JIHAN LEE
CHEF AND PARTNER OF NAMI NORI IN NYC
May 2024
Meet Jihan. Chef and partner at the temaki hot spot Nami Nori. He has a lot on his plate, from the original West Village location to multiple other locations, including the upcoming Miami outpost—and now his newly opened bakery, Postcard. Along with his partners Taka Sakaeda and Lisa Limb, Jihan creates culinary magic with their open-style sushi hand rolls, offering utterly mouthwatering modern takes on traditional Japanese flavors in an elegantly casual setting. Are you hungry yet? Let’s get to know Jihan, shall we?
Follow Jihan @chefjihanlee
Who are you?
I’m a 36-year-old Korean American chef and partner of Nami Nori. From Portland, Oregon living in NYC.
What’s on your mind?
Currently thinking on what tools or help do I need to be better at my job.
Where are you right now?
A tour prep kitchen on the Upper East Side helping our team here break down tuna.
Who are your heroes?
People who help others despite their busy schedule.
Why do you do what you do?
It makes me happy that people are able to enjoy the food I get to create.
What is your favorite thing to drink?
I love the yuzu seltzer from Something for Nothing. It has a yuzu aroma with a touch of mint. It’s really refreshing and low on calories.
What is your favorite thing to eat?
One of my favorite things to eat is Korean Pork Bone Broth with really well-fermented Kimchi radish. I could eat this every day for the rest of my life.
When are you most happy?
I am most happy when I get to use my skills and talents to help others, whether that is feeding people through food or helping through my physical actions.
Wise Words
Surround yourself with good people. Introduce good people to each other, and let the rest happen.