Reviews of MilkWood Restaurant (Restaurant)

A M

Odd, yet totally fun menu. Great food, great drinks, great staff. 100% would recommend.

Sherry Bernstein

The wings at this place are to sure for.

Jillian Arndt

So this was sooo good! We had a amazing dinner and drinks were spot on!

John Gilchrist

Excellent food and an excellent staff. A beautiful blend of Asian and southern cooking in the heart of Louisville definitely someplace to stop by if you're visiting

Regina Hayman

Just wonderful. Everything about this place is just amazing. Loved it.

Sarha Mavrakis

Can be disorganized

Star Gaze

Neat downstairs place. Great drinks and food.

Vijay Alagarraj

Bar is understaffed and they r always trying to catchup. Lot of frustrated people waiting for the drink. Experience could have been better if we didn’t wait that long for the drinks.

Missy Padilla Runyon

Excellent food. I was expecting small plates to share, but it was single entrees so we just passed our plates around. The pork shoulder was excellent, and the accompanying sauce was evocative of a mole. We also had the mussels, wings, Brussels, tartare, burger, bipimbap, duck and MW ramens. We were hungry.

Alyssa Anne

This place in underneath a theater, and was a little hard to find with some construction going on, but man am I glad we stopped in. The chicken wing appetizer alone e made it worth it. My fiancee is celiac, so we couldn't get the sauce because it has gluten in it. However, we didn't need it. They were deliciously smoky without being overpowering, and hands down the best wings I have ever had. The ramen was a little less impressive. Incredibly rich, but a little one-notish in flavor. I felt like it needed a little acid to balance out the flavor. However, the pork shoulder, even without the sauce (gluten), was perfectly tender and incredibly flavorful.

Ashley LeBourveau

First time at Milkwood though I hope it won't be the last. Our waiter, Brian, was super-friendly and helpful, especially with my boyfriend's gluten allergy. I didn't like my first cocktail so he exchanged it for a glass of wine at no charge. The food was excellent, with small but flavourful portions. Everything was cooked just right. The cocktail menu is interesting in the sense that it shows you the taste (bitter, sweet, etc) for each drink. Overall a great experience and definitely worth the price.

Lee Deschambault

Outstanding food, great mix of Southern and Asian.

Jen Taylor Scheetz

Absolutely delicious. The location, ambience, and menu tie together with a creative menu. The bar was very nice. This would easily be a 5 star rating, except the service was seriously lacking. I really wanted to try this restaurant and I almost walked out, the food made up for it. (I have to note the bartender was very busy, but pleasant.) The menu options were not overwhelming, portions were just right. Everything I tried was good but these were my favorites: THIT KHO SWEETBREAD, DUCK MAZEMAN RAMEN, SORGHUM BASBOOSA.

Matt Puffer

Excellent ramen. Unique flavor combinations

Gabe Jones

The wheelchair lift was just a little tricky. I think my power chair was almost too heavy for it. Once past that hurdle though, the food, drinks, and service were great

cheryl french

Overpriced ramen dishes, no regular oj for mixed drinks. Looked busy doing nothing.

Austin Gibbs

Love this place. So do many others. My recommendation is go on Sundays and get the Dim Sum menu if they have it. You can get three mini entree type dishes for 20 bucks. Great value and you won't be dissapointed.

Marvella Ying

Such an interesting menu and interesting choices. For the first time I tried Sweet Breads, and I hope they always taste like this because they set the bar very high. The Beef tartare was another first and it was amazing. Tender, flavorful, perfectly sized and accompanied by chips and some delicious sauce. We also had the Curry Mussels, I dont know how you make the mussels an after thought, but a delicious bread and complex and smooth sauce will do that. Lastly we tried the house Ramen. I was not impressed by the broth itself. But then mixing it all together was the perfect bite. Savory broth, sweet pork, umami from the mushrooms, freshness from the green onions, the egg is poached in a herbaceous broth that comes the dance of deliciousness in your mouth. Oh and Slade our waiter was outstanding and the manager instead of standing and just delegating he was helping his staff and constantly checking on tables. It was a wonderful experience.

B Revels

Some of the best food I've had in Louisville.

Wayne Gaskin

Really good tasting burger.

