Rachel Marwedel
Staff Writer
Two new restaurants in the Pocatello area are being built that focus on Korean cuisine. Keep an eye out for them in the coming weeks and months.
Kingpot
From the owners of Hokkaido Ramen comes a brand-new Korean barbecue restaurant. For those unfamiliar with Korean barbecue, “it’s a shared experience, like having a cookout with your friends, except classier.” Josh Gonzales, general manager of Kingpot, told me. And classy it is. Kingpot is more upscale than most Korean BBQ locations, with chandeliers greeting you immediately, a shiny bar glimmering under the lights, and tasteful colors all around.
The owners of Hokkaido had been looking to open a different kind of restaurant for a while, but the exact kind evaded them. After driving down to Salt Lake City for Korean BBQ, they decided they wanted to bring that taste to Pocatello. “We’re going to be the only Korean BBQ spot around for almost 150 miles,” Josh said.
The restaurant is currently doing its soft opening, serving walk-ins and invite only. However, their grand opening will be on February 18th. In addition, they are also planning on building three other Kingpot locations – two in Denver and one in Texas.
The new Kingpot location will be located at 1599 Yellowstone, Pocatello. Expect wait times, but be aware that the restaurant does not accept reservations. At the time of writing this article, their website is currently not up, but check back soon.
CupBop
From a food truck in Salt Lake City to 55 stores and growing, CupBop is a success story. And now it’s Pocatello’s turn to host that success. For those who have yet to try it, CupBop is a unique twist on traditional Korean style. Rice, noodles, and choice of protein are mixed with a spicy level of your choosing for a fantastic bowl.
Currently, there are stores in both Idaho Falls and Rexburg. It was planned for CupBop to come to Pocatello before both cities, but the chosen location fell through. “We wanted to come to Pocatello much sooner,” Kevin Santiago, co-owner of the company, told me. “But we’re glad we’re [here] now.”
The store is currently undergoing construction, but they hope to open sometime in early May. It will be located at 544 E. Benton Ave., Pocatello. To check out their menu, visit cupbop.com
