Genghis Cohen

Genghis Cohen is a New York-style Chinese restaurant that has been a fixture on Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles since 1983. When new ownership took over 30 years later, the space was in disrepair but remained an iconic part of the neighborhood.

The redesign aimed to recontextualize the restaurant's legacy, drawing on nostalgia while amplifying its key elements. The intent was to push the design to a more exaggerated, almost theatrical scale, reimagining the original charm with boldness and intensity. Red leather booths, oversized fish tanks, and lush tropical plants were strategically reintroduced, heightened in scale and presence.

The reinterpretation of Genghis Cohen strikes a balance between homage and innovation, infusing the space with new vitality while remaining deeply rooted in its past.