Jon McCarron

It was a cold and rainy night and I had to park several blocks away so the warmth and intimate quarters of Milkwood was like a hug. The dinner service was a little slower than I expected but nothing unreasonable. The Smoked Wings may be the best wings I've had here. Perfectly seasoned and smoked just enough to not be obnoxious. I'm not usually a fan of white BBQ sauce but this was a wonderful pairing. Totally worth the $9. Probably the best value on the menu. The ramen is probably the second best I've found in Louisville. My only complaint was the bathroom being located on the second floor. But what can you do? I will totally be back.

Magan Stephen

Very cool!

Hanako Tanji

Delicious but a little noisy

Faraday Sage

Best. Chicken. Ever. Went with 4 friends, all split appetizers to get a good feel of the strange menu. EVERYTHING WAS AMAZING. Willing to drive 7 hours again to eat here.

David French

Amazing food and amazing service!! Will definitely be back soon! Edward Lee hit a home run with this place!!!

Daniel Toot

Delicious. Dynamite selections for an adventurous palate, and satisfying dishes for folks who want something more comfortable. Service was relaxed and on point, and drinks were inventive and refreshing. Absolutely will be back as soon as I'm in Louisville again.

Jessica Miller

The Mahi fish special was delicious with the lobster rangoon. I tried the Dead Mual from the drink menu and it was to die for! The staff was very pleasant with our reservations, I had to cancel and reschedule 2 times but it was a breeze. Check out their Instagram page for updates on guest chefs and new menus.

Austin Edwards

This place was a Louisville gem. The food is superb. The decor is sublime. The atmosphere is perfect, a nice mix of professional and youthful. My party and I tried everything. I recommend the entire menu. Will return here when I'm on vacation to Louisville again

Neel Sircar

Interesting menu but the tastes weren't especially defined and the dishes, although Asian inspired, felt lacking. The service, ambiance and beverage menu were excellent. However, the tea list could use significant refinement.

Paul Lindsey

The number of items on the menu was sort of disappointing. There's only like maybe 12 total items you can choose from. The mix of Asian and Southern food is really strange. Ended up trying a number of appetizers as well as settling for what the hamburger which was acceptable. Drink menu is okay they have some unique drinks I recommend the pickle juice one.

Dewayne Sullivan

Selection was limited..the squash was delicious.

Adrian Wood

This is way better than that fakeo David Chang's restaurant

Igor Liberman

good food and service

Dave Sill

The food was exceptional: delicious, creative, and unusual. Service was excellent.

Karl Borns

Amazing. The flavor balance in each dish was perfect.

Stefanie Reeves

Incredible and excellent customer service, personal attention and impeccability. I am enamored with this establishment and the people who provide the experience. It would be inauthentic of me not to share. So so so glad I came here with my love tonight who traveled from California! Best experience EVAR ☺

Daiane Quinlan

I’ve had the fried chicken and the scallops. The scallops were heavy, the description said it was a ceviche but it didn’t tasted like. The mayo made it too heavy, not a good dish. The fried chicken was okay, and the ambience was kind of dead.

Phillip Dahlhofer

Why can't I give a place six stars! This was hands down one of the best restaurants that I have ever visited. Super friendly staff and amazing food come together to make an unforgettable experience. The cocktails and food was imaginative without being gimmicky. Asian food with a southern flair or southern food with an Asian flair? I don't care just give me more!

Sarah Grace Wood

Creative cocktails and inspired cuisine featuring Japanese and American southern flavors. The quirky but cozy atmosphere is perfect for small groups or intimate date nights.

Andrew Schneider

Excellent spot for some food!!!

Tim cox

Lovingly conceived craft cocktails, delectable food, attentive and friendly service.

De'efay Fedovskiy

Beautiful interior and decor interesting menu Ate here on a business trip. Giving it 3 starts because all of the traditional ramen elements are off. If they were off and still good, ok, but that was not my experience. Their version of tonkatsu has a broth that Is the color and consistancy of gravy. The noodles are a solid al dente, and the egg is more liquid than solid. So hard noodles and thick sauce I didn't enjoy as much for a ramen dish.

Christina Pierce

Nice place, good food but small menu.

