Nuri Steakhouse Appointed Kyungwon Kim Executive Chef
The Dallas restaurant has hired the former Oiji Mi sous chef to lead its kitchen and refine its Korean culinary focus.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Japanese Food
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Nuri Steakhouse has officially named Kyungwon Kim as its new executive chef. The appointment marks a strategic shift for the Dallas eatery as it looks to sharpen its Korean culinary point of view.
Why it matters
The change follows the owner's desire to deepen the integration of Korean flavors into the high-end steakhouse experience. This transition aims to elevate the restaurant's unique identity in a competitive dining landscape.
Nuri Steakhouse, which opened in August 2024, involved a buildout cost exceeding $16 million. The restaurant is located at 2401 Cedar Springs Rd., Suite 120, and currently boasts a wine program with over 1,300 distinct selections.
The players
Kyungwon Kim
He is the newly appointed executive chef at Nuri Steakhouse who previously worked at Daniel in New York.
Wan Kim
He is the owner of Nuri Steakhouse who sought to refine the restaurant's culinary direction.
The details
Kyungwon Kim brings experience from his time as a sous chef at Oiji Mi and three years spent at the New York restaurant Daniel. The updated menu now showcases diverse items such as Hamachi and Chamoe Crudo, Korean Ceviche, gamja-jeon, and Texas Akaushi beef served with ssamjang.
Timeline
August 2024: Nuri Steakhouse opened its doors in Dallas.
October 7, 2026: The restaurant officially announced the appointment of its new executive chef.
Culture Shift
The transition at Nuri Steakhouse mirrors a broader movement in the restaurant industry toward incorporating specific regional flavor profiles into established luxury dining categories. This reflects a shift away from traditional steakhouse standards toward more globalized, culturally nuanced menus.
Diners visiting the Cedar Springs location can now expect a menu that emphasizes refined Korean culinary elements alongside standard steakhouse fare. These changes will directly influence the dining experience and flavor profiles available to patrons at the restaurant.
The takeaway
The addition of an experienced executive chef signals a commitment to culinary precision at a high-investment venue. Guests should anticipate more intentional pairings of Texas beef with traditional Korean accompaniments during their next visit.
Further reading
Explore more local options in the Japanese Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cravedfw.
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