Open since Mid-April in the Cool Springs area, Mi Kitchen (pronounced mē) is already a wildly popular new restaurant destination among the Franklin and Brentwood area locals. Offering something new and different for Williamson County, Mi Kitchen serves up an interesting menu of modern Korean-inspired dishes with international twists. Most all plates are shareable, tapas-style portions that are excellent for family-style dining.
According to one of the owners, Tori, the restaurant's name, Mi, means “taste, beauty, and rice” in many Asian languages, and the owners all agree that they strive to embody these qualities in everything they do.
The owners/chefs moved to Middle Tennessee mid-pandemic from NYC, but all are originally from different cities in South Korea. Tori moved to the US at age 13, spending 23 years in NYC before realizing she needed a change. Luckily, Tori is a flight attendant, giving her the flexibility to live anywhere. Tori explained that they had a few cities in mind from Nashville to Austin to Tampa, but one moment of kindness made them realize that Middle Tennessee was the place.
"I spent decades in NY, but the Korean part of me is welcoming and polite, so I'm naturally drawn to the fact that people say hi and help each other out here," said Tori.
But it wasn't easy as first-time restaurant owners and newbies to Nashville bringing a "different type of cuisine" to find someone to take a chance on the talented team and let them sign a lease. The owners saw several locations around Nashville and were declined before the Cool Springs-area landlord who was open to diversity in ownership and in food, gave them a chance.
"We are beyond grateful", says Tori, and emphasizes that they are committed to serving the locals and adapting and pivoting to keep their Williamson County customers happy first and foremost.
With combined decades of experience cooking in restaurants in NYC, Tori's husband, Chef Nick and Chef Yun are passionate about creating a culinary experience that goes beyond satisfying taste buds, also igniting all of diners' senses. Mi Kitchen's menu celebrates the diversity of flavors and ingredients found in Asian cuisine.
Don’t miss crowd favorite dishes include the crispy rice, which you top yourself with saucy spicy tuna, and the NY strip with delightful feta grits and cherry tomato kimchi. The Szechuan-spicy "Lucky Udon Noodles" are excellent, too. People are also raving about the "k pop chicken". For dessert, Chef Nick and Chef Yun deliver an excellent take on bread pudding.
Mi most recently introduced lunch hours and a curated bar menu of beer, wine, and soju cocktails. The "Capri Moon" pouch drinks are wildly popular, some with a light inside, perfect for a photo.
Mi Kitchen is currently open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. They also do corporate catering and events.
Mi Kitchen
9050 Carothers Pkwy #104
Franklin, TN
Website: mikitchen-franklin.com
Instagram: @mikitchen.franklin
