Best korean food you can get it downtown Atlanta without going to duluth! Their price is very reasonable too!
(5)
JH P.
We came on what we thought would be a busy day but it was far from it. It did take a bit of time to get service but overall service was very friendly. The menu has some standard Korean items. The bibimbap bowl is interesting where you can choose your own options. So you can get very creative. My husband and I did get creative and we weren't overly impressed. With the slow service and the so so food, uncertain if we'll ever go back. Better off going to Doraville or even trekking all the way to Duluth for good Korean food.
(3)
Kobayashi M.
Ordered traditional bibimbap with stone bowl. Fresh ingrediants, spicy korean sauce tasted similair to the average mass produced product that can be bought at any asian grocery. Service needs to be improved. Stone bowl was not hot enough, no crust on the rim of the rice and bowl. I mentioned it to the server near the end of the meal, which was partly my mistake. Regardless, if they are going to offer it in a hot stone bowl, get it right - the restaurant has been open for over a year. Atmosphere and decor was modern, somewhat minimal. Unlikely to go again or recommend to friends because there are better options around.
(2)
Robert B.
Jang C. below and I had a pretty similar experience. My problem with Kiri -- and I want to love it because of it's location and excellent service -- is that it's watered down Korean food as opposed to Korean/Japanese fusion. On a recent lunch visit, I had the lunch special with Bulgogi. Let's get one thing out of the way -- while Atlanta is no Flushing NY or LA, there are many, many places to get excellent Bulgogi. Many. This is not one of them. The bulgogi was essentially what you'd get if you told someone the ingredients and there only referent point was a Philly cheesesteak. It was slightly marinated beef with bell peppers and onions. That's fine, but that's not bulgogi. It's the inside of a cheesesteak. And perhaps in some super small town in the South that would be OK, but not in Atlanta. There are many places to get the real thing. The meal game with Miso Soup. Again, it's decent. It also has Kimchi, which is fresher and almost watered down. Again it's like Korean food if you were concerned about it being too spicy, which sort of defeats the point of kimchi. The ambiance is great. Lovely interior. The service is also great. The issue is that the food is just OK. If you've had better Korean food, this will suffer by comparison. If you have not, you will not fall in love with the genre. My hope is that Kiri will take advantage of their idea -- Japanese and Korean fusion -- and embace the flavors that have made Korean and Japanese food so popular, rather than water them down for the masses. Believe me, the masses want great food too.
(3)
Jill P.
I've come here twice now and I've had great service and fantastic food. I've gotten the bulgogi bento box with both California and Spider rolls. Everything is fresh and served hot and quickly. You can't beat the price of the bento box specials ($9.99 and it includes your soft drink)!
(5)
Ryan R.
This place is a diamond in the middle of Midtown... next to the Trader Joe's. Excellent sushi but the real treat were the bimibi bowls. Lots of veggies and other stuff and pleanty of food to fill up an adult. We were at the Indigo and took the drive to get some decent food without paying a sick amount of money on Peachtree. The waitress was very good and provided an abundance of sauce to my wife's request.
(5)
Vanessa H.
Update: Unfortunately the quality at my once favorite lunch spot has decreased. I found a hair in my food yesterday (barf) & then received a new bibimbap with small, crunchy shrimp (the little frozen dried up kind) instead of dewy, plump shrimp. The service was slow & I started drinking my brother's water because the waiter didn't check on us. There was also nothing done about the hair I found except for one "sorry". Well that's not good enough for me to drive 30 minutes to this place anymore.
(3)
Cassandra T.
The service here is always friendly and fast, and they seem to do good business with take-out on a Sunday night. I've only ordered the spicy tuna roll and the shrimp tempura roll and tea, but I plan on trying that bibimbap.
(4)
Ashley S.
The shrimp udon was good, but it only came with 2 pieces of shrimp tempura. I wouldn't order it again, but I'd come back to try something else. Didn't get to finish it bc our waitress took the bowl away before we were done, but it's not a big deal. I would like to come back to try a bento box.
(3)
David K.
Kiri is a Korean/Japanese restaurant in Atlanta with a cool concept on serving some of their dishes. I loved the concept of how they served bibimbap here. They'll give you a piece of paper and let you check all the toppings you want in your bowl. It was quite an extensive list of toppings, many I've never thought to try in bibimbap. Being that bibimbap is one of my favorite Korean dishes I was pretty excited to see how it would taste. Firstly, the presentation was wonderful. All the toppings were neatly placed to form a colorful fresh circle, and with the egg on top it looked like the best bibimbap ever (even better than momma Kang's). Well despite the great presentation the food turned out much more salty then I expected, and it was mostly from the beef. I loved the buttery taste of the beef, but it was salty enough that when I drank water my tongue felt a little numb. The miso soup had the same effect too, and it was lukewarm--it was a cold winter night so it was a bit disappointing to find out it wasn't very hot. Despite that, I still engulfed the bibimbap and was very happy with the portion and the price. I did wish they would serve it with sesame oil, but they might've added that in already. So momma Kang's bibimbap still remains my favorite but Kiri certainly came close. Compared to most other Korean restaurants this had a more domestic feel and look which might make it less intimidating for those who are looking to try Korean food for the first time.
(3)
Linda A.
Amazing! Wow I've been to the Buford highway korean spots and this place fits right in. First off the server Akiko was amazing! She's soo sweet and caring and really made the experience from a 9 to a 10. The biggest let down was the rice used for the sushi I've been to umi, tomo, Yuka , and every kroger sushi rice is better that their rice. I'm sorry to say soo but skip the sushi! Otherwise the bento box and the bibimbap was great! Get beef options for both see attached picture of our bill and order that. Get the hot Korean chili sauce and enjoy. Make sure u choose the hot stone bowl option it's worth the additional $2. Great place will be back!
(5)
Daniel B.
Kiri opened Summer 2012 inside the Midtown Promenade shopping plaza on Monroe Dr, near 10th St. and Piedmont Park. Kiri advertises itself as a Korean and Japanese "Fusion Rice Bar." I'm not really sure what they mean by that, but this restaurant does serve both Korean and Japanese food. Kiri has that contemporary hip/trendy look, similar to how a lot of the froyo shops look. There's a sushi and bibimbap (Korean mixed rice) bar in the back, where the chef (visibly) works. Futuristic and stylish-looking chairs, glossy tables, flat panel displays, and faux grass are used to furnish and decorate the interior. Despite the chic decor, the atmosphere is very much casual. The specialty here is bibimbap. Bibimbap generally consists of a bowl of rice, meat, veggies, other toppings (such as sesame seeds), and a Korean sauce (typically gochujang paste) that you mix together yourself. Kiri is unique, however, because they allow you to customize and make your own bibimbap. If you've ever been to one of those create-your-own-stir-fry places, such as Chow Baby, a similar idea applies here. Bibimbap prices vary between $7.49 and $9.49 depending on what meat/seafood you choose. You order using paper menus with check boxes, similar to how sushi is ordered at some Japanese restaurants. With the provided No. 2 pencil, you can mark off which ingredients you want included in your bibimbap. Kiri adds an additional twist by offering ingredients not customary of traditional bibimbap, such as rice noodles, Romaine lettuce, corn, peas, black beans, broccoli, and bell peppers. If you want your bibimbap in a traditional Korean stone bowl (dolsot), it's an additional $3.00. Bibimbap that is served in a stone bowl continues to cook a bit longer. The rice and other ingredients stick to the edge of the bowl and become slightly burnt and crispy. This provides additional texture and flavor. You can choose as many toppings as you want in your bibimbap. The price stays the same. The portion sizes are generous. It's not uncommon to take home leftovers. Generally, I think the bibimbap at Kiri is OK. It's not as authentic as the kind of bibimbap you're going to find at a Korean restaurant on Buford Highway or in Duluth, but all of the ingredients are fresh and I like that. Also, there is no banchan (complementary Korean side dishes), but I really wouldn't expect there to be. Miso soup is served with each entree. Apart from bibimbap, other menu offerings include sushi and Japanese cuisine such as gyoza, tempura, tuna tataki, teriyaki, tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet), and yakisoba noodles, and other Korean cuisine such as bulgogi and galbi (Korean BBQ). Among these, I've tried the tonkatsu and the yakisoba. Like the bibimbap, the portion size for the other entrees is huge, which is nice if you have a big appetite. The quality of the tonkatsu ($13.49) and yakisoba ($9.49-$11.49) isn't great, however. Tonkatsu is a Japanese dish consisting of a boneless, fried pork cutlet. At Kiri, tonkatsu is served with a side of white rice, dipping sauce, and veggies. The cutlet is drizzled with sauce and has sesame seeds added on top. The tonkatsu I had here was a bit dry and the breading fell right off the meat. Not the most appetizing thing in the world, but it wasn't terrible and at least it was filling. The yakisoba is OK. Yakisoba is sauteed soba noodles stir-fried with veggies. You can add meat/protein and Kiri offers chicken, beef, shrimp, and tofu with its yakisoba. It looks great when it hits the table due to its sheer size and number of ingredients. However, the flavor leaves something to be desired. The noodles taste instant. The veggies are sufficiently fresh. The sushi menu is decent for a casual Americanized eatery. I've tried one of the hand rolls (spicy tuna, $6.49 for two rolls) and it was nicely prepared and tasty, from sushi rice to seaweed wrap. The servers are efficient and attentive and food comes out fast. Overall, Kiri is a cute little restaurant with not bad food, though you should look elsewhere if you want something more authentic.
(3)
Lisa H.
I wanted to go to Ah-Ma's but they were closed :(. I had to get a quick lunch so came here instead. The staff was friendly, but the food wasn't that great. I got the lunch bento with a roll and Korean BBQ, and the BBQ was a bit salty for my taste. The roll wasn't anything special.
(2)
Amy D.
This is my favorite low-cost and quick eats that is full of vegetables and non-fried foods. I love that this restaurant is located in Midtown (most Korean offerings are near the suburbs) and also offers sushi. I can't resist ordering the custom Bibimbap. The porch is great for spring and summer days.
(5)
Chanel G.
I wasn't the biggest fan. They have a really great bento box deal so I opted for that. For my main dish in my box, I got the salmon teriyaki. The salmon was extremely overcooked, even hard to the touch. The miso soup was lackluster and my salad was drenched in dressing. No my favorite.