Anthony Maiorana

I thought Milkwood has some of the best fried chicken in the city. Maybe it's the best. I think I need to eat more fried chicken to be sure. Either way it's a solid choice for a nice dinner out, especially prior to a show. They require you book ahead of time if you are going to see a show. I think the menu is simple enough that it's easy to make a choice and the food and portions will ensure you have 0 leftovers. So maybe get some fried chicken to go before you leave. Otherwise I'll most likely be back!

J. Patrick Spalding

This place is one hidden gym! I'm sure it does well on show nights but was dead on a Tuesday night. Either way it's insanely good! The duck ramen is too good for words

Anna Hautzinger

Milkwood presents local ingredients in interesting, asian-influenced ways. The menu lists cocktails by taste experience, thus enabling pairing with your meal. The food items were all quite good, though the scallop dish is quite scanty. Our waiter was very attentive, though the drink service was slightly slow for a slow evening. The restaurant is in the basement of the theater building, and was quite noisy due to sound echoing. A good stop, definitely if you want to try Edward Lee's cuisine.

cody gunningham

First time in Louisville and had the pleasure of going to MilkWood. A friend had recommended and I was not disappointed The service was excellent and the food came out really quickly . I ordered the Bibimbap, and it was delicious . Great beer selection . Would highly recommend and will for sure come back next time I’m in Louisville .

John Newcombe

Great & interesting food - definitely get both the Korean and southern influence. Well worth a visit!

Jonathan Marks

Milkwood was a most enjoyable experience. The food was amazing with crazy flavor combinations that just explode in your mouth. The drinks are tasty and the cocktails one of a kind that have their own unique aspect that begins the journey that is the Milkwood experience. The steak tartar starter was to die for, crazy flavors all coming together for this outstanding and really new and different taste. The lightness of the chips with the savory of the tartar, it was good too the very last morsel. The ramen was the highlight, and very different if you have never had the pleasure of real ramen. Again a collective of flavor mashed together to produce an experience that pleases all the senses. This is a highly recommended place, drop in and enjoy a cocktail and an app or go for the full journey and have dinner. Will not disappoint!

Casey Dover

I'm sure some people really enjoy it, but not my wife and I. I'm not saying the food was necessarily bad, but it wasn't anything something I want to eat again. If you just want to try something to say you tried it, it's a one time place.

Alfred F.

Didnt have a bad meal at any of this chef's places

Angkana Mccutcheon

Nice déco, food was good and waitress was very accommodating. My husband never had collard greens so he was surprise how good it was especially when it mix with kimchi. Highly recommend

Emily Gardinier

Bummed about the MW ramen: the broth was thick and pork belly tough.

Elisio Sapata

Highly recommended. Very casual. Very comfortable setting. Perfect location to eat prior to a concert or show. Don’t be afraid to order from this menu, it is different but very savory. Come with any open mind and be ready to enjoy the evening. We recommend the Bibimbap and the Duck Mazeman Ramen. Dessert try the profiteroles (squid ink caramel ice cream).

brooke rice

Service was a bit slow, but the food more than made up for it!

Emily Rhodes

Awesome experience great vibes

Benjamin Liechty

The food and cocktails were excellent, the waitstaff knew the menu quite well and we're very helpful. Our whole party had a lovely evening

Russell Davies

Made me rethink how I will eat in the future! Everything on my plate or in my glass had so much flavor it started to reshape my pallet. I found myself being surprised with how much flavor was in the simplest of elements. Best meal in years!

Jarred Gillette

Truly a great food experience. Decor perfectly matched the southern-american/asian fusion menu. Staff was friendly and professional. Bone marrow appetizer was delicious. Fiancè had the ramen and wouldn't stop raving about it for the rest of the night, and my steak was easily top 3 I've gotten from a restaurant. No complaints, would definitely recommend checking it out.

Michael Brunermer

It wasn't bad, but it was very overpriced and I left hungry sadly. I feel that if I actually did go hunting for deer the venison would have been better and I would have had more to eat.

Jett W

Atmosphere was interesting. Apps and entrees are a short list but tasty. Dessert was awesome. Allison was very helpful and bar made great cocktails. Connected to a theater so announcements in the restaurant can be obtrusive.

Matthew Peerce

Beautiful, fun atmosphere. Excellent drinks, arranged in a nice way on the menu letting you know whether they are sour, sweet, bitter, or umami. Best ramen in town, excellent noodles and broth with some flavors I really haven't come across before (charred eggplant in ramen?). Delicious. Excellent gochujang chicken wand waffles and a delicious blackened pineapple cheesecake for dessert.

