Miss Kim brings makgeolli tasting and Southern-Chinese cookbook dinner to downtown Ann Arbor
Miss Kim, the Korean restaurant at 415 N. Fifth Ave. in downtown Ann Arbor, will present two special culinary events this month that highlight traditional Korean rice wine and the flavors of a Michelin-starred chef. The restaurant announced the programs in an email sent July 16.
On Sunday, July 19, Miss Kim will host a Hana Makgeolli Pop-Up Pour during regular dinner service. Alice Jun, the founder and brewer of Brooklyn-based Hana Makgeolli, will be on site. Guests can sample a menu of makgeolli flights and cocktails paired with Miss Kim’s food offerings, and the event will include information about the history, flavor and versatility of makgeolli, a traditional Korean rice wine.
Why it matters in Ann Arbor
Makgeolli has been gaining wider recognition in U.S. craft-beverage circles through small-batch producers who emphasize traditional Korean brewing techniques. For Ann Arbor diners, the pop-up offers a chance to taste a beverage that is less commonly featured on local drink menus and to learn directly from a maker whose brand is focused on preserving and interpreting Korean brewing traditions.
Two days later, on Tuesday, July 21, Miss Kim will present a cookbook dinner with Chef Ron Hsu, executive chef of Atlanta’s Michelin-starred Lazy Betty. The family-style menu celebrates Hsu’s new book, Down South + East, which blends his Chinese heritage with American Southern cooking. An optional makgeolli pairing will be offered.
Tickets for the July 21 dinner are priced at $120 per person. The price includes a book talk and a signed copy of the cookbook. Miss Kim has said it will provide vegetarian and gluten-free accommodations for the event.
- What: Hana Makgeolli Pop-Up Pour (makgeolli flights and cocktails)
- When: Sunday, July 19 — during regular dinner service
- What: Cookbook dinner with Chef Ron Hsu
- When: Tuesday, July 21 — $120, includes book talk and signed copy
| Event | Date | Location | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hana Makgeolli Pop-Up Pour | July 19 | Miss Kim, 415 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor | During regular dinner service (menu offerings) |
| Cookbook dinner with Ron Hsu | July 21 | Miss Kim, 415 N. Fifth Ave., Ann Arbor | $120 (includes signed cookbook) |
Both events position Miss Kim as an active participant in Ann Arbor’s evolving dining scene, drawing national culinary names and niche beverage producers to a neighborhood restaurant setting. Residents interested in attending should contact the restaurant for reservations, dietary accommodations and details about makgeolli pairings.
These events also reflect a broader pattern of local restaurants programming short-run tastings and author- or chef-led dinners to engage diners beyond the regular menu. For those looking to explore Korean flavors through both food and drink, Miss Kim’s July lineup offers two distinct entry points: one focused on a traditional beverage and its modern craft producers, and the other on a cross-cultural cookbook that intersects Chinese and Southern American cooking.