The price is awesome for its location. Environment is very casual and not appropriate for dates (bright light). Food is okay as an everyday asian food. Service is absolutely awful. A great place to grab lunch by yourself and save some money.
(3)
Tom E.
It's the Sunday of the 2012/2013 NFC Championship and I am sorry for saying it, and the Falcons just got spanked @ home. It was a tough afternoon. I needed retail therapy, and someone to vent my frustrations to, so I met my friends at Ikea first. On my trip down there, you could tell the city was dead- it would be a quiet Sunday. While we were shopping, we encountered some hunger pains. We were thinking immediately Woody's, but then a huge curveball came- we ended up going to Kiri instead (which is like 100 feet away from Woody's). I had no idea what Kiri had to offer, but I was hungry enough to embrace it. When we first walked in, I noticed the style. It was pretty modern. The next thing I noticed was the beer- that excited me. Beer and wine only to my knowledge. I then realized the place was a Korean/Japanese fusion "rice bar". The menu consisted of all assortments of sushi, as well as bibimbap. There is even a sheet for custom bibimbap bowl (which you can also get a dolsot (stone bowl) for $2 extra. So I got a slightly modified dolsot bibimbap with lotsa cheese. When it came out, it was sizzling. I was excited to eat it. I was actually excited to eat something with vegetables in it! After stirring it all up, I munched it away. The company I was with noted how fast I eat. It was decent food, and I was hungry. We got there around 30 minutes before they closed- but they welcomed us with open arms. They served us quickly and everyone seemed to enjoy everything. I really liked the concept and I will definitely have to try it again- in a different variety!
(4)
Danan C.
Nice on the inside, a bit small but it's nice and clean. Parking is a but of a problem because there are a number of other restaurants in the complex as well as a Trader Joes and the parking lot doesn't hold that many cars. Sushi is not recommended. I had yellowtail (Mexican roll) and it tasted fishy. If you've ever had fresh yellowtail, it should have no fishy taste at all and be buttery tasting. The bee-boppity-boo bowl was rather tasteless. I got the hot bowl and it charred the rice black. I didn't care for that.
(3)
Shauntel H.
First time trying fried sushi and I'm definitely a fan! Great customer service and great food!
(4)
Hudson H.
While I attempt to prepare meals at home on 'school nights', I often give in to temptation by Wednesday/Thursday and venture out. Kiri is a great go-to for those mid-week desires to grab a bite on the town. The sushi is not world-class, but it's well worth the price. The ingredients are always fresh and you never sit there wondering when your server will bring you that refill. The service always entices you to leave a little extra, because you can tell they appreciate you stopping in. So, if you're getting a little hungry by hump day, give Kiri a shot. If you come 'thirsty', be sure to try a Japanese Beer. It's reasonably priced and makes the people watching at dusk that much more relaxing.
(4)
Sahil D.
The service and food here is great. One of my favorite places for sushi and I love the bibimbap bowl. The servers are also very nice and catering.
(5)
Benjamin G.
We were gallivanting about through Midtown and all around Atlanta on a Saturday and were in need of some lunch. We found our way back to the parking lot with Trader Joe's and Poor Richard's and some how came by a parking space. It's like the freaking Hunger Games out there! Kiri is pretty small and only has a few tables/seats inside and a few tables on the patio as well. It was a nice day so we opted for the patio. Glad that the tables all have umbrellas, too. The menu is pretty simple -- miso soups, sushi of all kinds, hand rools, sashimi, and bibimbap. I ordered miso soup, a California roll, and a spicy tuna roll. I was in the mood for old reliable and that's exactly what I got! All three were perfect and par for the course, which made me a happy camper. My wife ordered the bibimbap which looks tremendous and filled the entirety of the large, steel bowl it was served in. I'm going to try it next time. The best part of our experience was our server. She was so sweet and bubbly the entire time. She even brought me a can of coke zero for a refill since their machine was out of order. Rather thoughtful and totally unexpected. Kiri is a pretty solid lunch choice. If we're looking for some sustenance from the BeltLine or other adventures, this is a great choice to have.
(4)
Obadiah S.
I've only been here for lunch, but it is a steal! I've had most combinations of the lunch menu. For just under 9 bucks, you get a sushi roll, a hot offering, kimchi veggies, and a bowl of miso soup. The miso is really the highlight for me, savory and earthy, it's a great start. I'm not quite sold on the kimchi. I'm used to something a bit spicier. I'm not sure if they tone it down for a Western palate, but it could definitely use a bit of kick. Service is quick and the quality is adequate if not better for the price. I've not tried Kiri for dinner. Lunch seems to be their busy time. And as a lunch spot, I highly recommend Kiri. It far surpasses the 9 bucks I might spend on a burger and fries.
(3)
B K.
My coworker decided to bring me here to check it out. Food is great!! I got the bento box that came with a soft drink, grilled fish sushi roll, steak with onions, brown rice, and a house salad. It also came with some soup but it didn't taste that good. The house salad was great! Everything tasted very good especially for the price of $9.95 for everything. I definitely will come back again!
(5)
Jocelyn W.
I got a $10 bento box which included choice of salad, sushi, entree, rice and soup. Made fresh and delicious.
(5)
Chrissy P.
Kiri is my ITP (inside the perimeter) Korean food mecca. The food is amazing...they have a build your own bibimbap option that is to die for. Their kimchi is fresh and always tasty. And their miso soup? Perfection. It's also hard to find authentic (or close to authentic) Korean restaurants inside the perimeter. They have an amazing lunch box special during lunch hours during the week that can't be beat. Personally, my biggest draw to Kiri is their exceptionally friendly wait staff. As a biracial Black/Korean American, I've struggled to find a Korean restaurant with consistently courteous staff. Sadly far too many of the wait staff at restaurants outside the perimeter, with food perhaps more authentic than Kiri, have been downright insulting. I've never...ever...had a bad experience at Kiri and my boyfriend and I dine their at least once a week. Loves it!
(5)
Kelsey F.
Kiri is fine enough but when it comes to quick Asian dining, I think there are better options for sushi. Kiri is conveniently located in the Midtown Promenade. Since I take the Marta everywhere, it was an easy walk from the Midtown Marta station. The parking lot at Midtown Promenade is a literal war zone. Trader Joe's shoppers, hungry middle aged men, and Grady High school parents are ruthless, unforgiving, and sneaky. I would recommend walking to Kiri via the Belt Line or Marta is that is an option. We sat on the patio and enjoyed an early summer afternoon here. I ordered the Florida roll and miso soup. The sushi rolls are all relatively simple with only a couple of ingredients in each. The Florida roll is made of shrimp and avocado. It stayed assembled which always makes me happy. Nothing super impressive about it though and the ginger was extra pink which kind of freaks me out. The miso soup was my favorite part of my meal. It came with seaweed, onions, and tofu in a larger than normal portion. I will probably go back to Kiri because I tend to spend a good amount of time in this area. I think I would try a bibimbop bowl next time. They have a ton of options for free veggies and they also give you the option of having it over brown rice. If nothing else, Kiri is an easy lunch or dinner and a good option if you are already by the park or heading over to a movie at Midtown Arts Cinema.
(3)
Mark D.
Service good. Nice atmosphere. Portions big. Fresh vegetables, but overall food is meh. Almost no flavor. Would not return. Need to add flavor into the food.
(2)
Stephanie V.
I really enjoy the food here. I first tried the traditional bibimbap with spicy pork instead of beef and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My friends didn't enjoy that some of the vegetables are cold in the bowl and the rice isn't piping hot. I, personally, found the hot pork and cold veg combo to be enjoyable in a different way. After reading some reviews, I decided to try the bibimbap in the dolsot (hot bowl). Call me crazy, but I preferred the contrast in temperature and would go for the standard bowl next time. The spicy pork is the jam and is mostly responsible for the 4-star review. I also really enjoy their cucumbers - they're sliced thin, marinated/pickled and I just can't get enough. I haven't ventured out on the menu, but I'm happy with the bibimbap and will surely be back for round three in the future. However, the interior left a little to be desired; The design is just a little to clean and cold for me. Take out might be in order next time!
(4)
Ashleigh P.
went here for lunch with my mother and my daughter on Tuesday. They each had a bimbimbop bowl and I had the "bento box" lunch special. I have to say that this was a much better experience than my first one. I felt that I got a much better value for my money and I enjoyed the variety and selection of the "bento Box" lunch special. You pick a salad - house, Cesar or kimichi You pick a sushi roll / tempura You pick a protein You pick a starch And off you go. Mine was delicious. My daughter got tofu in her bowl and it was tasty.. yes, I said the tofu was tasty. Sue me.
(4)
Kristie C.
Cool bibimbap place - make your own! Sort of like yeah burger, except for bibimbap. They had brown rice as an option, wild rice listed -- but no wild rice on the actual menu :( Here's who it works: - Pick your rice (brown/white) - Pick your veggies - Pick your meat (they also have fried tofu for vegetarians, you can add more meat too if you'd like at an additional cost) Other than that though, good for take-out (~$10). I'm glad there's a Korean joint in town finally!!
(4)
Rina H.
I love this little place. The bibimbap build your own is wonderful. They have a great lunch special for $8.99 and you get a drink, miso soup, and your bibimbap bowl. What a deal! Everything about your bibimbap can be easily customized. One day I arrived for lunch at 3:20 and the special ends at 3p and the server still gave it to me, that's how nice they are. I always have really nice servers who don't mind to explain or accommodate whatever you need. I feel silly that I just found this place after living in the area for 2 yrs., but I'm glad my friend raved about it and clued me in :)
(5)
Steve L.
I like having this place close by. It makes for a nice casual and tasty weeknight meal. I had the original bibimbap in a hot stone bowl. Overall I really enjoyed the meal, and the fact that it came with miso soup made it even better. My only complaint was that the spinach seemed frozen, not fresh. Fresh spinach would have rounded out that bowl and earned Kiri another half of a star. My only other complaint is around the concept itself. If Kiri was an order at the counter, "Chipotle"/QSR style binimbap joint, I would be all smiles. I just don't feel as though this meal is a full service meal. Maybe this stems from my days eating this dish out of a street cart in DC, or maybe I am just weird. Either way, I will return, but I beg you, please use fresh veggies!!
