Kogiya is a family operation through and through. The restaurant grew out of a plan to relocate an existing family restaurant and add Korean BBQ to it — the two ideas didn't mesh, so the family rebuilt the concept around Korean BBQ alone, aiming for something approachable and modern rather than old-school.
Each part of the business reflects a different family member's background. The mother, who had run the original family restaurant for years, oversees food authenticity and handles purchasing, drawing on long-term supplier relationships built over time. Her sister, who previously worked in hotel restaurants at Marriott and Ritz-Carlton, left that career to manage day-to-day operations. Tables are built around individual grills, with diners cooking Korean BBQ at their own seat.
Each part of the business reflects a different family member's background. The mother, who had run the original family restaurant for years, oversees food authenticity and handles purchasing, drawing on long-term supplier relationships built over time. Her sister, who previously worked in hotel restaurants at Marriott and Ritz-Carlton, left that career to manage day-to-day operations. Tables are built around individual grills, with diners cooking Korean BBQ at their own seat.