Kong Pocha Korean Restaurant

I've gotten to eat here twice and although I feel it is a bit pricey per entree, the amount and quality of food you get is well worth it! The staff are friendly, the food is absolutely delicious, and the eggs are cooked to perfection Plus, this place stays open a bit later than most other food places in columbia which makes it perfect for late night fried chicken and pork dumplings!

Good bar food style Korean food. Their corn cheese is very flavorful and the rose tteokbokkk is cooked well (chewy rice cake and flavorful sauce) although not completely traditional in flavor, it’s very spicy! The whole fried chicken is pricy but big portion. The recommend sauce on the side (got sweet and soy) but that meant the chicken was pretty bland without dipping it. Would return to try some other dishes but note that their prices are a bit steep. Plenty of seating and staff is polite and service is pretty quick

A Lively Korean Bar That Gets It Right If you’re looking for a night out that blends high-energy vibes with great Korean drinks and bar food, this Korean bar delivers a top-tier experience. From the moment you walk in, the atmosphere feels alive — neon signs, K-pop or Korean R&B in the background, and a crowd that clearly knows this is the spot to unwind. The drink selection is fantastic. Soju comes in a range of flavors (the peach and green grape are classics), and the cocktails are both playful and potent — think soju mojitos, honey Makgeolli, and even creative house infusions. For beer lovers, there's Korean lager and even some solid imported options. The food is where the bar really stands out. While you won’t find tteokbokki here, the menu leans into anju — traditional Korean drinking snacks — and they’re perfect for sharing. The Korean fried chicken is a must: crispy, juicy, and coated in sauces ranging from sweet soy to fiery spicy. The kimchi pancake was golden and flavorful, and the corn cheese? Pure, melty indulgence. Service was quick and upbeat, and the staff made great recommendations based on our drink choices. The place gets busy, especially on weekends, but it adds to the energy rather than feeling overwhelming. Verdict: A fun, flavorful night out with no pretension — just good food, great drinks, and even better vibes. Perfect for groups, casual dates, or anyone looking to escape into a slice of Seoul nightlife.

When I saw that my favorite Korean restaurant was opening up a second location in Columbia, I knew I wanted to go on day one. I was also happy to see this location is closer to where I now live since my wife and I had moved away from Baltimore last year, which was close to Kong pocha's first location. Sometimes when you go to a restaurant on opening day it's safe to assume the quality or service won't be at 100%, but that was absolutely not the case. Their food tastes as great as always, everything was delivered exactly as I expected with the same quality level as in Baltimore, and the customer service from their staff is friendly and helpful. Their staff always has a great attitude, which would make it easy to want to stay longer and keep buying drinks and more food. As for their food, they always provide you with sides to start that you can eat while you wait for your food or to compliment your meal. For our appetizer, we ordered the super cheesy and creamy corn cheese and for the first time we had the rose sauce rice cakes (Tteokbokki), which was way better than I expected. For an entree, you can never go wrong with their fried chicken, which is honestly some of the best I've had anywhere. I also ordered the Kongbination meal, which is great if you're indecisive and want to try a bit of each of some of their most popular items. I added the curry sauce to the rice, which made it super delicious, especially with the egg on top that is nice and runny when you open it up. I can also confidently recommend their omelette rice dishes and any of the soups, which I'll be sure to order next time. It's also worth mentioning they have a great selection of Korean alcoholic drinks. In summary, the new location lives up to all my expectations for my favorite Korean restaurant and I look forward to going again soon! Please go try their food and welcome them to the neighborhood!

TLDR: Fans of Kong Pocha in Baltimore will be thrilled to find the same Korean comfort food now in Columbia. No KBBQ, but the fried chicken and tteokbokki are great. Cozy space, friendly service, generous portion. Perfect for a casual group meal with soju and beer. As longtime regulars at Kong Pocha's original spot in Baltimore's small single street Koreatown, we were ecstatic when they opened a second location in Columbia. While this new spot is smaller, a dozen or so four-top tables, it still maintains the Kong Pocha vibe from the original. The Columbia location skips the Korean BBQ grills, but they've kept most of the other menu with some new items. We ordered our usual favorites, the traditional Korean fried chicken, regular tteokbokki, mandu fried dumplings and the corn cheese. We also tried their new seafood cream udon dish which was creamy, peppery and full of seafood. Everything came out fast, piping hot, and in generous portions. Service was excellent like Kong is known for, attentive and super friendly. This is the kind of place you come to with a few friends, order a table full of dishes to share, and take shots of soju with a Terra beer chaser. All in all, Kong Pocha is a fantastic addition to the Columbia food scene, offering a similar experience of Baltimore's Koreatown right here in Howard County. We'll definitely be back!

I had an absolutely wonderful time here! The vibe is very chill and the staff is friendly (along with fellow patrons!). The prices are great, especially considering the delicious food and the quantity that you receive. A wonderful addition to the Columbia food scene! We got the Kongbination rice bowl, the Korean pancake, and the fried dumplings. The soju was also very refreshing!

I don’t usually leave reviews, but this place absolutely deserves one. I already knew it’d be good because I’m a fan of The Kong in Baltimore — but the new menu at this location completely blew me away. This place is an absolute must-visit. The staffs are so friendly, attentive, and genuinely welcoming. They make you feel comfortable and well taken care of. It’s rare to find a place that excels in both food and hospitality, but this one absolutely nails it.

Legitimately some of the best Korean food I have had. I don’t know where you are getting dinner at in Columbia, but it should be here. If you get the spicy rice cakes with rose cream sauce, you will not be able to stop eating! Each bite has the sweet spicy flavor and uniquely they cut the rice cakes so they absorb more flavor and are so much fun to eat! The portions are huge and it is a fun eating experience. There is something on the menu for every member of your family. The kimchi stew is the most similar to what someone would make me when I was sick, or just have to heat up quickly after a long day. If any Korean restaurant could bring the nostalgia that Anton Ego experiences at Gusteau’s this would be it.