Jinyoung Kim

I liked squish dish. Gochujang Chicken appetizer was cover with very heavy salty Sauce. If it was lightly cover it would been better. Ramen was ok I had to drink a lot of water with soup.

Hyunchul Lee

This place has some real gems. Would recommend.

John Moore

he food is consistently top quality.

Mary Ross

Surprised to find such a unique place. Great, unusual, food. So glad we tried it!

Jason Patty

Nice underground joint next to the theatre! Our ride share driver recommended this place and we were not dissatisfied!

Scott Kleeman

Loved the uniqueness of the place. Interesting drinks, inspiring food, and great service!

Tyler Kline

MilkWood has been a bucket list item for me ever since I learned about Chef Ed Lee through Mind of a Chef, and our meal exceed expectations. We ordered everything off the Southern Dim Sum menu, plus the collards & kimchi, cottage fries, and togarashi cheesecake. Everything was unbelievably good, and nearly everything was unlike anything I had ever tasted before. I wish we lived closer, because we’d be going all the time. Louisville is lucky to have MilkWood.

Sharon King

Totally loved the venue! The food is delicious! Tonight I had the organic beef burger. Scrumptious! Love the decor-one wall is decorated in antique plates!

Thomas Snyder

Very nice place to eat before going to Actors Theater

Bernard Brown

Great food, had the Cajun mussels to start and they were a great spice that didn't over power the meal. The ramen dish was excellent all items cooked properly, which can be hard in mixed dishes and the flavors were a great blend. The server recommend the cheesecake and it was a combination of carmlized fruit and other toppings.

Keith Sparks

Very inventive food and fun atmosphere.

Shelby Steege

Edward Lee's restaurant is amazing. I've never been disappointed with anything I have ordered!

Hunter Harritt

Absolutely loved this place. Soft bun and thin crunchy patty, crispy pimento cheese made for an awesome burger experience. The ramen broth was great too. The adobe fried chicken to share was out of this world. I loved coming here after reading both of Chef Lee's books.

Kelly Powers

Love. Food always exceeds expectations!

Virginia Weatherman

Went for some drinks, didn't have any food so limited review. Cocktails were ok, bourbon selection was pretty great but a little over priced. Cool vibe.

rodney callier

The food and service were greay.

Mi cocina para el mundo

The service was ok, but the food was good, very tasty and delicious we recommend the chicken wings and the steak

Jena B

I wasn't super happy. I wanted it to be soo tasty and it just wasn't there. We had a little bit of everything too, so it wasn't just one meal that didn't hit the spot. Overall wasn't good and probably won't go back :/

Theresa Flemming

This is my first time to visit MilkWood Restaurant. When I first step in I can see the restaurant was clean and very organized. I ordered Togarashi Cheesecake dessert and MW ramen, it was very good and tasty. The service crew was okay and friendly. I considered coming back here again.

Russ Barron

Great spot for Koren fusion dishes! We weren't sure quite what to expect, but everything was very tasty! The rice bowls were the star of the show, for sure, and nothing else we tried was disappointing. Highly recommended for something different!

Connor Ferguson

Hot chicken appetizer had a weird mouth feel and no heat. Pork shoulder was dry but tasted good. The MW ramen had heat but no flavor, and the bibimbap was somewhat bland. Overall, it was alright, but not great.

Jerry Kennedy

Unique menu, cocktails are decent. Service was just okay. Dessert was very good.

Dingjie Shi

I am confused why lots of people left such a misleading comments. As an Asian, I have to say it was disappointing. My friends also hold the same idea. Eggplant is not savory at all. The noodle contains too much oil and was salty. Won’t go again.

Nate Hubbard

Holy $#!7. This place is amazing. Inspired food, perfectly made in an awesome setting. In any other city people would line up to pay twice as much. The Milkwood Ramen and the fried chicken are their best known dishes, and for good reason. Our group also had the steak which was nearly perfect (the prep, seasoning, and cooking were perfect, but the butcher really screwed them on a cut with some deep flaws. The sous chef should have caught it, but it wasn't bad, it just wasn't a $30 cut). You cannot go wrong here. We will be making it a point to stop whenever we are in town.

