A colleague at the hospital told me about Corridor 109 the way people tell you about a place they consider a secret — quietly, with instructions not to repeat it. I looked it up, found almost no online presence, and booked through their private inquiry process. Here’s the review.
What It Is
Corridor 109 is tucked behind the minimalist facade of Bar 109 in Melrose Hill — a 10-seat counter where chef Brian Baik runs an 11-course seafood-forward tasting menu blending French technique with Japanese sourcing. It’s at 641 N Western Ave, runs about $325 per person, pre-paid through Tock, and the space itself was designed by Montalba Architects.
Baik trained at Eleven Madison Park and Sushi Noz, but the real origin story is more personal: Corridor 109 started as an unmarked pop-up literally operating in a back corridor of Kobawoo House, his family’s longstanding Koreatown restaurant known for its bossam. What began as an if-you-know-you-know secret eventually became this permanent, ten-seat space.
What You’re Eating
The opener, Iwashi Toast, is the dish most people ask about — vinegared horse mackerel over house-made toasted milk bread, with a pickled red pepper aioli and a mist of calamansi vinegar. It’s a small, precise three-bite dish that balances fat, acid, and crunch.
The menu shifts seasonally. In late February, it included Ise Ebi (Japanese spiny lobster) as a tartlet with a gelee made from its own shells, an Abalone Risotto built around the earthy umami of abalone liver, and Sawara (king mackerel) smoked warayaki-style over straw for a rustic, campfire note. The meal builds to a seared Australian Wagyu course with a 48-hour oxtail jus and root vegetables before moving into dessert.
Getting a Seat
Reservations open the first Friday of every month at 10 AM on Tock, for the following month, and they sell out in under five minutes. The kitchen can’t accommodate vegan, vegetarian, or significant seafood-related dietary restrictions, given the small team and specific sourcing.
If you can’t get a counter seat, Bar 109 out front is walk-in only and serves a limited “counter-to-bar” menu that often includes a version of the toast.
Practical Notes
Skip circling for street parking and use the Bank of America lot at 4975 Melrose Ave — reliable pay parking, about a 3-minute walk. Given the parking situation and Bar 109’s cocktail list, a rideshare is probably the better call anyway.
Heading further west after dinner? Check out our Grown-Up’s Guide to Santa Monica. Dining with kids instead? We’ve ranked our 10 Los Angeles Restaurants Parents Love.
