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Alex Change and Lina Goujjane 2

Credit: Gentl & Hyers

How This Unconventionally Trained, Nomadic Couple Built Kiko, One of New York’s Buzziest Restaurants

5 Minutes read
Journalist

The Husband-and-Wife Duo's Unlikely Path to New York City's Newest Hotspot

Kiko stands as a personal reflection of its founders, Alex Chang and Lina Goujjane, blending their shared global influences and values into one cohesive dining experience. Located in Manhattan’s Hudson Square, this 75-seat restaurant is a meeting point of cultures and stories, where East meets West through food, design, and hospitality. For Alex and Lina, Kiko is more than a restaurant—it’s the culmination of years of ambition, resilience, and deeply personal inspiration.

Alex’s culinary journey began unconventionally, hosting supper clubs in his college apartment at the University of Southern California. “We served a three-course menu for $15,” he recalls, laughing at the memory of juggling 60 covers in a night. Born in Hong Kong to Mexican and Chinese parents, Alex spent his early years on the East Coast and Southern California before traveling the world to hone his craft. His work in kitchens like Animal in Los Angeles, Pujol in Mexico City, and restaurants in Japan and Europe shaped his approach to food. “I’ve always been drawn to bold, vibrant flavors. I love cooking with spice and acid. I want the food to feel electric and alive.”

Lina’s path to hospitality was rooted in family. Growing up in New York as a second-generation restaurateur, she spent her teenage years working every position in her family’s celebrated West Village restaurant. “I’ve always loved the front of house,” she explains. “But it wasn’t until I left my family’s business that I truly grew. Moving to Miami and working for new teams opened my eyes to what hospitality could be.” Lina’s natural talent for wine emerged while working at renowned restaurants like Sushi Noz and the Nomad Hotel, where she developed her sommelier expertise. “I never took formal classes. I learned by doing—studying, tasting, and working with amazing wine programs.”

Kiko Mafaldine

Credit: Kiko

The dream of Kiko wasn’t always destined for New York. Initially imagined in Los Angeles, the concept began to take shape in 2019 through pop-ups. But the onset of the pandemic forced Alex and Lina to pause and rethink their plans. “COVID gave us the time to recalibrate,” Alex explains. “It made us realize that New York was where we wanted to build Kiko.”

The restaurant’s design reflects their vision of cultural harmony. Studio Tre reimagined the space, balancing the traditional and contemporary with exposed brick, oceanic blues, brushed metals, and warm textures like leather and mohair. “We wanted Kiko to feel like a living room,” Goujjane says. “A space where people feel welcome and at home.”

Kiko’s menu offers a balance of familiarity and innovation. Alex draws on his multicultural upbringing and global experiences to create dishes that feel both comforting and vibrant. Signature items like the Head On Prawns with XO butter, and the Berkshire Pork Secreto with coconut and spicy pineapple highlight his bold, seasonal approach. “We wanted to create a menu that’s approachable, but still exciting,” he explains.

“We wanted Kiko to feel like a living room,” Goujjane says. “A space where people feel welcome and at home.”

Kiko Exterior

Credit: Gentl & Hyers

At the bar, Lina has curated a beverage program that complements the food while standing on its own as a highlight of the experience. Drinks like the Nashi Highball, made with Japanese whiskey, sherry, ginger, and pear cider, and the Yuzu Kiko Martini, a bright twist on the classic, exemplify the same East-meets-West ethos. “We wanted a beverage program that appeals to everyone,” Goujjane shares, “whether you’re into classic cocktails or adventurous flavors.”

Hospitality remains at the heart of everything they do. For Alex and Lina, success isn’t about accolades or awards—it’s about creating something meaningful and authentic. “We’ve worked in high-profile places, but we’ve realized the best thing we can do is focus on what we’re good at,” Alex says. “If we do that, everything else will follow.”

That philosophy extends to their team. “Without a fulfilled team, our dreams won’t be fulfilled,” Goujjane emphasizes. “Hospitality is about people. If our team feels supported, they can share our story in the best way possible.”

Kiko’s story is one of resilience, ambition, and honesty. For Alex and Lina, it’s the realization of a vision years in the making, a restaurant that feels personal yet universal, vibrant yet comforting—a true reflection of the people behind it.

The Restaurant

Kiko is the brainchild of husband-and-wife duo Alex Chang and Lina Goujjane

Kiko Interior

The Sommelier

Lina Goujjane is the other half of Kiko's husband-and-wife dynamic duo.

Lina Goujjane
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