Caroline Fernandez

INCREDIBLE FOOD!! The service was GREAT at this restaurant. The server I had was very, very knowledgeable and accommodating. We had a gluten intolerant in our party and Edward Lee came out to discuss options with him. It was great! I had the Ramen (delicious and spicy) and corn. The corn CANNOT be beat. It is the best thing I've ever had. This restaurant lacks in desert, but the great portions and delicious flavors make up for it.

Joseph Sharon

We order the plate for two. It was delicious! Lamb chops were on point. This restaurant gives you a real experience of Korean fusion. Enjoy!

Andy Hampton

Everything is wonderful here. My favorite place in Louisville.

Chien-ming Huang

Meals are really good. I like the atmosphere as well.

Sam Burgess

Very inspired cuisine. I wish I could have tried everything! Definitely recommend to anyone visiting Louisville.

Carlos Torres

One of the best places for dinner in Louisville, best service too!

Lexi Bass

Food is great. Interesting cocktails. Vegetarian options were a bit silly though. I wish places like this would put as much creativity into vegetarian cuisine as they do meat.

John Outler

ASIAN CONFUSION Dear Edward, We love you on TV. We've seen you with Chang and on Bourdain, Master Chef, Chopped, Mind of a Chef. Nice work... busy work, too. Here's an idea: Step away from the camera, head back to Milkwood and take the wheel again. They need you there. Our meal two nights ago was worse than forgettable; it was really just awful... yet expensive. Quotidian duck confit mazeman ramen and bibimbap we could have made at home (yes, even the confit). Over-salted, uninspired, and stingy-portioned catfish amok (with decent sorghum). "Sichuan" spaghetti squash that was about as sichuan as a plate of haggis and -- and I'm not kidding -- spit-it-out bad. One plus: Milkwood hot sauce. This garnered you a second star. Nice work and props from a fellow hot sauce maker. Yes, we were a table of restaurateurs of varying pedigree, we don't pull punches... and we can taste an absentee owner from a country mile away. Edward, your restaurant was a confusing, expensive disappointment. You're famous now, and we won't be back, but maybe you should head over... when you find the time.

Joe Platz

Good food and fun cocktails. Slow bar service.

Shane Rusch

Very unique menu....the smoked chicken wings were amazing

Andrew Chuang

Some of the stuff is too salty in my opinion. Other than that, it's quite good and service is great.

Hiram Watkins

Great place. Cocktails we're inventive and ramen was great.

Daniel Oliver

We were not disappointed with MilkWood! We came for dinner on a Friday night with reservations. The roasted squash and collards with kimchi were very good, as was the pork shoulder with rice, edamame, and roasted kale. The duck ramen bowl was amazing -- the best noodles I've ever had. I'm not a ramen expert and so I was surprised when there was no broth, but that didn't matter and probably saved room for all the noodles. We liked our server, Slade, who was helpful when we were trying to decide what to drink. The atmosphere is comfortable, and it wasn't too loud. For those who care, the seats were either booth/bench style or chairs without arms. We will recommend to anyone and everyone!

Mike Katz

Delicious fusion of Asian food and southern cooking. Great flavors and textures. This really was a good meal.

Drake H

Absolutely stellar. The food is unique for our region and exceeded my expectations. Highly recommended.

Timothy Knefelkamp

Super cool spot! Quality over quantity here. Definitely got enough to eat still. My wife got a bunless burger that had bacon and cheddar cheese. She really liked it. I got the hot wings. Big surprise

Angie Daniel

If you get anything at all, get the pork dumplings! So perfectly delicious! Burger is wonderful, very flavorful! Great drinks! Excellent service! Will definitely go back!

Jason Lai

Nice little place. The menu was very limited. Not many side options either. Order the skirt steak but couldn't order rice as a side... The bone marrow appetizer was really good though. Would rate this place higher had the menu been a better selection.

Vanesa Mendez

Highly recommended

Derek Baumer

Food was really great here, the chicken and waffles were so flakey and tasty. Had some very unique cocktails, can't wait to go back. Price wasn't too bad, we had drinks, dinner, and dessert.