(3)
Tyler K.
As a Korean vegan, it is really hard to find vegan Korean food, that also tastes good. I was very impressed with the customized bibimbap. I ordered it will ALL the vegetable options and tofu, and my girlfriend and I shared that with all of their veggie rolls. For myself I got the tofu katsu which was really good, but I did wish they would have used a firm tofu instead of the soft. Our order came out quickly, and our waitress was very sweet and answered all of our questions to make sure everything was vegan. Although it was really hard to find parking, it was worth it and we will come back again.
(5)
Hayley C.
Yay! An awesome place right next to my house! I'm a HUGE Korean/Japanese/Thai/etc fanatic. So I'm a pretty hard judge on Asian places. This place is pretty good! I am definitely going to be a regular! Their service is great. Very attentive staff and very clean and bright place! We never had to ask to have our drinks refilled. The waitress was on top of things! I had a create-your-own bibimbap and my man had the yasaitame. My bibimbap was great! Not the best in Atlanta, but very delicious and light. (I got to pour on my own sauce, so it was very healthy!) I can't wait to try more or their dishes. So yummy and such great options for vegetarians!
(4)
Paul K.
When: Wed. around 1pm for lunch time Intro: So this place seems like a little hidden from the plaza that it's in. Overshadowed by the Starbucks and Mellow Mushroom pizza. It is located right next door to a UPS store. Service: As soon as my date and I entered the restaurant we were greeted by the hostess/server. Since the place was halfway filled, she allowed us to pick which ever table we would like to sit at. We chose the extended booth seat and table. I'm not sure if they are food runners/bus boys, but including the server were gracious to ask how we were doing on our food and refilled our waters. That's a plus in my book. I believe we also came after a lunch rush so the restaurant was not even half packed at this time. Food: My friend ordered the bento box lunch special while I ordered the dolsot bibimbap. Normally getting dol sot (hot stone pot/bowl) is $3 for dinner, for lunch it's only $1 more with the lunch special. I actually prefer it in a stone bowl. I miss the old tofu house off of buford hwy exit, I would always order the seafood dolsot bibimbap. Alas, I'm on a continued quest to find something similar around Atlanta. The Kiri version with beef is a pretty good size portion, with a well balanced serving of rice, veggies and meat. Granted they could use some more seasoning a bit. I think next time, if there is a next time, I would ask them not to hold back on seasoning since it'll be made for someone who's Asian lol. So taste wise, it's decent. but not spectacular enough to go out of your way for if you're not that big into bibimbap. The bento box lunch special does add a variety of foods, those on a low carb diet should opt for that instead. Overall: For those not familiar with Korean bibimbap, the price of a serving of dol sot bibimbap might seem a little high for what might be considered " fried rice". Most Korean restaurants that actually serve bibimbap actually are priced around $12-14 depending on what protein you select. So for those willing to give Kiri's version a try, I say go for lunch but after 1pm if you can.
(3)
Hiro T.
This is a nice little place with good lighting and a very clean feel. The menu is mainly aimed at creating customized bibimbap. I went with a fairly classic bibimbap set up. Get the dolsot options, the bibimbap in the stone bowl is awesome! The only downside to the dolsot option, is that the meal is crazy hot...beware the burning power of hot rice on the roof your mouth. The flavor of the bibimbap was very average. The flavor seems very bland at the start even with mixing, but about half-way through the dish, the flavor really starts to come out. I don't know if I'd say that I recommend the place, but I definitely wouldn't tell someone not to eat at Kiri.
(3)
Kathleen M.
I was so excited at the prospect of having bibimbap so close to home. Sadly this is no Woo Nam Jeong. Kiri is a nice spot set in the Midtown Promenade, so be prepared to deal with the hell that is that parking lot. The layout is nice, very airy and open and bright. They have table service and it was pretty empty when we came in for a late weekday lunch: only three other tables during the course of our meal. At lunch, they offer a special customized bibimbap menu which I loved. Not sure if you can consider it bibimbap when ordered with rice noodles, but no matter. I was pleased to have brown rice available and to be able to pick and choose any of the meats/veggies I wanted. It runs about $8.50 (depending on your add ons) and includes a cup of miso soup. Sadly, the bimbimbap was less than stellar. I spent $3 to be upgraded to a stone bowl because I love the crispy sizzling rice you get. Sadly, our bowls were not hot, at least not enough to make the rice sizzle. Womp. The taste of the bibimbap was fine, but nothing special. I definitely needed all of the accompanying sauce to give it some extra love. To top things off, service was SO slow. Our drinks weren't refilled until we were ready for the check, and then it took about 15 minutes to get that. The food was also slow to arrive, and the place was far from busy. I wouldn't have been happy if I had been on a strict lunch break, that's for sure. If I find myself absolutely craving bibimbap and unwilling to drive to BuHi, I'll be back. Otherwise, I'll keep Grandma at Woo Nam Jeong in my rotation.
(3)
Carrie Y.
Soo good!!! Chose this place instead of one of the food trucks at the food festival. Very tasty. Good service. Afforable. Needed to take half food home. Large portions.
(5)
Vanitha S.
Build-your-own-bibimbop? Pretty brilliant. Haven't found many places for Korean food and this stuff was great! Opted the tofu version and bugged out at the veggie list. You can pick as many as you want for the same price! They give you a checklist of all the veggies you want, ranging from mushrooms to corn to broccoli to cucumber to zucchini to carrots. This is not like choosing your pizza toppings for $2 each. Nope...go veggie crazy and check that whole list if you've been missing out on your greens. The tofu was delicious and lightly fried. The spicy Korean sauce made me lick the bowl. Less than $10 and the takeout bowl was colossal.
(4)
David S.
Today we decided to try it out. I am so mad we didn't do it sooner! This place is amazing! The selection of hot and cold dishes are fantastic, whether you are vegetarian or just looking for a great alternative to the typical Asian cuisine. We went for lunch today and are seriously considering going back for dinner tonight!
(5)
Song S.
It's easy to be skeptical about Korean food in Midtown. Lets put on our Midtown-googles (is-there-much-better-Korean-in-midtown?) for a bit. Kiri has an interesting concept of build-your-own bibimbap (or default to the standard dish) amid dishes of sushi. The idea of building your own bibimbab is interesting - you can choose the starch (white rice, brown rice, rice noodle (huh)), the protein, the veggies, and the nuts. I chose to build a brown rice bowl with many of the standard toppings and added an egg on top. The $9 bowl (without the egg) didn't seem exorbitant for the area. You also get a bowl of miso soup with an awkward spoon to slurp it up. The rice bowl was...okay. I didn't enjoy finding my brown rice kinda cold. The other toppings were decent. The hot sauce really isn't that spicy (c'mon we can take it!). For how small it looked, it was still filling. Since I've gotten snobby and refuse to frequent honest-to-god shacks in Midtown that serve Asian fast food, this may be a "fast" food option for me when I need it. The place (located behind Starbucks) is bright and contemporary looking. There's a small outdoor patio. The service bumped this place up a bit in my rating. The 2 young servers were bustling around and I never had to wait for water or my check. Overall, decent.
(3)
Hanna M.
I've been there twice... I was very impressed by their bibimbap, but wasn't impressed by their sushi. I asked the waitress what typically goes into the bibimbap (so many choices on the paper) she pointed them out, and that was pretty much what I got, it was awesome... I thought the hot stone bowl was pretty cool, but not sure if its worth $3, will be trying bibimbap in regular bowl next time... also looking forward to trying some of their entrees, saw a one that looked delicious on a table near me... Sushi was okay and a large portion, but I was expecting a little higher quality for the price... Staff was very friendly, I liked the inside, though if they want to attract more customers, I would advise them to dim the lights inside down some during the evening hours and get some lights for their little patio....
(4)
Matt D.
I'm here a couple of times a week. The lunch specials are GREAT. You can get in for 9 bucks, people! That's soup, salad, sushi, entree, rice, AND A DRINK! Great food, great service. The sushi's a bit pricey, but the fish is fresh and good.
(4)
Christine D.
I went to Kiri for dinner and the service was on point. The ordering process is pretty straight forware and the servers were very attentive. I order the regular bibimbap while my sister order a dolstop bibimbop. The food was fresh and came out pretty fast. We were also given complimentary miso soup and they also will give you kimchi on request!
(5)
Pietro A.
I love this place, super cheap, delicious food with a fun factor (you can pick a ready made bowl or choose your ingredients - gotta try it to understand what I mean). Friendly staff and clean, easy environment. There is always a good reason to come back here :)
(5)
Gill B.
I knew that my feelings about this rice bar were going to be super positive when we walked in to the sound of "Young Blood" by Naked and Famous playing on the restaurant speaker. Talk about good vibes... I made my first visit to Kiri last night with my friend before we ventured over to the movie theatre to see "the Bling Ring". We really enjoyed the food, the atmosphere, the service, and the tunes. Our server could not have been more cheerful and pleasant as she attended to us on the little patio squeezed between Starbucks and UPS/Mellow Mush. We were happy to partake in the Happy Hour special - half-priced imported beer from 5-7pm. We sipped on our Kirin Light beers and soaked up the solid soundtrack: A Fine Frenzy, Ellie Goulding, Rihanna. A respectable reflection of my iTunes library favorites. Being the admitted sushi addict that I am, I was excited to see what this rice bar had to offer. I know they specialize in "Bibimbap" (which got my friend and I off on an "Mmmmbop" tangent throughout our dining experience), but I couldn't resist trying out their scallop and asparagus roll with a seaweed salad. The portion sizes were just right. The 8pc. roll was fresh and well seasoned, and the seaweed salad was fresh and cool with cucumber pieces mixed in (a yummy touch). I highly recommend this spot for a reasonably priced pre-movie meal. Cute, great music, quality sushi, polite staff. The place is kind of tucked away inside that little strip of businesses and restaurants in the bustling midtown shopping center, but it's worth discovering.
(4)
J N.
