Almost exactly a year ago, the Phinney Ridge restaurant and bar Sophon was hosting a James Beard Foundation event showcasing Khmer cuisine and culture. Since its opening in 2024, Sophon had become one of Seattle’s most celebrated restaurants and a demonstration of what Cambodian food and drink could be.
In a complete turnaround, Sophon appears to have closed permanently, following a rocky six months when the entire staff quit, accusing owner Karuna Long of mismanagement and persistently paying them late.
The Department of Revenue revoked Sophon’s business license in early June according to a spokesperson. Multiple people sent The Stranger photos of a DOR notice stuck to the restaurant’s front window that said the state had issued three tax warrants against the business for unpaid tax bills totalling over $163,000…