Kisso Asian Bistro Opens, Seeks Approval For Bar In Basement

ALEXANDRIA, VA—Kisso Asian Bistro has opened at 300 King Street in Alexandria and will seek approval for a bar operation in the basement. City Council will consider the proposal on June 22.

According to a city staff report, the bar would have live entertainment between 10 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. daily and show sports games on TV. Entertainment could include DJs, karaoke and bands. The bar would have 33 seats.

City staff recommended approval with conditions, and the Planning Commission advanced the proposal unanimously.

A city staff report did not express concerns about noise due to the bar being below grade. On impacts of alcohol sales and late-night hours, the staff report states, "Staff recognizes the potential for impacts related to a combination of late-night hours and alcohol. It does not anticipate, however, negative outcomes given the limited capacity of the restaurant."

Live entertainment is only permitted between 8 p.m. and 1:30 a.m. Under the city's noise ordinance, no amplified sounds can be heard at the property line after 11 p.m.

Kisso Asian Bistro, owned by the same person behind Kumo Asian Bistro in the Kingstowne area, opened in June, Alexandria Living Magazine confirmed. The basement bar would similarly have sushi, Chinese and Thai food.

Kisso Asian Bistro sought approval for the bar after a similar operation never panned out under an old restaurant. Sangjun Thai, the previous restaurant at 300 King Street, had sought approval for a basement operation after a 2015 fire inspection found the basement restaurant was operating without special use permit approval. Although the special use permit was approved, the basement operation didn't get the building code inspections required to open. The special use permit expired in November 2016. Sangjun Thai closed in 2018.