We would never come back to this place again. Their sushi was plain, missing ingredients ( missing cream cheese in my roll which I was looking forward to have). We had to wait 50 minutes for the food when there was no other table in the restaurant! 50 minutes is a very very long time! ugh. Then I came to ask our server if the food was coming or not, he blamed it on us that: " you guys didnt order immediately when you sat down". I was like " what? we need to look at the menu". The sushi chef ( i assumed he was an owner) at that point came and asked with an attitude " something wrong???". When the server brought our food out, she literally slam our food on the table and walked away. Wow this is ridiculous! bad food, bad service, never come back, never recommend to anyone!
(1)
Diesel P.
Checked this place out for lunch during the dogwood festival. We ordered sushi and a couple of bowls. I really miss NAM that was previously in this location but Kiri is a decent substitute even if it isn't vietnamese. The sushi was fresh and tasty. There wasn't anything that really jumped out at me that would make me fight piedmont park traffic to get but if I was near by I would recommend it. Yes, I am a fan...No I wouldn't drive far.
(4)
Lillian P.
I truly enjoy the whole idea of creating your own sushi or bimbimbap but something just felt different. I love Korean food but it felt like it was missing something...The sauce for the bimbimbap was to sweet even for their hottest one. My fiancee loved it though and it is his new favorite place but he prefers things more Americanized. I still prefer traditional Korean joints with banchan but this place will do if in the area.
(3)
Primos C.
The bimbimbap is always on point. I eat here about once a week and never had to wait. The staff is always friendly, fast, and attentive to your needs (my drink never goes empty before they come around with a refill). Also order the fried teriyaki chicken roll & a Hite beer and enjoy Kiri like a boss.
(5)
Deborah M.
I went to this little charming spot in Midtown last week & really enjoyed the food. I had miso soup, sake & one of it's delectable bowls of goodness. The bowls are create your own with choices of meat, seafood, nuts, veggies & the option to have it warm or cold. I had tofu with lots of veggies & sesame seeds with the sweet peanut sauce. The bowl was large enough for 2 to share. The service was great & so was the music. Bob Marley was floating thru the airwaves. The only down side is that to have a warm bowl, it's an additional $2.00. Kid friendly and also good for an informal date night. I will definitely be going back.
(4)
Cata E.
Loved the bibimbap! It comes put very hot so be cautious. Enjoyed with a beer. The spice was perfect. Great rice and presentation with the stoneware.
(5)
Kenneth E.
I really like this new place with a health-foodish tilt on Korean and Japanese informal cuisine. I've had dinner here three times, most recently tonight with three other adults and one child. The signature dish is bimbimbap, which you can customize with your own selection of proteins, vegetables, toppings and sauces. The healthy choices (short-grained brown rice and tofu) are excellent. I was delighted to learn tonight that the sushi's good, too: We had sunset roll (salmon and eel) and tuna tataki, and both were both excellent. Bulgogi (Korean-style barbecue beef) wasn't anything to write home about (much better at one of the Korean barbecue places), and the gyoza (potstickers) were good but nothing exceptional (the kid sure did like 'em, though). Green tea, a little bitter. Two regular servers there: One is pretty inattentive; the other is awesome -- luck of the draw for which one you get. The TV screens, usually showing sports, may bother you; they're hard to avoid, but at least the volume's been down every time I've been there.
(4)
Chip P.
New to the neighborhood and a nice addition. The sushi is good and the portions are nice. It's a little pricey and I don't suggest the Tuna. It's seems to be frozen and somewhat cold in the center. The bowls are ok they have many choices for you to be able to create your own. The shrimp in the bowl is a little small and over cooked. So go with chicken or beef. The staff is nice and the decor is new and fresh. I will be going back.
(3)
Maria C.
Love it! Healthy, affordable restaurant with great outdoor environment! Friendly staff. The waitress got us everything we needed, and the service was prompt -- yet she gave us our space. I went with a friend, who's vegetarian, and the menu selection was great for us both. I biked over one time, and its location is really convenient. Kiri is by Starbucks and a frozen yogurt place, for other desert options. It's next to Trader Joe's, for a trip to the grocery store, and the movies, which I went to after my meal. Can't get enough! Recommend it hands down!
(5)
Katie M.
Excellent bibimbap, friendly service, good prices for the large quantity of food. The make your own bowls are awesome. I love being able to get lots of veggies. I agree that the spinach seems frozen, which was not ideal. I otherwise thought the meal was excellent.
(4)
Paul D.
went on spur of moment. the restaurant we thought we wanted we just decided we didnt want after all saw a sign Kiri and went to check it out looking at the menu and staff person came out asked if we had any questions, which we were impressed with. we decided to give it a shot walked into the place and the staff starts clapping...yea you came in they said... that was special :-) got two house salads and two entrees which were Kalbi and Yakimesh with shirmp. delicious food.. seasoned nicely, veggies crisp and full of flavor. we would defintely recommend this place to our friends. nice addition to the neighborhood, reasonably priced, attentive and friendly staff too boot! looking forward to returning and checking more of the menu out....
(4)
Tracy W.
Charming place in a great location but both the food and the service don't match the expectation created by the menu or cool atmosphere. We've been here 4 times now hoping that this could be our Korean/sushi spot but alas... Our search continues! Price also exceeds the quality of the food which has been way over cooked 3/4 visits. Overcooked sushi rice--Yuck!
(2)
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Address :931 Monroe Dr,Ste A101
Atlanta, GA, 30308
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Natasha E.
Just had a delicious Tofu Bibimbop. While waiting, we enjoyed some of the best miso soup I've had since moving to Atlanta. Lovely service. Check this place out! Tucked away next to Mellow Mushroom in the Trader Joe's parking lot. Highly recommended!! Especially for those looking to eat healthy without sacrificing flavor :)
(5)Derrika H.
This place not so great. Glad they had great take-out containers. Good customer service food on the other hand....yea I wont be back!
(2)Tom C.
Kiri is a rice bowl and sushi restaurant. I heard these rice bowl restuarants were becoming popular and wanted to try it out. Food was ok. Our group had volcano roll as appetizer, spicy pork entree, and the traditional bimbimbap. The roll was good but the spicy pork was salty. The meat slices were cut too small to actually enjoy. The meat in the beef in the bimbimbap was too salty as well but the rice bowl was really good. And the worst of all the miso soup we received was lukewarm. On a cold day like last night, the temperature could've been a little higher. Service was ok. It took the server awhile to get our orders after we sat down but while we were eating she was OK and filled up our orders.
(3)Lindsey E.
Have your bibimbap, and eat it too! Kiri is my first bibimbap experience and aside from loving to say "bibimbap" the dish is delish and quite versatile. Kiri has a "make your own" option that allows you to pick your carb, pick your protein, and pick as many veggies as you want. The result is a fresh, healthy, filling bowl of goodness! Kiri also has a menu (including sushi) outside of their bibimbap bowl options. This is a great little spot to check out pre-movie as it's mighty close to Midtown Art Cinema! They also have beer and wine and great service.
(5)Decia D.
Great service! Yummy food! My family loves to eat at this establishment!
(5)Cook S.
My favorite lunch place in VH/Midtown area. Efficient, friendly, tasty. You can customize your lunch box (or your bibimbap) whichever way you want. I think they have a password-protected WiFi but you can also easily connect to the Starbucks one if you need to. Parking can be crazy at the plaza but they have one designated spot and I never had problems during lunchtime. Oh, and Jennifer, who works there, has to be one of the cutest waitresses ever (never hurts to be greeted by a beautiful woman).
(5)Jaron H.
The food is excellent, fresh and flavorful. Service is friendly and prompt. Beyond that, though, the value is unbeatable. The bibimbap and bento boxes are the best value, and offer a quick and easy way to customize your meal to your liking. Try the spicy pork!
(5)Samantha H.
Kiri, why I picked you over Ah-Ma's that night, I will never know. It was probably the $9.99 bento all day, errday special. 2 of my favorite things -- bentos and affordable. They coin themselves as a "fusion rice bar.". I have no idea what that means. I guess because they have sushi, bento and bibimbap? My roommate and I came in on a Monday around 7:30p. The service was a disaster. No one seated us, or brought us menus after we seated ourselves. Now, this may be service, or management because they did look under staffed. There were probably 10 groups of customers and 2 waitresses running from the kitchen to the dining area. The bento comes with a drink, miso soup, salad, sushi roll, entree and rice. You have pretty standard choices for each -- house or Caesar for the salad. Spicy tuna, California roll, salmon roll, vegetable roll, grilled fish roll were those that I remember for the sushi options, and for entrees, chicken/salmon teriyaki, shrimp tempura, tonkatsu, spicy pork, bulgogi. I ended up getting the house salad, spicy tuna roll, and chicken teriyaki. My roommate got the salmon roll, and salmon teriyaki. First, the soup. Holy crap... This was probably one of the saltiest soups I've ever tasted. Luckily, I ordered hot water and just dumped all of that into my soup. I ended with more soup than I started! I wasn't a fan of the firm tofu they used. The house salad, I assumed, was going to be like your hibachi restaurant salad. It was similar, except it had cheese on it. What the what? Both rolls were fine, ample fish and cucumber/avocado. It also was not rolled too thick, which was a plus. I thought the chicken teriyaki entree was fine. Sweet and saucy. It comes also with mushrooms, red peppers, and onions, all of which tasted fine.. nothing particularly memorable. Honestly, Kiri is a great "bang for your buck" type restaurant but don't expect authenticity or outstanding food. TL,DR -- if you like cheap, mediocre food, Kiri is the way to go!
(3)Jaye W.
Food always great! Service sucks.... After waiting 15 min to have a server come to table, it was another 20 before we got drinks..... When confronted was given such attitude..... Not customer service focused.... I was told I was being rude for questioning if there was new management.
(1)Shica B.
Ugh... To reduce it to a one-liner... I wish that I had my $20 back. I was in the area, wanted to try something new and decided to try out this place that claims to be the healthiest Korean eating I ever came across in my life. I decided to try an appetizer - I went for the pot sticker. For my main meal, I tried the salmon bento box. The pot stickers are supposed to be steamed and lightly grilled. Only one side of the pot stickers were grilled, so much to the point of being burned. The rest of them never touched the grill, so I had a crunchy, burned potsticker in one side, mushy nustiness on the other. The 'dipping sauce' is simply soy sauce with a bunch of green onions floating in it. Yuck. Bento box had a salad. It was lame and unremarkable. I initially upgraded the rice to fried rice. What a mistake. The rice was spicy (not mentioned on the menu). I exchanged it for brown rice. The salmon was in this ridiculously sweet sauce with a salty base that was nauseating. It tasted like it had been marinating in dishwater. It was soggy and the only flavoring was the sickingly sweet marinade. The California Rolls were basic. At least the sweet tea was good...
