Chef Jonah Kim is OUT at Yona

Chef Jonah Kim has left Yona restaurant after less than a year.

The chef, who opened the restaurant as a partnership with Mike Isabella last November, has parted ways with the company. Washington City Paper first reported the news. Isabella tells the publication that Mike Isabella Concepts will continue to develop the restaurant's menu without the chef.

Yona was Kim's first D.C. project, having risen to popularity in Baltimore overseeing the former Pabu restaurant. He was the opening chef for Yona. Though Yona was primarily a noodle house, specializing in ramen, it had a reputation for interesting small plates, including an uni waffle that drew the praise of several critics.

Yona is one of three restaurants overseen by Isabella in the same building in Ballston, along with Kapnos Kouzina and Pepita. Its menu still features ramen and some of Kim's previous dishes, but sushi appears to be more of a focus in the chef's absence.