Toby Barnhart

It was all very delicious. Really enjoyed the GOCHUJANG FRIED CHICKEN. We didn't have reservations but the staff set us up at the end of the bar high top. Very friendly, knowledgeable service.

Susan Hailey

I ordered the Smoked Shoyu with a glass of wine and it was fantastic. Love the setting here and staff were great. Will be back.

maxwell posival

AWESOME. The food here is some of the best in Louisville. I like it so much that on a road trip to another place, we stopped in Louisville and had a meal here.

Deron Van Klompenburg

Very interesting dishes! Even the desserts are unique, but everything was delicious. Carve out some extra time because good food takes longer.

Brad Luttrell

One of Louisville's best places to eat. The food is absolutely incredible and the bar is great, too. The fried chicken is better than any I've had with exception to Gus's Fried Chicken in Memphis.

Chris Brown

Asian southern fusion food is incredible. Great service and great drinks! Loved the duck ramen!

Andrew Spangler

We filled up at hammerheads on accident, so we just ordered some appetizers and drinks. But our waiter was awesome and the chicken wings were incredible!

David Mitchell

I think I found my new favorite restaurant ever.

nick defoe

Very good bibimbap and cocktails!

Aubrey Holle

Everything was great, especially the kimchi greens.

kimmal wangal

Very yummy , if you have very very high expectations for this 4.4 star restaurant , I recommend to keep them normal expectations. Very yummy food, is mistake to make expectation super high or else your experience will be lowered. Good restaurant very nice exotic unique food , yummy. Stayed VERY VERY hydrated too, god like water refills.

J Pratt

MW Ramen w/pork belly... You're welcome!

Beverly Bowman

Disappointed in the restaurant. Service was good, food not so much.

Erin Simons

While the concept of this Asian-Southern fusion joint is clever, the execution didn't always live up to expectations. We ran into trouble from the get go with the drinks - the rotation of spirits appears to change with some frequency and our server had to come back to the table several times to clarify what they did and didn't have both before and after we ordered two cocktails. Once they arrived, the drinks were tasty, however. We started with the fried chicken which was the absolute hit of the night. Super crunchy, but still juicy on the inside with a perfect amount of seasoning. The dipping sauces perfectly accented the chicken instead of smothering or hiding the flavors. 3 pieces makes for a good split between two people as a starter. Entrees were more hit or miss. He had the black sesame pork and I had the ramen. The pork was excellent from start to finish. The mash up of flavors all played well off of each other. The Asia twist brought new excitement to an old favorite. The ramen, however, was serviceable but nothing special. The pork belly was strangely tough and somewhat bland. The broth had a lovely texture, but also was oddly subdued - missing a richness that I expect from ramen. This dish was mostly a nod to the tradition, but could have used some of the usual bamboo shoots, ginger, or scallion to brighten it up. Service remained quirky from start to finish. I get the sense that the staff here spends a lot of time explaining the concept to folks thinking the restaurant is one way or the other. A good attempt.

Jeff Brown

This is a terrific spot for dinner or drinks. I had the veggie ramen, which may be one of the best dishes I’ve ever experienced. The Southern Expansion cocktail was a great accompaniment. The menu has good options for vegetarians and carnivores.

Brittany Logan

Milkwood has delicious food, unique menu, and a romantic environment. It is a great place to go if you want to have dinner before a show at actor's theater, it is literally connected to it. I highly suggest the ramen dish.

Jeff Veers

Spaghetti squash dish was incredible. Nice atmosphere as well.

Phyllis Yelder

We had the burgers. They were great. The peach shake was good as is, but bourbon or a liquor of your choice, would have made it excptional. The chocolate coconut rim on the glass was spot on. The rhubarb tart was very tart especially paired with what I call a cluster of some sort, which was exceptionally good. Not for someone who isnt a rhubarb lover.

Dave Hollingshead

Good food and helpful staff. The location is pretty cool and there was some good little watching the night we were there (although Madonna was also having a concert across the street so that probably had something to do with it. Try some of the cocktails, pretty interesting combinations that you will not find somewhere else.

Omar Moreno

The best place

Tom Ainsworth

The Asian take on some classics (like the BBQ pork sandwich) was refreshing. Sad that the octopus jerky want on the menu temporarily.

Ken Chaiken

Didn't live up to the expectations. Nice folks but just ok food.