Steve Choi and David Yun
C as in Charlie and Kisa | New York
February 2025
Originally from Korea and raised in Atlanta, Steve Choi and David Yun have been friends since they were 12 years old. Choi was no stranger to the restaurant industry. His parents owned a fast casual American restaurant, often bringing leftovers home for him and his brother to feast on. And, in the Yun household, Yun’s dad, missing the food from back home, would recreate Korean staples with American ingredients—from Korean barbecue with bacon to ox bone soup with spaghetti. After high school, Yun and Choi moved to New York together to pursue careers in hospitality. Choi joined the team at Hand Hospitality as operations manager, learning the systems needed to run a successful restaurant under the group’s founder Kihyun Lee. Yun also delved into the operations side, with time spent at Kristalbelli before taking on the Director of Operations role at Barn Joo.
Choi and Yun had always discussed opening their own restaurant. In 2022, alongside Choi’s brother, Chef Eric Jaeho Choi, the trio opened C as in Charlie, a cozy Korean-Southern tapas restaurant that reflects the friends’ Atlanta upbringing and Korean heritage. With the success of their first venture, Choi and Yun came together to open their second concept, Kisa, two years later. The concept is inspired by Korea’s kisa sikdangs, or taxi driver diners, paying homage to the affordable, fast-casual eateries. Now, Choi and Yun are looking ahead, with the goal of continuing to celebrate and showcase Korean food through delicious dishes and Southern hospitality.
