SHIA Restaurant

Name: SHIA Restaurant
Address: 1252 4th St NE, Washington, DC, United States, 20002
Telephone: (202) 802-5166
Price range: $50 and over
Rating: 4.8

4.8 (164)

$50 and over

Korean

1252 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002

Make a reservation

2 people

Jul 16, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 18 times today

Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

Good for special occasions
Innovative
Great for creative cocktails

SHIA (shee-uh) is a modern Korean fine dining restaurant in Washington, D.C., dedicated to sustainability, innovation, and cultural storytelling. Our tasting menu-only experience spotlights the intersection of local agriculture and premium Hansik ingredients, using fresh, seasonal elements with minimal manipulation to honor the environment. As a non-profit restaurant, SHIA is more than just a dining destination; it’s a platform for tackling key challenges in the restaurant industry, from environmental responsibility to fair labor practices and culinary heritage preservation.

**Please Note: Chef Lee's appearance is not guaranteed, and his availability is not given to the team or guests.**

Dining areas

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Korean, Contemporary Korean, Farm-to-table
Hours of operation
Tue–Sat 5:00 pm–10:30 pm
Phone number
(202) 802-5166
Website
http://www.shiarestaurant.org/
Payment options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Business Casual
Executive chef
Chef Edward Lee

Location
1252 4th St NE, Washington, DC 20002
Neighborhood
Washington
Cross street
On the corner of 4th St NE & Morse St NE
Parking details
Street Parking
Public transit
NoMa / Gallaudet on the Red Line. Buses 90/92.
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

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Experiences

7 Course Pre-Fixe (Dining Room)
Multiple dates available
Welcome to SHIA, where each dish is a celebration of Korean-inspired flavors and meticulous craftsmanship. Our seven-course tasting menu ($185 per person) is served in our open-kitchen dining room and invites you on a culinary journey that blends tradition with innovation, highlighting the season’s finest Hansik ingredients. SHIA will plant the seed for innovation in the restaurant industry, conducting on-site, real-time research with in-house researchers and university partners to solve for zero-gas kitchens, zero plastics and waste reduction. We invite you to relax, savor, and let us guide you through an evening of discovery. Thank you for allowing us to share this experience with you—it’s an honor to have you at our table. **Please Note: Chef Lee's appearance is not guaranteed!**
5 Course Pre-Fixe (Lounge Only)
Multiple dates available
Join us in the lounge for an exclusive $90 five-course tasting menu, crafted specifically for this intimate lounge setting. These seats (lounge + bar) offer a distinct experience, separate from our dining room, allowing you to enjoy a curated selection of seasonal dishes in a more relaxed, up-close atmosphere. Perfect for those seeking a taste of SHIA with a unique perspective—these seats are limited, so reserve yours today! **Please Note: Chef Lee's appearance is not guaranteed!**

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Scallop and Fried Oyster Ssam
Myeongran Roe | Asian Pear | Ssamjang
Black Sesame Guksu
Mugwort | Uni | Caviar | Picked Cucmber
Mul Hwe
Joetgal | Winter Mu | Gamtae | Red Frill Mustard
Doenjang Pork Belly
Abalone | Clams | White Kimchi | 7 Grain Jook
Seared Saengsun
Jeju Broth | Bitter Greens | Kelp Fish Cake
Korean Gyeoja-Glazed Duck
Braised Ma | Black Garlic | Sot Bop | Banchan
Ssuk Ice Cream
Sweet Corn Puree | Bourbon Honey Glaze | Shortbread | Mint Oil

What 164 people are saying

SHIA Restaurant reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.9Service
4.9Ambience
4.5Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

Washington, D.C. Area
Best Ambiance
Virginia - DC Suburbs
Best Ambiance
Virginia - DC Suburbs
Innovative

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

SHIA Restaurant offers an "intimate and luxurious" dining experience with "stellar service" and "phenomenal" Korean-inspired cuisine crafted by Chef Edward Lee. Guests rave about the "creativity and quality" of the dishes, "dynamic flavors," and the "warm, welcoming atmosphere." The restaurant's focus on sustainability and personalized service makes it a standout destination.