(2)Jang C.
When I first walked in, we were trying to figure out what Kiri meant. In Japanese, it means, "to cut." But I noticed this was not a Japanese restaurant. So me and my co-worker, who can speak Korean fluently, were trying to figure out what Kiri meant in Korean. Well, we found out it means togetherness or kkiri. They could've named it "hamkke." I guess Kiri can be pronounced easier. Anyway, this is a Korean restaurant in the middle of Midtown Atlanta. It's hard to find. Look for the Starbucks in the Midtown Promenade , and it's behind there. They claim it's Asian fusion, but they just serve Korean and sushi rolls. I went in during lunch, they seem to have 2 menus for lunch: their lunch combo and their bibimbap. For their bibimbap, you can choose among various ingredients to put in your bibimbap. For the lunch combo, you can choose from the type of salad, the roll you want, the main dish, and the type of rice you want. I chose the kimchi salad, the salmon roll, the spicy pork, and white rice. For the rice, you can choose among white, brown, and fried (for extra cost). The entire combo comes with a miso soup. And the miso soup was pretty standard. I think you can change it to miyuk soup (Seaweed soup), but I'm not sure. The kimchi salad is just a pile of kimchi. There's nothing salad-y about it. I was expecting some innovative dish, but it's just a pile of kimchi. Their kimchi tastes fresh. I'm not a fan of fresh kimchi, I like the more pickled and fermented kind. But that's just a preference. The rolls were rolls. I can't really say much about them. Their spicy pork tasted fine. It had a lot of jalapenos in it. I felt it had too much jalapenos and not enough pork. I also tried their tonkatsu. It tasted like a decent tonkatsu. The lunch combo comes with a free soda as well. For under $10, it seemed like a great deal. In the end, the food tasted average. It's not bad, but it's not mind blowing either. It fits the location. Non-Koreans might enjoy something more ethnic. Also, I can see Georgia Tech Koreans that might come here when they crave something from home and can't go farther.
(3)Peter K.
This is a nice Japanese - Korean restaurant that makes rolls fresh on the spot. Their bento boxes (~$10) and rice bowls (~$9) are great values. I ordered the bento box with: - Salad with house sauce that is the typical Japanese house sauce. There wasn't anything spectacular about it but it was done right. - Spicy tuna rolls were good. The rice wasn't old and it wasn't overly spicy which I liked. - Chicken teriyaki wasn't great. I think they used chicken breasts and the sauce didn't really mix in well with the meat. - White rice. The service was really good as I got there late with my party and they were able to take my order and get my food out really quick. It's a nice place to grab a lunch but nothing amazing.
(3)Katie R.
This is a good basic quick Asian restaurant. It seems like their main offerings are bibimbap bowls and sushi. I've usually had sushi there, and it's fresh and tasty. I'll likely keep coming back for a quick meal because it is so convenient, but I think there are better places for sushi. Kiri seems to be overpriced for quick sushi and has lower quality than higher-priced locations.
(3)JJ G.
Sometimes you just want a huge bowl of bibimbap. When we wandered over to Kiri (after negotiating the nightmare that is parking), we wanted to enjoy the sunny and surprising warm afternoon by eating on the patio. The hostess obliged and seated us out there. We ordered waters and the Mr went with some standard sushi choices; nothing too adventurous. I opted for the "create your own" bibimbap, and am so glad I did. They hand you a paper with happy check boxes, and you can load up on ingredients of your choosing. I ordered almost all the vegetables and tofu, which came in tiny, fried cubes. I absolutely ordered the fried egg on top, and chose the spicy BBQ sauce (which wasn't all that spicy). Before my bibimbap came out, we were brought our miso soups. Nothing too crazy there. The price for my bowl was incredibly low, given all the food I received. I really enjoyed coming to Kiri, and hope to again, soon. Note: service was quite nice, and I believe they offer Coke products.
(4)Tristyn B.
The people that work here are nice, they really are! But I just can't get with the bento box they serve... I got the one with teriyaki salmon and found it to be WAY too salty. As of this writing, I can feel my blood pressure rising lol. No but seriously... I can say, though, that the brown rice was prepared well! I just won't be returning here... not worth the $10.
(2)James W.
I have seen this place whenever I come to the Plaza for UPS, movies, etc. I never stopped in until today as my husband wanted rice. We walked in and truly admired the modern decor. The open vibe makes you feel invited and welcome. The hostess was extremely friendly. She took care of us thought the entire time we ate. The food was absolutely great. I ordered a Bento Box comprised of miso, sushi choice, protein choice, and rice choice. Additionally, the meal comes with a choice of soda. All for $9.99. We were deeply satisfied and had to take a break during eating cause the food was that good! I would encourage you to give the place a try. Maybe even on a warm day, we will visit again to enjoy the patio and sun :)
(4)Sul K.
Consistently fresh and delicious food! Traditional bibimbap is very healthy and spot on! Best korean food you can get it downtown Atlanta without going to duluth! Their price is very reasonable too!
(5)JH P.
We came on what we thought would be a busy day but it was far from it. It did take a bit of time to get service but overall service was very friendly. The menu has some standard Korean items. The bibimbap bowl is interesting where you can choose your own options. So you can get very creative. My husband and I did get creative and we weren't overly impressed. With the slow service and the so so food, uncertain if we'll ever go back. Better off going to Doraville or even trekking all the way to Duluth for good Korean food.
(3)Kobayashi M.
Ordered traditional bibimbap with stone bowl. Fresh ingrediants, spicy korean sauce tasted similair to the average mass produced product that can be bought at any asian grocery. Service needs to be improved. Stone bowl was not hot enough, no crust on the rim of the rice and bowl. I mentioned it to the server near the end of the meal, which was partly my mistake. Regardless, if they are going to offer it in a hot stone bowl, get it right - the restaurant has been open for over a year. Atmosphere and decor was modern, somewhat minimal. Unlikely to go again or recommend to friends because there are better options around.
(2)Robert B.
Jang C. below and I had a pretty similar experience. My problem with Kiri -- and I want to love it because of it's location and excellent service -- is that it's watered down Korean food as opposed to Korean/Japanese fusion. On a recent lunch visit, I had the lunch special with Bulgogi. Let's get one thing out of the way -- while Atlanta is no Flushing NY or LA, there are many, many places to get excellent Bulgogi. Many. This is not one of them. The bulgogi was essentially what you'd get if you told someone the ingredients and there only referent point was a Philly cheesesteak. It was slightly marinated beef with bell peppers and onions. That's fine, but that's not bulgogi. It's the inside of a cheesesteak. And perhaps in some super small town in the South that would be OK, but not in Atlanta. There are many places to get the real thing. The meal game with Miso Soup. Again, it's decent. It also has Kimchi, which is fresher and almost watered down. Again it's like Korean food if you were concerned about it being too spicy, which sort of defeats the point of kimchi. The ambiance is great. Lovely interior. The service is also great. The issue is that the food is just OK. If you've had better Korean food, this will suffer by comparison. If you have not, you will not fall in love with the genre. My hope is that Kiri will take advantage of their idea -- Japanese and Korean fusion -- and embace the flavors that have made Korean and Japanese food so popular, rather than water them down for the masses. Believe me, the masses want great food too.
(3)Jill P.
I've come here twice now and I've had great service and fantastic food. I've gotten the bulgogi bento box with both California and Spider rolls. Everything is fresh and served hot and quickly. You can't beat the price of the bento box specials ($9.99 and it includes your soft drink)!
(5)Ryan R.
This place is a diamond in the middle of Midtown... next to the Trader Joe's. Excellent sushi but the real treat were the bimibi bowls. Lots of veggies and other stuff and pleanty of food to fill up an adult. We were at the Indigo and took the drive to get some decent food without paying a sick amount of money on Peachtree. The waitress was very good and provided an abundance of sauce to my wife's request.
(5)Vanessa H.
Update: Unfortunately the quality at my once favorite lunch spot has decreased. I found a hair in my food yesterday (barf) & then received a new bibimbap with small, crunchy shrimp (the little frozen dried up kind) instead of dewy, plump shrimp. The service was slow & I started drinking my brother's water because the waiter didn't check on us. There was also nothing done about the hair I found except for one "sorry". Well that's not good enough for me to drive 30 minutes to this place anymore.
(3)Cassandra T.
The service here is always friendly and fast, and they seem to do good business with take-out on a Sunday night. I've only ordered the spicy tuna roll and the shrimp tempura roll and tea, but I plan on trying that bibimbap.
(4)Ashley S.
The shrimp udon was good, but it only came with 2 pieces of shrimp tempura. I wouldn't order it again, but I'd come back to try something else. Didn't get to finish it bc our waitress took the bowl away before we were done, but it's not a big deal. I would like to come back to try a bento box.
(3)David K.
Kiri is a Korean/Japanese restaurant in Atlanta with a cool concept on serving some of their dishes. I loved the concept of how they served bibimbap here. They'll give you a piece of paper and let you check all the toppings you want in your bowl. It was quite an extensive list of toppings, many I've never thought to try in bibimbap. Being that bibimbap is one of my favorite Korean dishes I was pretty excited to see how it would taste. Firstly, the presentation was wonderful. All the toppings were neatly placed to form a colorful fresh circle, and with the egg on top it looked like the best bibimbap ever (even better than momma Kang's). Well despite the great presentation the food turned out much more salty then I expected, and it was mostly from the beef. I loved the buttery taste of the beef, but it was salty enough that when I drank water my tongue felt a little numb. The miso soup had the same effect too, and it was lukewarm--it was a cold winter night so it was a bit disappointing to find out it wasn't very hot. Despite that, I still engulfed the bibimbap and was very happy with the portion and the price. I did wish they would serve it with sesame oil, but they might've added that in already. So momma Kang's bibimbap still remains my favorite but Kiri certainly came close. Compared to most other Korean restaurants this had a more domestic feel and look which might make it less intimidating for those who are looking to try Korean food for the first time.
