Chef Kim and his wife have lived for 14 years in Kyoto, Japan before moving to Montreal. In Japan, they were international students from Korea. Chef Kim worked in various restaurants during his time in Kyoto to support his wife who was doing her PhD.

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His passion for cooking extended to his home by sharing his love of preparing a wholesome meal to enjoy with his family and friends. 

His close friends, who loved his cooking, suggested he open a restaurant.
For Chef Kim to take that step, money was raised to support his new dream and their generosity propelled him to make his vision a reality.

As such, with his extensive experience as a chef in Japan, Chef Kim established Kyoto in 2003 alongside his wife, bringing the authentic taste of Japan to Montreal with his own twist. His business has been part of the Saint-Laurent community for 20 years and counting.