164 Reviews

M
Mia VIP
San Francisco Bay Area7 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
After months to get trying to get a reservation, while trying to find a place to celebrate our 33rd anniversary, we got one! Our anticipation was through the roof, and the restaurant did not disappoint! From the first bite, “Ssam”, every dish was an explosion of flavor and every bite was filled with complex and unexpected combinations. And yet there was still an undertone of Korean flavor that reminded me of my grandmothers cooking. The service was off the charts with perfect ambience. We will definitely be back with our kids to share the experience! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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L
Leah
Washington, D.C. Area3 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
TL;DR: everything is amazing. the staff are wonderful. a must go! We were late finding parking and the hostess called - not to say "you're late, we're going to cancel you" or anything like that, they called to say "Are you okay?". I was pleasantly surprised. It was very tough finding parking on a Friday night...so word of caution, uber or metro, or just park far away and walk... we ended up parking by the metro and walked about 10 mins. Or you might get luckin in one of the many garages. The main Union Market lot was turned into a drive-in movie that night, so it just made parking a living nightmare. On the phone, I told the hostess about our parking woes and we'd be there soon, she ended with "drive safe and see you soon". They genuinely care and expressed concern for us. That meant a lot because I was stressing over finding parking. We arrived in the area at 7:45pm for an 8:15pm reservation, and finally parked at 8:30pm! Once we arrived, the hostess was gracious and welcoming, and we chatted and she made us feel better about the parking challenges. It was like she was welcoming us to her home. As we sat down, the servers were also gracious and warm. They said it was a little loud because of the larger party + music, and if it's too loud to let them know. They were very considerate. We ordered cocktails and mine was taking a little bit of time... 2 people stopped by to apologize for the wait and they comped my drink. After a couple of courses, they asked how the pacing was of the courses. Again, how considerate. The food was AMAZING. The service was AMAZING. The atmosphere was AMAZING. The staff were AMAZING -- every employee we encountered was genuine, passionate, and caring. You could tell that they are all doing work they believe in - not just serving food, but the way they are serving it, what they are serving.
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E
Eric
Washington, D.C. Area1 review
4.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 5
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 4
We showed up and they couldn’t seat us for 25 min. Once we got in they worked hard to give us a great experience. The food was really great and they comped our three drinks and gave us an extra dessert to make up for the tardy start but it took a while to get over the late start.
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C
Corey
Washington, D.C. Area1 review
5.0
Dined on July 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Was a lovely time! Delicious food and very good service.
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C
Clayton
Washington, D.C. Area3 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Incredible experience at SHIA! They seamlessly accommodated our nut and egg allergies and made my fiancée feel so special for her birthday. We had the best seats in the house and even got to meet Chef Edward Lee. Unforgettable night..amazing food, service, and vibes!
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C
Chih-Kang
Detroit / Eastern Michigan18 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 6, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Fantastic! Great experience started with welcoming staffs. The food was impressive with creativity and Korean flavors and ingredients. We're lucky enough to meet chef Edward! Surely a star-worthy restaurant. Can't wait to visit again.
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C
Catherine
Washington, D.C. Area1 review
5.0
Dined on July 3, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Along with the outstanding food, the service was impeccable. You can tell how much thought goes into each dish. The food is elevated with dynamic flavors while also warm and homey. It’s a lovely balance. The restaurant is small, but we loved the ambiance. The Korean alcohol pairing was also very fun and enhanced our experience. We hope to be back soon!
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S
Selena
Washington, D.C. Area1 review
5.0
Dined on July 3, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
We had such a great experience in this restaurant. The bartender had such a great description of alcohol and the food was so great. We ate the tasting menu, but we also want to experience course cooking next time. I was also very lucky to meet Chef Lee.
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J
Jessica
Minneapolis - St. Paul1 review
5.0
Dined on July 2, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Two guests and I had the 5-course tasting in the bar area. The service, at all levels, was superb—knowledgeable and courteous. It was wonderful to learn about SHIA’s role in collecting data about how restaurants can function more sustainably. Can’t wait to have an opportunity to return.
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G
Grace VIP
Washington, D.C. Area3 reviews
5.0
Dined on July 2, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
SHIA is a phenomenal restaurant and lives up to the excellence and creativity of Chef Edward Lee. We went there for our anniversary and they made it so special. It is an intimate and luxurious restaurant, with lovely music. I liked that the dining room wasn’t loud like most city restaurants. We loved the Korean-inspired cuisine. As usual, Chef Lee puts his creative magic touch to combine interesting flavors, textures, temperatures, and cultures in ways that you can’t replicate at home and will never get anywhere else. The service was superb — very personalized and personable. The staff was very knowledgeable about all the ingredients and answered our questions thoroughly. I first discovered Chef Lee at a charity event over a decade ago when he prepared half of the dinner courses. He outshone the other chef and I learned that he would soon be appearing on Iron Chef (which he won). I told him then that he would one day cook for the Korean Embassy or White House—and he has! We are huge fans of Chef Lee, having dined at 610 Magnolia (Louisville, KY) and Succotash (National Harbor/DC). SHIA is his best restaurant yet. I highly recommend that you go before it hits #1 on the Washingtonian. It reminded me of top dishes from Culinary Class Wars (Netflix). I’m going back for my sister’s birthday!
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FAQs

SHIA Restaurant is rated 4.8 stars by 164 OpenTable diners.

SHIA Restaurant does offer gift cards which you can purchase here.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.