KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot — Restaurant in Brandon

This was my first time visiting this Kpot location since it was renovated and changed from a SariOne restaurant. For starters, since SariOne didn't offer hot pot, and I had hot pot during this visit, that limits some of the comparisons that I can make.

Food: I rated Food a 5 star because even as other customers have described in other reviews, this restaurant has a buffet style: it doesn't detract from my experience and the food quality at all. If anything, being able to see and visualize all of the choices helps me enjoy what I choose even better, rather than just reading straight from a menu. Oh! And their menu looks cool too!

For this visit I had hot pot, since it's the only hot pot location that I'm aware of in Brandon. My main comparisons are from those in Tampa on Fowler ave. or Fletcher. Over there, the Boil Spot is a great choice, so by comparison, theyre both buffets, and it really doesn't hurt the food quality at all. My soup base choice was super tasty (see the service section for more details on that). There were plenty of options for meat, vegetables, mushrooms, and tubers.

For meat, I spotted options such as brisket, lamb, pork, and chicken; all great options!! Each meat has its own separate tongs as well for clear caution about cleanliness and making sure no one gets sick. They are presented in a freezer of course. There were also squid and octopus, which I havent tried before, and while my friend wasn't happy about seeing me eat them, I really enjoyed it! There are plenty of options to put into your hot pot. You've got to come by to see it all.

Service: I rated the service a 5 star because it was exceptional! Our waitress Erika was really helpful and friendly. She introduced to me a new soup-base combination (Szechuan and Herb) that was absolutely amazing 👌. It was just the right amount of spicy and savory, and I'm super glad that I was able to try something new. I did visit on a tuesday night, so business is not too heavy simply because it's not a common night for anyone to eat out, but regardless there was ample staff and no one was visibly slacking or just getting a paycheck. This was a job that looked enjoyable to work at!

Atmosphere: This I also rated 5 stars, because compared to the previous restaurant, Sari One, which while never looked dirty or in disrepair, it always seemed dim and unwelcoming. By contrast, there are plenty of neon lights and wow is it spacious! There could probably be 10 birthday parties in the dining room and customers could still have a spot to themselves. I wouldn't worry about not getting seat during the busy weekends, but of course I have to come back myself to say for sure. Everything was clean, tidy, and well kept. Since this store just opened in June, it should be noted that there hasn't been a lot of time to test its endurance (Its september right now), but I have high hopes!

In conclusion, this is a much closer Korean Hot Pot restaurant to where I live finally, and I'll be glad to return with another review, with some photos...

This experience was such a pleasant surprise. I really, really enjoyed it! I normally don't care to cook my own food when dining out at a restaurant. The hot pot & BBQ concept made it so much fun. It's even better when you can share it with friends or family.

The atmosphere was a night and day difference from the previous restaurant. It's bright, and the décor makes it look fun. It's more spacious than I thought it would be. They are utilizing the entire building. The booth seating is so comfortable. But, the main reason it gets 5 stars is for the service. Robert was so helpful for our first K-POT experience. As newbies, we relied on him a lot. He was so sweet and professional, and gave us a tour around the buffet. He also gave us great tips on BBQ techniques. Especially when using oil or butter to keep the food from sticking. It would have been a disaster without him. Lol! He also changed out our grill at least once.

We were there on a busy Monday before Christmas. They are offering all day dinner. It will continue all the way through New Year's Day. It's pricier than lunch, but then you get an extended menu of steaks and seafood (including crab legs). It was super overwhelming for my first visit. I somehow managed, and everything blended well together with the mushroom broth. That part was simple. Just get whatever your heart desires from the buffet and throw it in there. There are oils, sauces, onions, garlic, fresh herbs, sliced lemons (or limes) to season it. It's just a lot of everything you can think of to make your experience a joyful one.

I could go on & on. I had lotus root & fried taro for the first time. It's surprising how well root vegetables absorb the broth. I used a little spam to add salt. The quail eggs, bok choy, and shrimp dumplings were very good. The variety of mushrooms were particularly amazing. I think I sampled all of the different mushrooms. There was a lot of seafood. That's what I will try next time. I was more into the meats, and just because it tastes better with mushroom broth. My friend selected the Korean seafood tofu one, and loved it. She was more into the seafood selection, and there was a huge variety. We couldn't stop experimenting.

Will I go back? Absolutely! I just need to have a better strategy now that I know what it's all about. There is a 2 hour limit, but we never felt rushed. There's no way I could eat any more past that time. I didn't even want dessert. Make sure you go there on an empty stomach. You won't have room for anything...

We recently visited KPOT Brandon, a popular Korean barbeque restaurant, and had the pleasure of being served by Jaylee. I must say, Jaylee was truly the best server I have ever had.

From the moment we sat down, Jaylee greeted us with a warm smile and a welcoming attitude. She was extremely attentive and made sure to check on our table frequently to see if we needed anything. Her friendly demeanor created a positive and comfortable atmosphere throughout our dining experience.

Not only was Jaylee attentive, but she also showcased a vast knowledge of the menu and offered helpful recommendations. She patiently answered all of our questions and made sure to accommodate any special requests we had. Her professionalism and dedication to her job were truly impressive.

What stood out the most to me was Jaylee's genuine kindness and enthusiasm. She genuinely seemed to enjoy her job and interacting with customers. She went above and beyond to make us feel like valued guests, making our overall dining experience at KPOT Brandon even more enjoyable.

Furthermore, Jaylee's serving skills were top-notch. Our table was served promptly and was presented beautifully. She made sure our drinks were always refilled, and our table was clean and tidy throughout the meal. Her attention to detail was remarkable and was greatly appreciated.

In addition to her fantastic service, Jaylee also had a great personality. She was bubbly, personable, and easy to talk to. She made us feel like we were dining with a friend rather than a server at a restaurant.

Overall, I cannot say enough positive things about Jaylee and our experience at KPOT Brandon thanks to her. She truly made our dining experience exceptional and left a lasting impression on us. Her exceptional service, warm personality, and attention to detail make her stand out as the best server I have ever had. I will definitely be returning to KPOT Brandon, and I hope to have Jaylee as my server again. I highly recommend requesting her as your server for a truly wonderful...