(3)Linda A.
Amazing! Wow I've been to the Buford highway korean spots and this place fits right in. First off the server Akiko was amazing! She's soo sweet and caring and really made the experience from a 9 to a 10. The biggest let down was the rice used for the sushi I've been to umi, tomo, Yuka , and every kroger sushi rice is better that their rice. I'm sorry to say soo but skip the sushi! Otherwise the bento box and the bibimbap was great! Get beef options for both see attached picture of our bill and order that. Get the hot Korean chili sauce and enjoy. Make sure u choose the hot stone bowl option it's worth the additional $2. Great place will be back!
(5)Daniel B.
Kiri opened Summer 2012 inside the Midtown Promenade shopping plaza on Monroe Dr, near 10th St. and Piedmont Park. Kiri advertises itself as a Korean and Japanese "Fusion Rice Bar." I'm not really sure what they mean by that, but this restaurant does serve both Korean and Japanese food. Kiri has that contemporary hip/trendy look, similar to how a lot of the froyo shops look. There's a sushi and bibimbap (Korean mixed rice) bar in the back, where the chef (visibly) works. Futuristic and stylish-looking chairs, glossy tables, flat panel displays, and faux grass are used to furnish and decorate the interior. Despite the chic decor, the atmosphere is very much casual. The specialty here is bibimbap. Bibimbap generally consists of a bowl of rice, meat, veggies, other toppings (such as sesame seeds), and a Korean sauce (typically gochujang paste) that you mix together yourself. Kiri is unique, however, because they allow you to customize and make your own bibimbap. If you've ever been to one of those create-your-own-stir-fry places, such as Chow Baby, a similar idea applies here. Bibimbap prices vary between $7.49 and $9.49 depending on what meat/seafood you choose. You order using paper menus with check boxes, similar to how sushi is ordered at some Japanese restaurants. With the provided No. 2 pencil, you can mark off which ingredients you want included in your bibimbap. Kiri adds an additional twist by offering ingredients not customary of traditional bibimbap, such as rice noodles, Romaine lettuce, corn, peas, black beans, broccoli, and bell peppers. If you want your bibimbap in a traditional Korean stone bowl (dolsot), it's an additional $3.00. Bibimbap that is served in a stone bowl continues to cook a bit longer. The rice and other ingredients stick to the edge of the bowl and become slightly burnt and crispy. This provides additional texture and flavor. You can choose as many toppings as you want in your bibimbap. The price stays the same. The portion sizes are generous. It's not uncommon to take home leftovers. Generally, I think the bibimbap at Kiri is OK. It's not as authentic as the kind of bibimbap you're going to find at a Korean restaurant on Buford Highway or in Duluth, but all of the ingredients are fresh and I like that. Also, there is no banchan (complementary Korean side dishes), but I really wouldn't expect there to be. Miso soup is served with each entree. Apart from bibimbap, other menu offerings include sushi and Japanese cuisine such as gyoza, tempura, tuna tataki, teriyaki, tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet), and yakisoba noodles, and other Korean cuisine such as bulgogi and galbi (Korean BBQ). Among these, I've tried the tonkatsu and the yakisoba. Like the bibimbap, the portion size for the other entrees is huge, which is nice if you have a big appetite. The quality of the tonkatsu ($13.49) and yakisoba ($9.49-$11.49) isn't great, however. Tonkatsu is a Japanese dish consisting of a boneless, fried pork cutlet. At Kiri, tonkatsu is served with a side of white rice, dipping sauce, and veggies. The cutlet is drizzled with sauce and has sesame seeds added on top. The tonkatsu I had here was a bit dry and the breading fell right off the meat. Not the most appetizing thing in the world, but it wasn't terrible and at least it was filling. The yakisoba is OK. Yakisoba is sauteed soba noodles stir-fried with veggies. You can add meat/protein and Kiri offers chicken, beef, shrimp, and tofu with its yakisoba. It looks great when it hits the table due to its sheer size and number of ingredients. However, the flavor leaves something to be desired. The noodles taste instant. The veggies are sufficiently fresh. The sushi menu is decent for a casual Americanized eatery. I've tried one of the hand rolls (spicy tuna, $6.49 for two rolls) and it was nicely prepared and tasty, from sushi rice to seaweed wrap. The servers are efficient and attentive and food comes out fast. Overall, Kiri is a cute little restaurant with not bad food, though you should look elsewhere if you want something more authentic.
(3)Lisa H.
I wanted to go to Ah-Ma's but they were closed :(. I had to get a quick lunch so came here instead. The staff was friendly, but the food wasn't that great. I got the lunch bento with a roll and Korean BBQ, and the BBQ was a bit salty for my taste. The roll wasn't anything special.
(2)Amy D.
This is my favorite low-cost and quick eats that is full of vegetables and non-fried foods. I love that this restaurant is located in Midtown (most Korean offerings are near the suburbs) and also offers sushi. I can't resist ordering the custom Bibimbap. The porch is great for spring and summer days.
(5)Chanel G.
I wasn't the biggest fan. They have a really great bento box deal so I opted for that. For my main dish in my box, I got the salmon teriyaki. The salmon was extremely overcooked, even hard to the touch. The miso soup was lackluster and my salad was drenched in dressing. No my favorite.
(2)Aimée I.
The price is awesome for its location. Environment is very casual and not appropriate for dates (bright light). Food is okay as an everyday asian food. Service is absolutely awful. A great place to grab lunch by yourself and save some money.
(3)Tom E.
It's the Sunday of the 2012/2013 NFC Championship and I am sorry for saying it, and the Falcons just got spanked @ home. It was a tough afternoon. I needed retail therapy, and someone to vent my frustrations to, so I met my friends at Ikea first. On my trip down there, you could tell the city was dead- it would be a quiet Sunday. While we were shopping, we encountered some hunger pains. We were thinking immediately Woody's, but then a huge curveball came- we ended up going to Kiri instead (which is like 100 feet away from Woody's). I had no idea what Kiri had to offer, but I was hungry enough to embrace it. When we first walked in, I noticed the style. It was pretty modern. The next thing I noticed was the beer- that excited me. Beer and wine only to my knowledge. I then realized the place was a Korean/Japanese fusion "rice bar". The menu consisted of all assortments of sushi, as well as bibimbap. There is even a sheet for custom bibimbap bowl (which you can also get a dolsot (stone bowl) for $2 extra. So I got a slightly modified dolsot bibimbap with lotsa cheese. When it came out, it was sizzling. I was excited to eat it. I was actually excited to eat something with vegetables in it! After stirring it all up, I munched it away. The company I was with noted how fast I eat. It was decent food, and I was hungry. We got there around 30 minutes before they closed- but they welcomed us with open arms. They served us quickly and everyone seemed to enjoy everything. I really liked the concept and I will definitely have to try it again- in a different variety!
(4)Danan C.
Nice on the inside, a bit small but it's nice and clean. Parking is a but of a problem because there are a number of other restaurants in the complex as well as a Trader Joes and the parking lot doesn't hold that many cars. Sushi is not recommended. I had yellowtail (Mexican roll) and it tasted fishy. If you've ever had fresh yellowtail, it should have no fishy taste at all and be buttery tasting. The bee-boppity-boo bowl was rather tasteless. I got the hot bowl and it charred the rice black. I didn't care for that.
(3)Shauntel H.
First time trying fried sushi and I'm definitely a fan! Great customer service and great food!
(4)Hudson H.
While I attempt to prepare meals at home on 'school nights', I often give in to temptation by Wednesday/Thursday and venture out. Kiri is a great go-to for those mid-week desires to grab a bite on the town. The sushi is not world-class, but it's well worth the price. The ingredients are always fresh and you never sit there wondering when your server will bring you that refill. The service always entices you to leave a little extra, because you can tell they appreciate you stopping in. So, if you're getting a little hungry by hump day, give Kiri a shot. If you come 'thirsty', be sure to try a Japanese Beer. It's reasonably priced and makes the people watching at dusk that much more relaxing.
(4)Sahil D.
The service and food here is great. One of my favorite places for sushi and I love the bibimbap bowl. The servers are also very nice and catering.
(5)Benjamin G.
We were gallivanting about through Midtown and all around Atlanta on a Saturday and were in need of some lunch. We found our way back to the parking lot with Trader Joe's and Poor Richard's and some how came by a parking space. It's like the freaking Hunger Games out there! Kiri is pretty small and only has a few tables/seats inside and a few tables on the patio as well. It was a nice day so we opted for the patio. Glad that the tables all have umbrellas, too. The menu is pretty simple -- miso soups, sushi of all kinds, hand rools, sashimi, and bibimbap. I ordered miso soup, a California roll, and a spicy tuna roll. I was in the mood for old reliable and that's exactly what I got! All three were perfect and par for the course, which made me a happy camper. My wife ordered the bibimbap which looks tremendous and filled the entirety of the large, steel bowl it was served in. I'm going to try it next time. The best part of our experience was our server. She was so sweet and bubbly the entire time. She even brought me a can of coke zero for a refill since their machine was out of order. Rather thoughtful and totally unexpected. Kiri is a pretty solid lunch choice. If we're looking for some sustenance from the BeltLine or other adventures, this is a great choice to have.
(4)Obadiah S.
I've only been here for lunch, but it is a steal! I've had most combinations of the lunch menu. For just under 9 bucks, you get a sushi roll, a hot offering, kimchi veggies, and a bowl of miso soup. The miso is really the highlight for me, savory and earthy, it's a great start. I'm not quite sold on the kimchi. I'm used to something a bit spicier. I'm not sure if they tone it down for a Western palate, but it could definitely use a bit of kick. Service is quick and the quality is adequate if not better for the price. I've not tried Kiri for dinner. Lunch seems to be their busy time. And as a lunch spot, I highly recommend Kiri. It far surpasses the 9 bucks I might spend on a burger and fries.
(3)B K.
My coworker decided to bring me here to check it out. Food is great!! I got the bento box that came with a soft drink, grilled fish sushi roll, steak with onions, brown rice, and a house salad. It also came with some soup but it didn't taste that good. The house salad was great! Everything tasted very good especially for the price of $9.95 for everything. I definitely will come back again!
