Yi Cha: Debbie Lee’s Korean Gastropub Opens in LA!

Chef Debbie Lee's Yi Cha, a Korean gastropub, debuts in LA, offering Korean American bar food, inventive cocktails, and a vibrant atmosphere inspired by Korean street food culture. Fifteen years after opening up Ahn Joo, Yi Cha is all set to open its doors.

Lee’s KFC (Oriental fried hen) wings return, served with gochujang Buffalo sauce, as well as K-town nachos that initially appeared at Ahn Joo, currently smothered in queso and ginger braised pork. Gamjatang, one of Lee’s faves on the food selection, comes out gurgling with ramyun noodles and tteokbokki swimming in a zesty pork-and-potato base; torched cheese on top is the final touch. “It’s an extremely typical, passionate dish,” Lee states of the gamjatang.

Ahn Joo: The Start of a Culinary Journey

Yi Cha’s launching is a full-circle minute for Lee, who initially made her mark on Los Angeles in 2010 with her Korean food truck, Ahn Joo, called after small snacking meals served with soju and beer at Oriental pochas. At the truck, Lee slung early iterations of her rice cake-based K-town nachos and Korean deep-fried hen, both of which return on Yi Cha’s menu. Fifteen years after opening up Ahn Joo, Yi Cha is all set to open its doors: The dining establishment is Lee’s interpretation of pojangmachas– the Korean term for carts found throughout South Korea that offer street foods like tteokbokki and gimbap, plus beer, makgeolli, and soju– infused with her North Oriental heritage and Oriental American viewpoint. As soon as Lee and dining establishment developer Kahi Lee saw the previous Otoño area, they recognized it would be the future home of Yi Cha.

At Yi Cha, the Korean term for 2nd round, Lee will serve her take on Oriental American bar recipes together with a creative alcoholic drink menu.

Yi Cha’s Ambiance: Recreating a Korean Pocha

As quickly as Lee and dining establishment designer Kahi Lee saw the former Otoño room, they understood it would be the future home of Yi Cha. “When we walked into the area, my developer, Kahi, stated to me, ‘Debbie, this is our pocha,'” Lee claims. A mural from musician ZiBEZI welcomes diners as they enter through bench, and neon signs cast environment-friendly and blue-tinged light onto the brick-lined dining-room. Kahi Lee modeled the slim back half of the restaurant after an alley, with a single row of little tables lit by string lights and above neon indicators.

“I had these huge, massive dreams of having an Oriental club,” Lee states. “I hope that the next generation of cooks in this market who are from the Oriental American neighborhood or Asian American area comprehend and understand that you simply don’t offer up,” Lee claims.

Creative Cocktails and Drink Selection

Senga Park, formerly of Tokki, looks after the drink program, that includes liquor, a glass of wine, and beer. The Choose Me Up, an use a coffee martini, shocks soju infused with beans from Be Bright with butter almond makgeolli, espresso liqueur, and chocolate; the Jeju Sunrise blends lychee-infused vodka with Jeju chinese, lemon, and pomegranate; and the Melona Dreamsicle transforms the flavors of the popsicle into a white rum-based cocktail. Rice to Fulfill You, a yogurt makgeolli, is offered alongside Jinro soju. A glass of wine choices consist of gleaming rosé, grenache, viognier, and an orange blend by the glass. On the beer side, Yi Cha will certainly put Benny Child’s rice ale, Taihu’s Meyer lemon sour, and Terra. Sparkling tea and oolong sikhye are readily available for zero-proof options.

Yi Cha opens on October 30 at 5715 N. Figueroa Road, Los Angeles, CA 90042. Bookings are available on OpenTable, but walk-ins rate. Lunch, weekend break brunch, and distribution will be added later on.

Yi Cha’s launching is a full-circle minute for Lee, that first made her mark on Los Angeles in 2010 with her Korean food truck, Ahn Joo, named after tiny snacking recipes offered with soju and beer at Korean pochas. At the vehicle, Lee slung very early iterations of her rice cake-based K-town nachos and Oriental deep-fried poultry, both of which return on Yi Cha’s menu. Lee additionally competed on The Next Food Network Celebrity in 2009 and released her cookbook Seoultown Kitchen in 2011.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Lee prepared takeout Oriental food for residents while living with her family in South Orange Region. After moving back to Los Angeles in 2021, she established her sights on opening something that felt agent of her. “When people were asking me for mandu and jjigae, it’s when I recognized this is just how I intend to retire and be understood,” Lee informed Eater in 2023. “This is that I am, my heritage and origins, and I want to be in a truly wonderful community.”

Yi Cha: A Community Space for All

Cook Debbie Lee’s long-awaited modern-day Oriental gastropub is finally right here. After years of delays and a quick job as a pop-up, Yi Cha is set to open in the former Otoño space in Highland Park on October 30. At Yi Cha, the Korean term for second round, Lee will certainly offer her take on Korean American pub meals alongside an inventive mixed drink food selection.

Yi Cha was at first announced in January 2023 and was slated to open in Highland Park that fall. After the area failed, Lee revitalized the idea as a pop-up in Silver Lake’s previous Bar Moruno while running her sampling menu pop-up, Joseon, next door at Causita. Fifteen years after opening up Ahn Joo, Yi Cha prepares to open its doors: The dining establishment is Lee’s interpretation of pojangmachas– the Oriental term for carts discovered across South Korea that sell road foods like tteokbokki and gimbap, plus soju, beer, and makgeolli– infused with her North Oriental heritage and Korean American viewpoint. “It’s an area for you and come get some beverages, hang around, you know, and simply chill,” Lee says. “And that was actually the point of developing this, to belong where the area can come and just enjoy with each other.”