Nuri Grill – located at 2254 Royal Lane, Suite 100, Dallas, Texas 75229 in Koreatown in the DFW metroplex is set to open on Tuesday, November 9. The restaurant’s food and cocktail program offer an elevated twist on familiar Asian/American dishes. In addition, guests will feel transported upon entering the thoughtfully designed restaurant featuring interactive grills at each table.
The concept was created by Wan Kim, originally from Korea and the CEO of Smoothie King. His lifelong passion for food and business led him to create Nuri Grill. Kim tasked Michelin Guide acknowledged Korean chef, Minji Kim and her lead chef and husband, Ben Lee. Together the duo has developed a menu for Dallasites to experience finer Asian-inspired cuisine in a comfortable environment. The pair moved from Korea to Dallas last year, specifically to work on this new venture for Kim.
Kim says “No expense has been spared for Nuri and our guest experience. Since moving to Dallas in 2018, I’ve wanted to bring a unique dining experience to the city but also provide an approachable menu for those who may not be familiar with Korean but also other Asian -inspired finer dining destinations.”
Each table at the restaurant features a grill in the center to be used by skilled servers trained to cook the premium cut meats, while those dining can sit back and enjoy watching the process. Alternatively, if guests would like an even more interactive experience, they can cook their own food at their table as well.
Guests can expect to see familiar items on the menu utilizing high-quality, Korean ingredients with standout items such as the Hand-Breaded Sweet Chicken – crispy tenderloins, sweet soy sauce; Kimchi Fried Rice – stir-fried rice, kimchi, beef, fried egg; Tofu Salad – spring mix greens, arugula, sesame dressing, crispy tofu; Marinated Calbi Short Rib (Korean-style short rib); Prime Ribeye; Chateaubriand; and the Prime New York Strip.
Two styles of “Feasts” are on the menu which offer guests an option to order an entree along with a salad, additional meat, specialty condiments, soup, rice and dessert. The entree feast options are “Janchi” which features Prime Ribeye and Marinated Calbi as the main entrees, while the other feast option “Chookjae” features Chateaubriand and Marinated Calbi as the main course. Both feasts include the House Salad, Pink salt with pepper, Ssamjang, Soft Tofu Stew, White Rice, and Ice Cream.
Co-Executive Chef, Minji Kim says, “Ben and I are thrilled to get back into the kitchen and bring a taste of our hometown and culture to Dallas diners. We are sourcing incredibly high-quality ingredients but also keeping our price points very reasonable so we can entertain guests willing to drive from all over the metroplex.”
The curated cocktail program utilizes Asian ingredients to create a unique twist on familiar drinks. Additionally, the restaurant boasts an impressive spirits menu including several Japanese whiskies and a wine selection featuring many wines from Wine Spectator’s “Top 100 Wines” list. Some of the standout cocktails include Nuri 2021 – Haku Vodka, Luxardo marachino, peach, lime, sparkling rose; Far Eastsider – Roku gin, Yuzuri yuzu liqueur, mint, lemon; Matcha Mai Tai – Kuleana Huihui light Hawaiian rum, Kasama aged Filipino rum, lime, pineapple, almond orgeat, matcha powder; Yuzu Whiskey Sour – Legent bourbon, Montenegro, yuzu, lemon, egg white; Soju Cobbler – TY KU Soju, Pisco Caravedo Mosto Verde, raw sugar, orange, seasonal fruits and herbs; Aperol Sake Spritz – Aperol, TY KU Nigori sake, prosecco, Fever Tree sparkling lime and yuzu.
The 4,000 square foot space seats 108 people and is designed to bring its guests together as they enjoy community cooking and an exciting new experience for dining in Dallas. The restaurant’s design is drawn from Asian influence and earthy materials. Authentic elements such as wood and marble complement rich gold and velvet accents throughout the main space. The atmosphere is intimate and moody, creating a comfortable dining experience for guests as they share a meal with friends and family.
Nuri Grill will be open for dinner Sunday – Thursday from 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. and Friday – Saturday from 5 p.m. – 11 p.m.
ABOUT CHEFS MINJI KIM & BEN LEE
Female Chef Minji Kim owned a renowned restaurant in Seoul, Korea that was a prominent force within the dining landscape in the area from its inception in 2007 to when it was closed in 2020 due to Kim and husband/Executive Chef Ben Lee moving to Dallas to work on Nuri Grill. Lee was Kim’s Executive Chef at her restaurant, aptly named Min’s Kitchen, where he oversaw and developed the Korean cuisine. He is most well-known for the creation of the menus and recipes that are famous in Modern Korean Fusion. Min’s Kitchen was listed in the Michelin guide for many years and was also recognized as the Michelin Plate in 2017, 2018 and 2019. Since the opening of the first location, Kim and Lee have opened four more locations which are now run by Kim’s sister. Both Lee and Kim moved to the United States in February 2020 to work for their mentor and friend (as well as past dining guest) Wan Kim, Creator of Nuri Grill and bring their 30+ years of experience to Dallas’ culinary scene.
ABOUT THE FOUNDER, WAN KIM
Wan Kim grew up in Korea and traveled as a very young child to adulthood all over Asia with his family experiencing differing Asian culture and cuisine. At the age of 19, he left Korea to attend college in Boston. He then acquired his MBA in California and moved back to Korea to work for his father’s business. In 2003, Kim decided to branch out from his family’s business to open Korea’s first Smooth King franchise. It took a few years but in 2007, the concept blew up. Kim went from 1 – 120 stores from 2003 – 2010. By then, the market was saturated in Asia. He approached the Smoothie King founders and ended up purchasing the company and moving his family to New Orleans in 2013.Kim grew Smoothie King from producing $160 million in annual revenue to an impressive $600 million and ultimately moving his family and corporate headquarters to Dallas in 2018. Today, Kim brings Nuri Grill to Dallas diners Fall 2021.
