Simon Kim is the proprietor of Gracious Hospitality Management, the brand behind the Michelin-starred COTE Korean Steakhouse in Manhattan’s Flatiron district, COTE Miami, and bespoke cocktail lounge Undercote, with exciting new projects in the pipeline.
Born in Seoul, Kim began his hospitality career at MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, while studying Hotel Administration at the University of Nevada. He would go on to lead the front-of-house teams for notable chefs, including Jean-Georges Vongerichten and Thomas Keller, and open his first Michelin-starred restaurant, Piora, at the young age of 31.
Fulfilling a lifelong dream, Simon opened COTE in 2017, New York City’s first Korean steakhouse and the only Michelin-starred Korean tabletop grill restaurant in the world, an honor now shared by COTE Miami following its breakthrough first year in the city’s Design District. COTE quickly earned numerous accolades within its first few months, including GQ’s Best New Restaurants in America, two stars from The New York Times and New York Magazine, James Beard Foundation Award nominations, and semifinalist nods for Best New Restaurant and Outstanding Wine List.
An Associate Board Member of the National Restaurant Association, EY Entrepreneur of the Year New York 2022 winner, Crain’s 40 under 40 honoree, and recipient of the Next Generation Award from the NYC Hospitality Alliance, Simon is not only a leader in the industry known for his creative and polished execution but one that is passionate about supporting local Asian American communities. In 2021, Simon founded Taste of Asia, an annual tasting event celebrating New York City’s AAPI communities. Featuring a curated selection of 40 restaurants serving Asian-inspired bites in Madison Square Park, this event honors the diversity and vitality of AAPI culture and cuisine in New York City and beyond, raising $1.2M in its inaugural year and $1.4M in 2022 for three organizations: City Harvest, where Simon sits on their Board of Directors and is an active participant on their Food Council, Apex for Youth and Madison Square Park Conservancy. Simon is also a Board member of the National Restaurant Association and a father of two.