This Friday night, my roommate, Jenna, and I had dinner at KPOT Korean BBQ and Hot Pot, located in Marietta, Georgia.
Atmosphere
Our usual place for KBBQ is Iron Age, which is usually pretty dark, so this was a nice change. There were also a decent number of neon signs and potted plants around, and two prize machines in the waiting area.
The guests were all having fun and laughing; it was a very busy Friday night. The employees seemed stressed, but I attributed it to the Friday rush. If there was any music, it was very quiet, which I didn’t mind too much.
Service
There was a wait at the host stand, which we expected. But we waited five minutes less than the original quoted time! Even though it was busy, our server greeted us within two minutes. It gave us just enough time to get settled and take a first look at the menu.
The server was very thorough in explaining the process. She asked if we had been there before very early in the experience, and was very helpful in showing us how to use the iPad and explaining the wall graphic with the different cook times.
I loved having the iPad to order things. Especially at a busier restaurant like this, it’s nice not to have to flag my server down every time I want another meat.
There were a few things that had to be ordered directly from the server, like drinks, soup bases, and desserts, but we didn’t need them often enough for it to become a problem of waiting for her.
We got rice within 30 seconds of ordering it. All meats and sides came out within five minutes. The restaurant felt full-staffed and on the same page. As a long-time Food Service worker, I know how important it is to work as a team and communicate well in a fast-paced environment, and it was clear that they were.
Topping Bar
I made a sauce at the bar with soy sauce, sugar, garlic, brisket sauce, and sesame oil. Really nice flavor, tasted like the classic dumpling sauce. They had information about the different sauce combinations they recommended—lots of options, lots of veggie options at the bar as well.
There were three dessert options: a cake square that looked like tiramisu, a Korean donut, and a cup of pink whipped frosting. Jenna and I each had a donut, and we shared the pink cup. The donut was delightful, with fluffy dough and a sugar topping. The whipped frosting tasted like a mix of frosting and homemade whipped cream.
Drinks
They had a very wide variety of both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. A few signature cocktails as well as some classics, beer and wine, Soju and Sake, juices, boba, and even a few mocktails.
I got peach sangria. Strong peach flavor and a light, crisp white wine. Peach puree at the bottom of the glass and a really fresh orange slice garnish.
Jenna got brown sugar milk tea, which had a really rich toasted-brown-sugar flavor. The boba was soft and rich. Definitely one of the better brown sugar milk teas that I’ve had.
Hot Pot
We both got the mushroom soup base. It tasted like the clear soup you get at hibachi. I really enjoyed it on its own and with everything. I added a pineapple slice to the soup early on, and it added a nice tangy sweetness.
I got sliced beef belly for my hotpot meat, and Jenna got sliced ribeye. They were both really good in the soup and dipped in the sauce I made. We did only one hot pot meat each because the portions were a bit bigger than we expected. I’m not sure how I felt about the hot pot portion sizes. On the one hand, if someone only wants one meat, it’s great because you don’t have to go back and order more, but we were hoping to try a few different meats. I think smaller portion sizes, or at the very least an option for a smaller portion, would be wise.
I got vermicelli noodles, and Jenna got sweet potato noodles. She didn’t like the texture of hers, but I absolutely loved mine. The vermicelli paired very nicely with the broth and the pineapple. The rice cakes were also delightful in the broth and sauce, although I wish they had a spicy rice cake like Iron Age or KPOP.
“Rarely in my life do I give a food a perfect ten. This dish was a perfect ten.”
KBBQ
The first thing we got at the KBBQ was the beef bulgogi. It was covered in sesame seeds, which I enjoyed, but Jenna thought it was a little too much, especially since the picture didn’t show that many. But really nice texture, especially with the white rice. Next, we got the smoked garlic pork belly. Really interesting flavor, definitely smoky, but could use more garlic. Last but certainly not least were the short ribs. Rarely in my life do I give a food a perfect ten. This dish was a perfect ten. The marinade on the grill gives it a really lovely sugar crust that accompanies so beautifully with the rib’s fat marbling. Very beautiful flavor paired with some white rice and a little piece of pineapple. Decadent.
KPOT Short Rib
Really great portion sizes for these meats. Perfect for two people, we had exactly the amount of each meat that we wanted. There are also many seafood options for both hotpot and kbbq, but we are both allergic, so we didn’t get any. The server recommended the garlic shrimp and the spicy fish fillet before we told her about the allergies, and then assured us we would be safe.
Sides
Gyoza had such a lovely texture and flavor. We let the gyoza sit in the broth for a few minutes, which added a nice saltiness. Fantastic dipped in the sauce. They had a lot of vegetables. I got potato, mushrooms, mung bean sprouts, sweet potato, Enoki mushrooms, and some corn for my soup.
Pricing
The final price was lower than I expected. I spent about 116 dollars on two people, two drinks, and a 22% tip. Very worth it for the amount of good quality food you get.
It was only five dollars more per person for both KBBQ and Hot Pot, and it was worth it. You have twice the options that way.
Final Thoughts?
This was a fantastic dining experience. You could come back multiple times and have a completely different culinary experience each time, given the menu’s size. I do wish there were more room on the table, or smaller plates and sauce containers. It felt very cramped on the table because of the grill and burner. The sauce bowls were probably four to five ounces; a two- to three-ounce ramekin would have sufficed. That said, I give this experience an 8.7 out of 10. I will be returning.