the hands behind sŌHN
deuki hong
owner + operator
Deuki Hong is a Korean-American chef and owner of Sunday Hospitality Group based in San Francisco, CA, who has been recognized as an Eater Young Gun, Zagat 30 Under 30, and Forbes’ 30 Under 30. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Deuki first began working as a line cook under Aarón Sánchez at Centrico in New York City, then went on to work at Momofuku and Michelin three-starred Jean-Georges. He was also the executive chef of Manhattan’s Baekjeong, which caught the attention of top chefs including Anthony Bourdain, Benu’s Corey Lee, and his old boss, David Chang. He has been featured in numerous media outlets, including The Today Show and CNN. In 2017, he launched the Sunday Hospitality Group — a collective of restaurants that platforms various culinary, pastry and beverage talent. He is also co-author of the New York Times Best Seller, “Koreatown: A Cookbook” (2016) and “Koreaworld: A Cookbook” (2024).
janet lee
managing partner
Janet Lee is a hospitality leader based in San Francisco with over fifteen years of experience in operations, strategy, and guest experience. Born and raised in San Francisco, her work is deeply shaped by the city and its communities.
Her career includes roles at The Four Seasons and three Michelin-starred Saison, where she managed VIP relations and private events, along with banquet and catering experience at private institutions such as the Bohemian Club and the St. Francis Yacht Club. She later partnered with Deuki Hong to open and lead the café inside the Asian Art Museum as its Opening General Manage, where she also oversaw catering and private events. In hospitality consulting, she led operations for restaurant openings across the country, spanning food halls, pizzerias, cocktail bars, fine dining restaurants, and event-driven concepts.
As Co-Founder and Managing Partner of SŌHN, Janet oversees daily operations, partnerships, and programming. Growing up in San Francisco shaped her desire to create a space where Korean American creativity could be experienced and shared. Her work centers on building thoughtful, community-rooted spaces with care and intention.
More than just a café, SŌHN is a space built around the spirit of collaboration. The name itself, derived from the Korean word for “hand” (손), speaks to the concept’s ethos: “many hands, made for all.” From handcrafted dishes to curated retail, thoughtful design, and community-centered events, every element has been shaped by a diverse team of creatives, chefs, builders, and artists.
The space features a seasonal Korean American-inspired café menu, highlighting comforting dishes, house-made banana milk, and inventive takes on jook and breakfast sandwiches. Guests can enjoy a thoughtfully curated beverage program that includes specialty coffee, roasted in partnership with the current reigning U.S. Barista Champion, Frank La of Be Bright, and matcha sourced from Kettl.
In addition, a curated retail corner by MAUM showcases handcrafted Korean and Korean American goods from over 30 makers. SŌHN also serves as a cultural platform with a rotating calendar of artist residencies, workshops, and collaboration dinners, making it a vibrant daytime hub for community and creativity.
Designed by Cathie Hong Interiors, a local Bay Area designer, this is her first commercial project, intentionally chosen for her ability to bring a residential, homey warmth to our industrial space, blending warm California modernism with elements inspired by Korean heritage.