About Us

OUR STORY

Meet Joy Lee, the founder and owner of Moko Japanese Cuisine. After emigrating from South Korea in 1983, Joy moved to Boston in 1988 with dreams of owning her own restaurant. Her journey began in 2006 when she started as a dishwasher and hostess at Samurai, a Japanese/Korean restaurant in Back Bay. Through hard work and determination, she rose through the ranks to become the general manager, gaining invaluable experience in the restaurant industry. Alongside her passion for food, Joy also nurtured a love for real estate, earning her license in 2014 and keeping an eye out for the perfect opportunity to realize her dreams of owning her own restaurant one day.

In 2010, Joy purchased the building that would become Moko in the vibrant neighborhood of South Boston. Moko opened its doors in 2012, featuring crowd favorites from Samurai, including traditional Korean recipes passed down from her mother. When Samurai closed in 2017, many of its staff joined Joy at Moko, where they continue to work together today. Moko’s core team has been with Joy for over 15 years, a testament to her deep respect and care for her employees.

Joy is deeply passionate about the quality of food served at Moko, personally selecting fresh fish each week from local fishermen in the Seaport. This commitment to excellence permeates the entire menu, with many sauces and marinades meticulously crafted in-house from scratch. At Moko, Joy provides personalized attention to every guest, fostering relationships that go beyond the dining experience—she considers her regulars family. This unwavering dedication has not only fueled Moko’s success but has also empowered Joy, an immigrant from South Korea, to realize her American dream right here in Southie.