Every bowl is a transfer of energy.

From fan to chef.

Jihae Kwon followed chefs the way other people follow athletes. She saved every penny to eat at Portland’s best restaurants. She watched cooking shows before there were cartoons on. She was food’s biggest fan — and she didn’t know she was preparing herself to do this.

After life took an unexpected turn, she found herself with nothing but a dream and a recipe. Friends stepped up. Mel at Sandwich gave her a chance. Hat Yai gave her the bones. And three months later, Cozy Congee opened its doors with a few sales and a whole lot of heart.

The menu is small because the intention is big. Every bowl gets the same love — stock simmered overnight, meat velveted by hand, toppings placed with fine-dining precision. We wipe the lip of every bowl. We place the spoon at two o’clock. We want you to feel like you’re somewhere special.

“I felt like I had to be shattered into a million pieces to prepare this new vessel to receive all these blessings.”

Jihae Kwon · Owner + Chef