Simon Kim facts for kids

Simon Kim is an American restaurateur. He owns and runs a popular restaurant called COTE Korean Steakhouse. This restaurant has locations in big cities like New York, Miami, and Singapore. COTE New York has earned a special award, a star from the Michelin Guide, every year since it opened in 2017.

Simon Kim's unique idea for COTE combines traditional Korean barbecue with the classic American steakhouse experience. This idea was inspired by his background, being both Korean and American. In 2019, Crain's New York recognized him as one of their "40 Under 40" business leaders. This award celebrates successful people under 40 years old. In 2021, Simon Kim was chosen to join the board of the National Restaurant Association. This group represents many restaurants and food businesses across the country.

About Simon Kim

Simon Kim was born in Seoul, South Korea. He grew up with one brother and one sister. He often says that his father, who took him to fancy restaurants when he was young, helped him love food and dining. Simon's mother was an actress in South Korea. Later, she started her own companies, one for baby clothes and another for textiles. In 1995, when Simon was 13 years old, his family moved to Long Island, New York. At that time, he did not know how to speak English.

Simon Kim's Career Journey

Simon Kim started his career in the restaurant business at his parents' Korean restaurant, Kori. They opened Kori in Tribeca in 1998. There, he learned the ropes by working as a busboy, a server, and a bartender.

After studying finance at Baruch College for three years, Simon worked at the MGM Grand Las Vegas. He began as a front-desk agent. He then moved up to become the manager of Shibuya, a Japanese fine-dining restaurant inside the hotel.

Later, Simon moved back to New York. He managed several well-known dining places. These included Blue Fin in Times Square, Matsugen in Tribeca, and The Mark Restaurant on the Upper East Side. He also worked at Bouchon Bakery & Cafe inside the Time Warner Center.

Opening His First Restaurant

In 2013, Simon Kim opened his very first restaurant called Piora. He partnered with Chris Cipollone, a chef from another restaurant. Piora means "blossom" in Korean. The restaurant quickly became very popular with food critics. In 2016, Piora also received a Michelin Star.

In 2016, Simon Kim started his own company, Gracious Hospitality Management. This company focuses on creating top-notch restaurants. Piora became part of this company. Later, his two COTE locations also joined.

COTE Korean Steakhouse

On June 8, 2017, Simon Kim opened COTE New York. It is located at 16 W 22nd Street in the Flatiron District. "Cote" is a Korean word that means "flower" or "bloom." Just six months after opening, COTE was awarded a Michelin Star in the 2018 Michelin Guide. The review specifically mentioned COTE's "particularly interesting wine list."

The head chef at COTE is David Shim. He had worked at other famous restaurants before joining COTE. Victoria James, who worked with Simon at Piora, is the Beverage Director. She is known for her knowledge of wine. COTE is special because it dry ages its steaks right in the restaurant. It is the only Korean steakhouse in New York with its own dry aging room. Pete Wells, a well-known restaurant critic for the New York Times, called COTE "the best of any Korean barbecue in New York."

COTE has also received many awards from the respected James Beard Foundation. These include Best New Restaurant in 2018, and Outstanding Wine Program in both 2019 and 2020.

In October 2018, Simon Kim opened Undercote. This is a cool bar and cocktail lounge located right underneath COTE New York.

COTE During the Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, many news outlets asked Simon Kim for his advice. They wanted to know how business leaders could change their operations to handle the crisis. He shared his insights on various platforms, including SiriusXM radio, Men's Journal, Vice Munchies, and Forbes.

On February 12, 2021, Simon Kim opened a second COTE location. This one is in the Miami Design District. In January 2023, he signed a lease for a new, large restaurant in Manhattan. This new location at 550 Madison Avenue will cover 15,000 square feet across three levels.

In 2024, Simon Kim opened another new restaurant called Coqodaq. This restaurant specializes in fried chicken.

Helping Others

Simon Kim is also involved in many charitable activities. He started an event called "A Taste of Asia in NYC: Celebrating Our City's AAPI Communities." In 2021, this event raised $1.2 million and had 800 people attend. All the money raised went to three non-profit groups: City Harvest, Madison Square Park Conservancy, and Apex for Youth.

When New York City restaurants had to close during the pandemic, Simon worked with the New York City Hospitality Alliance. They worked to get help and funding from the government for restaurants and bars. In 2019, this non-profit group gave Simon Kim "The Next Generation Award." This award goes to rising stars in the hospitality industry. Simon also helped with the Independent Restaurant Coalition's "Save the Restaurants" letter to Congress. He also contributed to a cookbook called Relief Opportunities for All Restaurants (ROAR NY). This cookbook helped raise $100,000 for restaurant workers who were struggling.

Even with pandemic restrictions, Simon kept COTE running. He successfully started a delivery service in March 2021. A part of the money from these deliveries goes directly to City Harvest. This non-profit helps people who don't have enough food.

Simon Kim has been a long-time supporter of The Korea Society. This group works to improve understanding and cooperation between the United States and Korea. He also supports the Korean American Community Foundation and Apex for Youth. Apex for Youth helps Asian and immigrant young people from low-income families in New York City.

Simon Kim is also an Associate Board Member of the Madison Square Park Conservancy. This non-profit group raises money to take care of Madison Square. This park is located close to COTE in New York.