Bibimbap from KorPot.
Photos courtesy of KorPot
Located inside an unassuming strip mall in Dutchess County, KorPot dazzles Hudson Valley foodies with authentic Asian fare.
In one of the many nondescript strip malls along Route 9 in Poughkeepsie, you’ll find a restaurant that is anything but ordinary. KorPot offers fresh, authentic Korean cuisine made with the freshest ingredients and great care by Chef and co-owner Kwang Kim. “We take pride in our food,” says Ji Kim, who co-owns the restaurant with her husband.
When you walk inside, the smell of homemade sauces permeates the air of the cozy dining room. Your surroundings are as vibrant as the food you are about to eat. To the uninitiated, it’s intriguing. To the initiated, it builds excitement.
Start with mandu, or dumplings, which are fried to a mesmerizing golden brown, and served with a soy sauce that Kwang makes in house. Almost everything at KorPot is homemade, and many of the dishes are family recipes passed down from Kwang’s mother and grandmother.
Even though they opened their doors during the pandemic, the response has been strong. Ji Kim chalks up part of their success to the fact that the area isn’t exactly overflowing with Korean restaurants, but to agree with her is to discount all that KorPot has to offer. “Our local customers really enjoy and welcome us,” says Ji.
One order of jeyuk bokkeum (stir-fried spicy pork) is cooked thin and served in a perfectly balanced sauce that is both rich and spicy. The dish is accompanied with a sweet and savory pumpkin soup, kimchi, fish cakes, and purple rice. For $18, you don’t just get the plate, you get the kitchen sink.
Discover Korean classics like the crowd-favorite bulgogi (a sweet, grilled marinated beef) or their specialty, bibimbap (mixed rice with meat and assorted vegetables). KorPot serves soft-drinks like homemade teas, and desserts such as homemade pastries and pancakes. After all, nothing cleanses the palate after a bite of spicy homemade kimchi like the refreshing taste of green tea.
Many of the ingredients are farm-fresh, and according to Ji Kim, more are on their way. By the time the pandemic is finally over, just about every item on the menu could be sourced from a local farm. But, to tell you the truth, it’s difficult to imagine the food at KorPot tasting any better.
KorPot
2454 South Rd, Poughkeepsie
845.272.2121
Closed Mondays