(Photo | Courtesy of Yoli)
We would like to introduce you to Yoli, Central Oregon’s only Korean restaurant. Located in downtown Bend on the corner of Newport/ Wall Street. The ten-table Yoli will be serving lunch and dinner five days a week focusing on Korean favorites at lunch and creating a unique upscale but informal dining experience at dinner.
The former chef and front of house manager of 5 Fusion and Sushi Bar Joe and Laura Kim have created a new restaurant that is taking Chef Kim away from the fusion and more towards the focus of his Korean heritage. Chef Joe Kim was the chef of 5 Fusion and Sushi bar for over ten years during which he was grateful to receive recognition from The Source, Central Oregon Magazine and Bend Magazine as one of the best chefs in Central Oregon, as well as three nominations for the Best Chef NW by the James Beard Foundation.
Their new restaurant Yoli (which means cuisine in Korean) embraces Chef Kim’s heritage, creativity and elegance of cooking. The menu is heavily focused on grilled meats and Korean items like kimchi and banchan (small, pickled vegetables) as side dishes to accompany the meats. The lunch menu features 20 items at $15 or less and combinations of flavors that will allow people not familiar with Korean food to introduce themselves in an approachable way. The dinner menu is priced at $18-$28 for entrees such as wagyu steak with bone marrow and fingerling potatoes accompanied by tradition Korean side dishes, Seared duck breast with parsnips and rhubarb kumquat compote. Korean cuisine focuses less on raw fish, but there will be a couple of composed hwe (Korean sashimi) dishes. Appetizers ranging from foie gras, or caviar to miniature versions of Korean classics like Bibimbap sizzling stone pots topped with beef, or Korean tuna tartare.
Yoli will also feature Korean based signature cocktails like a Korean coffee martini, watermelon yogurt martini or the Ulsan kiwi sour. While kiwi is not necessarily thought of as a Korean ingredient, Chef Kim’s family owns a commercial kiwi farm in South Korea. We will also be serving Korean beer and Soju a Korean liquor made from rice.
Yoli Korean Cuisine
1133 NW Wall Street Ste. 100, Bend OR 97703
541-323-0480
yolibend.com
Instagram: Yoli_Bend
Facebook: YoliBend