(5)Jocelyn W.
I got a $10 bento box which included choice of salad, sushi, entree, rice and soup. Made fresh and delicious.
(5)Chrissy P.
Kiri is my ITP (inside the perimeter) Korean food mecca. The food is amazing...they have a build your own bibimbap option that is to die for. Their kimchi is fresh and always tasty. And their miso soup? Perfection. It's also hard to find authentic (or close to authentic) Korean restaurants inside the perimeter. They have an amazing lunch box special during lunch hours during the week that can't be beat. Personally, my biggest draw to Kiri is their exceptionally friendly wait staff. As a biracial Black/Korean American, I've struggled to find a Korean restaurant with consistently courteous staff. Sadly far too many of the wait staff at restaurants outside the perimeter, with food perhaps more authentic than Kiri, have been downright insulting. I've never...ever...had a bad experience at Kiri and my boyfriend and I dine their at least once a week. Loves it!
(5)Kelsey F.
Kiri is fine enough but when it comes to quick Asian dining, I think there are better options for sushi. Kiri is conveniently located in the Midtown Promenade. Since I take the Marta everywhere, it was an easy walk from the Midtown Marta station. The parking lot at Midtown Promenade is a literal war zone. Trader Joe's shoppers, hungry middle aged men, and Grady High school parents are ruthless, unforgiving, and sneaky. I would recommend walking to Kiri via the Belt Line or Marta is that is an option. We sat on the patio and enjoyed an early summer afternoon here. I ordered the Florida roll and miso soup. The sushi rolls are all relatively simple with only a couple of ingredients in each. The Florida roll is made of shrimp and avocado. It stayed assembled which always makes me happy. Nothing super impressive about it though and the ginger was extra pink which kind of freaks me out. The miso soup was my favorite part of my meal. It came with seaweed, onions, and tofu in a larger than normal portion. I will probably go back to Kiri because I tend to spend a good amount of time in this area. I think I would try a bibimbop bowl next time. They have a ton of options for free veggies and they also give you the option of having it over brown rice. If nothing else, Kiri is an easy lunch or dinner and a good option if you are already by the park or heading over to a movie at Midtown Arts Cinema.
(3)Mark D.
Service good. Nice atmosphere. Portions big. Fresh vegetables, but overall food is meh. Almost no flavor. Would not return. Need to add flavor into the food.
(2)Stephanie V.
I really enjoy the food here. I first tried the traditional bibimbap with spicy pork instead of beef and I thoroughly enjoyed it. My friends didn't enjoy that some of the vegetables are cold in the bowl and the rice isn't piping hot. I, personally, found the hot pork and cold veg combo to be enjoyable in a different way. After reading some reviews, I decided to try the bibimbap in the dolsot (hot bowl). Call me crazy, but I preferred the contrast in temperature and would go for the standard bowl next time. The spicy pork is the jam and is mostly responsible for the 4-star review. I also really enjoy their cucumbers - they're sliced thin, marinated/pickled and I just can't get enough. I haven't ventured out on the menu, but I'm happy with the bibimbap and will surely be back for round three in the future. However, the interior left a little to be desired; The design is just a little to clean and cold for me. Take out might be in order next time!
(4)Ashleigh P.
went here for lunch with my mother and my daughter on Tuesday. They each had a bimbimbop bowl and I had the "bento box" lunch special. I have to say that this was a much better experience than my first one. I felt that I got a much better value for my money and I enjoyed the variety and selection of the "bento Box" lunch special. You pick a salad - house, Cesar or kimichi You pick a sushi roll / tempura You pick a protein You pick a starch And off you go. Mine was delicious. My daughter got tofu in her bowl and it was tasty.. yes, I said the tofu was tasty. Sue me.
(4)Kristie C.
Cool bibimbap place - make your own! Sort of like yeah burger, except for bibimbap. They had brown rice as an option, wild rice listed -- but no wild rice on the actual menu :( Here's who it works: - Pick your rice (brown/white) - Pick your veggies - Pick your meat (they also have fried tofu for vegetarians, you can add more meat too if you'd like at an additional cost) Other than that though, good for take-out (~$10). I'm glad there's a Korean joint in town finally!!
(4)Rina H.
I love this little place. The bibimbap build your own is wonderful. They have a great lunch special for $8.99 and you get a drink, miso soup, and your bibimbap bowl. What a deal! Everything about your bibimbap can be easily customized. One day I arrived for lunch at 3:20 and the special ends at 3p and the server still gave it to me, that's how nice they are. I always have really nice servers who don't mind to explain or accommodate whatever you need. I feel silly that I just found this place after living in the area for 2 yrs., but I'm glad my friend raved about it and clued me in :)
(5)Steve L.
I like having this place close by. It makes for a nice casual and tasty weeknight meal. I had the original bibimbap in a hot stone bowl. Overall I really enjoyed the meal, and the fact that it came with miso soup made it even better. My only complaint was that the spinach seemed frozen, not fresh. Fresh spinach would have rounded out that bowl and earned Kiri another half of a star. My only other complaint is around the concept itself. If Kiri was an order at the counter, "Chipotle"/QSR style binimbap joint, I would be all smiles. I just don't feel as though this meal is a full service meal. Maybe this stems from my days eating this dish out of a street cart in DC, or maybe I am just weird. Either way, I will return, but I beg you, please use fresh veggies!!
(3)Tyler K.
As a Korean vegan, it is really hard to find vegan Korean food, that also tastes good. I was very impressed with the customized bibimbap. I ordered it will ALL the vegetable options and tofu, and my girlfriend and I shared that with all of their veggie rolls. For myself I got the tofu katsu which was really good, but I did wish they would have used a firm tofu instead of the soft. Our order came out quickly, and our waitress was very sweet and answered all of our questions to make sure everything was vegan. Although it was really hard to find parking, it was worth it and we will come back again.
(5)Hayley C.
Yay! An awesome place right next to my house! I'm a HUGE Korean/Japanese/Thai/etc fanatic. So I'm a pretty hard judge on Asian places. This place is pretty good! I am definitely going to be a regular! Their service is great. Very attentive staff and very clean and bright place! We never had to ask to have our drinks refilled. The waitress was on top of things! I had a create-your-own bibimbap and my man had the yasaitame. My bibimbap was great! Not the best in Atlanta, but very delicious and light. (I got to pour on my own sauce, so it was very healthy!) I can't wait to try more or their dishes. So yummy and such great options for vegetarians!
(4)Paul K.
When: Wed. around 1pm for lunch time Intro: So this place seems like a little hidden from the plaza that it's in. Overshadowed by the Starbucks and Mellow Mushroom pizza. It is located right next door to a UPS store. Service: As soon as my date and I entered the restaurant we were greeted by the hostess/server. Since the place was halfway filled, she allowed us to pick which ever table we would like to sit at. We chose the extended booth seat and table. I'm not sure if they are food runners/bus boys, but including the server were gracious to ask how we were doing on our food and refilled our waters. That's a plus in my book. I believe we also came after a lunch rush so the restaurant was not even half packed at this time. Food: My friend ordered the bento box lunch special while I ordered the dolsot bibimbap. Normally getting dol sot (hot stone pot/bowl) is $3 for dinner, for lunch it's only $1 more with the lunch special. I actually prefer it in a stone bowl. I miss the old tofu house off of buford hwy exit, I would always order the seafood dolsot bibimbap. Alas, I'm on a continued quest to find something similar around Atlanta. The Kiri version with beef is a pretty good size portion, with a well balanced serving of rice, veggies and meat. Granted they could use some more seasoning a bit. I think next time, if there is a next time, I would ask them not to hold back on seasoning since it'll be made for someone who's Asian lol. So taste wise, it's decent. but not spectacular enough to go out of your way for if you're not that big into bibimbap. The bento box lunch special does add a variety of foods, those on a low carb diet should opt for that instead. Overall: For those not familiar with Korean bibimbap, the price of a serving of dol sot bibimbap might seem a little high for what might be considered " fried rice". Most Korean restaurants that actually serve bibimbap actually are priced around $12-14 depending on what protein you select. So for those willing to give Kiri's version a try, I say go for lunch but after 1pm if you can.
(3)Hiro T.
This is a nice little place with good lighting and a very clean feel. The menu is mainly aimed at creating customized bibimbap. I went with a fairly classic bibimbap set up. Get the dolsot options, the bibimbap in the stone bowl is awesome! The only downside to the dolsot option, is that the meal is crazy hot...beware the burning power of hot rice on the roof your mouth. The flavor of the bibimbap was very average. The flavor seems very bland at the start even with mixing, but about half-way through the dish, the flavor really starts to come out. I don't know if I'd say that I recommend the place, but I definitely wouldn't tell someone not to eat at Kiri.
(3)Kathleen M.
I was so excited at the prospect of having bibimbap so close to home. Sadly this is no Woo Nam Jeong. Kiri is a nice spot set in the Midtown Promenade, so be prepared to deal with the hell that is that parking lot. The layout is nice, very airy and open and bright. They have table service and it was pretty empty when we came in for a late weekday lunch: only three other tables during the course of our meal. At lunch, they offer a special customized bibimbap menu which I loved. Not sure if you can consider it bibimbap when ordered with rice noodles, but no matter. I was pleased to have brown rice available and to be able to pick and choose any of the meats/veggies I wanted. It runs about $8.50 (depending on your add ons) and includes a cup of miso soup. Sadly, the bimbimbap was less than stellar. I spent $3 to be upgraded to a stone bowl because I love the crispy sizzling rice you get. Sadly, our bowls were not hot, at least not enough to make the rice sizzle. Womp. The taste of the bibimbap was fine, but nothing special. I definitely needed all of the accompanying sauce to give it some extra love. To top things off, service was SO slow. Our drinks weren't refilled until we were ready for the check, and then it took about 15 minutes to get that. The food was also slow to arrive, and the place was far from busy. I wouldn't have been happy if I had been on a strict lunch break, that's for sure. If I find myself absolutely craving bibimbap and unwilling to drive to BuHi, I'll be back. Otherwise, I'll keep Grandma at Woo Nam Jeong in my rotation.
(3)Carrie Y.
Soo good!!! Chose this place instead of one of the food trucks at the food festival. Very tasty. Good service. Afforable. Needed to take half food home. Large portions.
