Rhode Island recently said goodbye to a restaurant that introduced generations of East Providence diners to traditional Korean comfort food. Its closure adds another local name to the restaurant shutdowns that have surprised customers across America.
Sun and Moon Korean Restaurant served its final customers on May 24, 2026, ending a run of more than two decades built around family recipes, generous meals and a strong connection with the surrounding community.
Sun and Moon Korean Restaurant in East Providence
Sun and Moon operated at 95 Warren Avenue in East Providence, where it had served authentic Korean food since 2002. Over more than 20 years, it became one of Rhode Island’s best-known destinations for Korean cuisine.
The family-run restaurant was anchored by Chef Lee — described by the family as the “Mother of the family” — who dedicated herself to home-style Korean cooking. Alongside co-owner Jong Lee, she built Sun and Moon into a neighborhood institution admired for its bibimbap, Korean BBQ and bulgogi, and traditional side dishes such as kimchi and an ever-changing spread of complimentary pickled vegetables served at the start of each meal.
That kind of home cooking helped introduce the restaurant to new diners, but Sun and Moon’s real significance came from the customers who returned again and again over the decades.
The restaurant also proved remarkably resilient. In September 2021, a pickup truck crashed directly into the building, destroying the food prep and storage area, cracking the foundation and causing an estimated $100,000 in damage. The dining room was spared, and no one was hurt. Co-owner Jong Lee, who had not yet arrived for the day, reacted with characteristic calm, telling NBC 10 News at the time: “It’s alright, OK? Always something happen.” The restaurant repaired the damage and kept serving for several more years before this final closure.
In its farewell message, the restaurant thanked the community for providing more than financial support. The owners said customers had given them friendship, encouragement, laughter and a genuine sense of belonging over the years.
They also reflected on the families, friends and neighbors who gathered around the restaurant’s tables, describing those shared meals as one of the greatest joys of operating the business.
A difficult restaurant to replace
Rhode Island has a celebrated dining scene, but restaurants specializing in traditional Korean dishes remain relatively uncommon compared with the state’s Italian restaurants, seafood spots and New England diners.
That made Sun and Moon especially valuable. Customers could order familiar dishes such as beef bulgogi and bibimbap while also discovering foods they might not encounter elsewhere in East Providence.
The restaurant did not publicly provide a detailed reason for closing. Its farewell instead focused on gratitude and the relationships created during more than two decades in business.
Sun and Moon may have served its final meal, but the memories formed around its tables — over 23 years of them — will remain with the Rhode Island diners who considered it one of the state’s most comforting places to eat.
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