KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot — Restaurant in Charlotte

HORRIBLE experience. BARTENDER SERVED EXPIRED PRODUCT, MANAGER SIGNED MY RECEIPT ADMITTING THEY SERVED EXPIRED PRODUCT AND STILL REFUSED TO REMOVE IT FROM THE CHECK.

My girlfriend and I went for our first time for my coworkers birthday dinner with some other coworkers and friends, a total seating of nine. To preface this I've worked in restaurants for eight years.

A table was immediately ready, a table that only had a capacity of eight with only eight available stove tops for Hot Pots. I had to sit at the corner of the table next to my girlfriend. The end of the table had the stove top controls taking up a majority of the leg room and would scratch/cut someone in shorts.

My girlfriend and I shared a single Hot Pot. The table wasn't split between two separate tables with two different wait staff. We shared one iPad which we placed our 'buffet' order for meat/noodles/garnishes.

We were sat and waited around twenty minutes to have our drink orders taken. The bar was empty, the entire restaurant was at maybe thirty percent capacity. I ordered two green tea shots since there was a special and my girlfriend had never had one along with a draft beer for myself.

Twenty minutes went by and we hadn't seen our waitress or servers. By the time we got our drinks it had almost been an hour. In total, the whole table ordered six drinks from the bar at once. A beer, a cocktail + mocktail and three green tea shots that took thirty minutes to come out. The beer was sour, garnished with an orange slice which I assumed attributed to the sour taste in the beer.

Our food was served on one side of the table. Our end of the table only got the scraps of what was left from the front of the table, requiring us to act as our own servers. By the time we got any of the 'buffet' items that you pay $37 a seat for we had maybe one or two pieces of meat.

We eat and drink. The beer is rancid. I'm not sure if the garnish is contributing to the sour taste of the beer. I order another one and immediately remove the garnish. The beer is still disgusting and undrinkable, which I had to wait another twenty minutes to inform our waitress and tell them I'm not paying for and not paying for the previous.

The server talks to the bartender, the bartender is hardly even working, and on his phone the entire time. The manager comes out and says that I cannot be comped for anything other than the beer that I rejected. Tells me that the bartender tried the draft and said it was expired. Still refusing to comp the first drink.

To summarize, we paid $120 for less than a single portion of food and drinks, paid an 18% gratuity and received no more service than a table of one. Manager treated my table, my girlfriend, and myself like garbage. Bartender didn't have the courage to talk to me about the drink either. I got a copy of my receipt and asked the manager to sign my receipt saying that the bartender knowingly served expired product and refused to compensate for it.

I hope anyone going here does not get sick seeing how they treat their customers when they get serve...

A Fun and Flavorful Experience That’ll Leave You Stuffed**

KPOT is a more established chain compared to the mom-and-pop hot pot spots I’ve visited, which often feel homey and intimate. This location, however, operates like a well-oiled machine, with a polished and efficient setup that delivers a great dining experience.

Their broth options are unique and worth exploring. I tried the tomato-based broth, and it was absolutely delicious. Once I started adding ingredients, the flavors elevated to a whole new level. They also offer the Korean BBQ option, which I found a bit overwhelming to manage alongside the hot pot. As someone who isn’t much of a cook, juggling "the stove" felt like a lot, but it was still fun. For my next visit, I’ll stick to one or the other. That said, I do recommend trying both on your first visit to see which experience suits you better.

The restaurant offers plenty of ingredients and proteins to choose from, and I was thrilled to see crawfish on the menu—such a rare treat! The space is very roomy, making it perfect for groups, and the waitstaff was attentive and helpful throughout the meal. And I can’t forget to mention the lychee lemonade—it was a delightful and refreshing addition to the meal.

One thing to note: you will leave here full—very full. More than likely, you’ll find yourself reconsidering any plans afterward because all you’ll want to do is go home and lay down.

If you’re looking for a fun, interactive dining experience with plenty of flavor, KPOT is a great choice. Whether you’re a hot pot lover, a BBQ enthusiast, or new to both, this spot has something...

Extremely Disappointed — Poor Service & Unwelcoming Experience

We came here today with a group of 9 adults and 2 toddlers, and the entire experience was frustrating and disappointing.

A few days ago, I called ahead to make a reservation, knowing we had a large party. I was told they don’t take reservations and only accept walk-ins — so we planned accordingly and arrived early.

When we got there, the receptionist Madalyn asked for our party size. We answered, waited a few minutes, and then she asked again. Eventually, she led us to a table clearly meant for only 8 people — it had only 8 hot pots, and no high chairs were provided. That meant one adult wouldn’t have a pot, and our toddlers would have to sit in the walkway.

We raised our concerns, but Madalyn said we would still be charged for 9 adults and walked away. We thought she was going to get help or arrange another table, but no one came. We were all just standing there with young children, and no one acknowledged us or offered assistance.

We returned to the front and politely asked again. Madalyn responded with a cold, “It is what it is.” We even suggested splitting into two tables, but another staff member, Duy, only said “I think so,” and then stood there doing nothing.

We did not feel welcomed at all. The staff’s attitude was unprofessional, and the whole experience was incredibly disappointing. We ended up leaving without eating.

This was supposed to be a fun family meal — instead, it felt like we were being pushed aside. We won’t be coming back and do not recommend this place, especially for families or...