(5)Vanitha S.
Build-your-own-bibimbop? Pretty brilliant. Haven't found many places for Korean food and this stuff was great! Opted the tofu version and bugged out at the veggie list. You can pick as many as you want for the same price! They give you a checklist of all the veggies you want, ranging from mushrooms to corn to broccoli to cucumber to zucchini to carrots. This is not like choosing your pizza toppings for $2 each. Nope...go veggie crazy and check that whole list if you've been missing out on your greens. The tofu was delicious and lightly fried. The spicy Korean sauce made me lick the bowl. Less than $10 and the takeout bowl was colossal.
(4)David S.
Today we decided to try it out. I am so mad we didn't do it sooner! This place is amazing! The selection of hot and cold dishes are fantastic, whether you are vegetarian or just looking for a great alternative to the typical Asian cuisine. We went for lunch today and are seriously considering going back for dinner tonight!
(5)Song S.
It's easy to be skeptical about Korean food in Midtown. Lets put on our Midtown-googles (is-there-much-better-Korean-in-midtown?) for a bit. Kiri has an interesting concept of build-your-own bibimbap (or default to the standard dish) amid dishes of sushi. The idea of building your own bibimbab is interesting - you can choose the starch (white rice, brown rice, rice noodle (huh)), the protein, the veggies, and the nuts. I chose to build a brown rice bowl with many of the standard toppings and added an egg on top. The $9 bowl (without the egg) didn't seem exorbitant for the area. You also get a bowl of miso soup with an awkward spoon to slurp it up. The rice bowl was...okay. I didn't enjoy finding my brown rice kinda cold. The other toppings were decent. The hot sauce really isn't that spicy (c'mon we can take it!). For how small it looked, it was still filling. Since I've gotten snobby and refuse to frequent honest-to-god shacks in Midtown that serve Asian fast food, this may be a "fast" food option for me when I need it. The place (located behind Starbucks) is bright and contemporary looking. There's a small outdoor patio. The service bumped this place up a bit in my rating. The 2 young servers were bustling around and I never had to wait for water or my check. Overall, decent.
(3)Hanna M.
I've been there twice... I was very impressed by their bibimbap, but wasn't impressed by their sushi. I asked the waitress what typically goes into the bibimbap (so many choices on the paper) she pointed them out, and that was pretty much what I got, it was awesome... I thought the hot stone bowl was pretty cool, but not sure if its worth $3, will be trying bibimbap in regular bowl next time... also looking forward to trying some of their entrees, saw a one that looked delicious on a table near me... Sushi was okay and a large portion, but I was expecting a little higher quality for the price... Staff was very friendly, I liked the inside, though if they want to attract more customers, I would advise them to dim the lights inside down some during the evening hours and get some lights for their little patio....
(4)Matt D.
I'm here a couple of times a week. The lunch specials are GREAT. You can get in for 9 bucks, people! That's soup, salad, sushi, entree, rice, AND A DRINK! Great food, great service. The sushi's a bit pricey, but the fish is fresh and good.
(4)Christine D.
I went to Kiri for dinner and the service was on point. The ordering process is pretty straight forware and the servers were very attentive. I order the regular bibimbap while my sister order a dolstop bibimbop. The food was fresh and came out pretty fast. We were also given complimentary miso soup and they also will give you kimchi on request!
(5)Pietro A.
I love this place, super cheap, delicious food with a fun factor (you can pick a ready made bowl or choose your ingredients - gotta try it to understand what I mean). Friendly staff and clean, easy environment. There is always a good reason to come back here :)
(5)Gill B.
I knew that my feelings about this rice bar were going to be super positive when we walked in to the sound of "Young Blood" by Naked and Famous playing on the restaurant speaker. Talk about good vibes... I made my first visit to Kiri last night with my friend before we ventured over to the movie theatre to see "the Bling Ring". We really enjoyed the food, the atmosphere, the service, and the tunes. Our server could not have been more cheerful and pleasant as she attended to us on the little patio squeezed between Starbucks and UPS/Mellow Mush. We were happy to partake in the Happy Hour special - half-priced imported beer from 5-7pm. We sipped on our Kirin Light beers and soaked up the solid soundtrack: A Fine Frenzy, Ellie Goulding, Rihanna. A respectable reflection of my iTunes library favorites. Being the admitted sushi addict that I am, I was excited to see what this rice bar had to offer. I know they specialize in "Bibimbap" (which got my friend and I off on an "Mmmmbop" tangent throughout our dining experience), but I couldn't resist trying out their scallop and asparagus roll with a seaweed salad. The portion sizes were just right. The 8pc. roll was fresh and well seasoned, and the seaweed salad was fresh and cool with cucumber pieces mixed in (a yummy touch). I highly recommend this spot for a reasonably priced pre-movie meal. Cute, great music, quality sushi, polite staff. The place is kind of tucked away inside that little strip of businesses and restaurants in the bustling midtown shopping center, but it's worth discovering.
(4)J N.
We would never come back to this place again. Their sushi was plain, missing ingredients ( missing cream cheese in my roll which I was looking forward to have). We had to wait 50 minutes for the food when there was no other table in the restaurant! 50 minutes is a very very long time! ugh. Then I came to ask our server if the food was coming or not, he blamed it on us that: " you guys didnt order immediately when you sat down". I was like " what? we need to look at the menu". The sushi chef ( i assumed he was an owner) at that point came and asked with an attitude " something wrong???". When the server brought our food out, she literally slam our food on the table and walked away. Wow this is ridiculous! bad food, bad service, never come back, never recommend to anyone!
(1)Diesel P.
Checked this place out for lunch during the dogwood festival. We ordered sushi and a couple of bowls. I really miss NAM that was previously in this location but Kiri is a decent substitute even if it isn't vietnamese. The sushi was fresh and tasty. There wasn't anything that really jumped out at me that would make me fight piedmont park traffic to get but if I was near by I would recommend it. Yes, I am a fan...No I wouldn't drive far.
(4)Lillian P.
I truly enjoy the whole idea of creating your own sushi or bimbimbap but something just felt different. I love Korean food but it felt like it was missing something...The sauce for the bimbimbap was to sweet even for their hottest one. My fiancee loved it though and it is his new favorite place but he prefers things more Americanized. I still prefer traditional Korean joints with banchan but this place will do if in the area.
(3)Primos C.
The bimbimbap is always on point. I eat here about once a week and never had to wait. The staff is always friendly, fast, and attentive to your needs (my drink never goes empty before they come around with a refill). Also order the fried teriyaki chicken roll & a Hite beer and enjoy Kiri like a boss.
(5)Deborah M.
I went to this little charming spot in Midtown last week & really enjoyed the food. I had miso soup, sake & one of it's delectable bowls of goodness. The bowls are create your own with choices of meat, seafood, nuts, veggies & the option to have it warm or cold. I had tofu with lots of veggies & sesame seeds with the sweet peanut sauce. The bowl was large enough for 2 to share. The service was great & so was the music. Bob Marley was floating thru the airwaves. The only down side is that to have a warm bowl, it's an additional $2.00. Kid friendly and also good for an informal date night. I will definitely be going back.
(4)Cata E.
Loved the bibimbap! It comes put very hot so be cautious. Enjoyed with a beer. The spice was perfect. Great rice and presentation with the stoneware.
(5)Kenneth E.
I really like this new place with a health-foodish tilt on Korean and Japanese informal cuisine. I've had dinner here three times, most recently tonight with three other adults and one child. The signature dish is bimbimbap, which you can customize with your own selection of proteins, vegetables, toppings and sauces. The healthy choices (short-grained brown rice and tofu) are excellent. I was delighted to learn tonight that the sushi's good, too: We had sunset roll (salmon and eel) and tuna tataki, and both were both excellent. Bulgogi (Korean-style barbecue beef) wasn't anything to write home about (much better at one of the Korean barbecue places), and the gyoza (potstickers) were good but nothing exceptional (the kid sure did like 'em, though). Green tea, a little bitter. Two regular servers there: One is pretty inattentive; the other is awesome -- luck of the draw for which one you get. The TV screens, usually showing sports, may bother you; they're hard to avoid, but at least the volume's been down every time I've been there.
(4)Chip P.
New to the neighborhood and a nice addition. The sushi is good and the portions are nice. It's a little pricey and I don't suggest the Tuna. It's seems to be frozen and somewhat cold in the center. The bowls are ok they have many choices for you to be able to create your own. The shrimp in the bowl is a little small and over cooked. So go with chicken or beef. The staff is nice and the decor is new and fresh. I will be going back.
(3)Maria C.
Love it! Healthy, affordable restaurant with great outdoor environment! Friendly staff. The waitress got us everything we needed, and the service was prompt -- yet she gave us our space. I went with a friend, who's vegetarian, and the menu selection was great for us both. I biked over one time, and its location is really convenient. Kiri is by Starbucks and a frozen yogurt place, for other desert options. It's next to Trader Joe's, for a trip to the grocery store, and the movies, which I went to after my meal. Can't get enough! Recommend it hands down!
(5)Katie M.
Excellent bibimbap, friendly service, good prices for the large quantity of food. The make your own bowls are awesome. I love being able to get lots of veggies. I agree that the spinach seems frozen, which was not ideal. I otherwise thought the meal was excellent.
(4)Paul D.
went on spur of moment. the restaurant we thought we wanted we just decided we didnt want after all saw a sign Kiri and went to check it out looking at the menu and staff person came out asked if we had any questions, which we were impressed with. we decided to give it a shot walked into the place and the staff starts clapping...yea you came in they said... that was special :-) got two house salads and two entrees which were Kalbi and Yakimesh with shirmp. delicious food.. seasoned nicely, veggies crisp and full of flavor. we would defintely recommend this place to our friends. nice addition to the neighborhood, reasonably priced, attentive and friendly staff too boot! looking forward to returning and checking more of the menu out....
(4)Tracy W.
Charming place in a great location but both the food and the service don't match the expectation created by the menu or cool atmosphere. We've been here 4 times now hoping that this could be our Korean/sushi spot but alas... Our search continues! Price also exceeds the quality of the food which has been way over cooked 3/4 visits. Overcooked sushi rice--Yuck!
(2)