Bori Korean Kitchen, a new edition to Main Street Ann Arbors’ restaurant scene, resides from a familiar place. The second floor of the Jolly Pumpkin has disappeared—and in its place is a Korean restaurant with a diverse menu.
The chef behind Bori is James Park, who is originally from South Korea. According to the company, he has had experience at the Jolly Pumpkin and Miss Kim.
On the website, Park’s biography states, “What started as curiosity became craft—and eventually, connection. Some of his earliest memories trace back to his father’s weekend meals, moments that revealed how food could be both comfort and conversation. His approach is rooted in simplicity, seasonality, and visual harmony — crafting dishes that blend East and West in fresh, familiar ways. At Bori, he brings together the flavors of his heritage and the spirit of Ann Arbor, creating food that feels both nostalgic and new.”
Take the stairs to the right as soon as you walk in and you’ll find yourself walking up into a calm space with soft ambient lighting. The wooden seats surprise you with how comfortable they are— this is surely because of a bent bit of metal in the frame, which allows you to lean back ever so slightly.
Bori is one of those restaurants that doesn’t seem to have a bad dish. The Hot Pot is one of the most expensive things on the menu, but it provides you with a whole lot of food—served in a still-hot pan on a wooden carrier, with a separate bowl for the perfectly fluffy white rice. It is spicier too, but nicely balanced with a pickling taste that balances out the diced vegetables and your choice of protein to provide texture and nuance without overwhelming the pallet.
The pork belly bowl is another fantastic option. It’s spicy too, but it also balances itself out well with a well practiced use of lemongrass.
There are only two sandwich options, but interestingly, you can choose to have the bulgogi either as a sandwich or as one of the two pizza options. The shoestring fries that come with the sandwich are also very good and don’t need salt when served to you. It also comes with a pickle that—even as a lifelong hater of pickles—I found delicious.
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Only two of the three windows facing Main Street provide light for the dining room. The third window is for karaoke. There is a small room just big enough for a few people, which they have made into a noraebang.
The website states, “Our Korean-style karaoke room—noraebang—is your spot to let loose, sing badly (or beautifully), and laugh until your face hurts. Grab your crew, pick your song, and don’t be shy—the mic’s yours. We’ve got the cocktails, the snacks, and the vibes covered. You just bring the confidence.”
The menu is presented on tablets which include photos and allergy information about some of the dishes.
As for drinks, the Sparkling Soju is nice and refreshing. The Grog! grape hard pop is also a nice twist on the traditional grape pop.
As one recent dinner at Bori put it: “It tastes like a grape popsicle with an aftertaste of vodka.”
As with everything in a hyper-competitive culinary neighborhood like Main Street, it is the details that matter, and Bori does detail work really well. The little lamps that sit in the middle of each dish are the primary art pieces that they choose, and they are delicately intricate – with a real oil lamp burning in each one. They have even gone with cardboard take out boxes, rather than plastic or Styrofoam. You can follow them on Instagram or on Facebook.
Bori opens its doors at 4pm every day of the week. They are open until 1am on Fridays and Saturdays, with the kitchen closing at 11pm The rest of the week they stay open until 10pm., with the kitchen closing at 9pm Take out options are available online or by calling 734-590-7100.
Drew Saunders is a freelance business and environmental journalist who grew up just outside of Ann Arbor. He covers local business developments, embraces his foodie side with reviews restaurants, obsesses over Michigan's environmental state, loves movies, and feels spoiled by the music he gets to review for Ann Arbor!
