July 11, 2023

The national Korean barbecue and hot pot restaurant KPOT is coming to Sioux Falls.

It has leased space at 2814 S. Louise Ave., the former Dress Barn location.

KPOT describes itself as an all-you-can-eat experience designed for “both the food adventurers and the social eaters” that combines “global spices and seasonings all while feeling a sense of community.”

It includes a full bar “and nightlife atmosphere.”

The menu includes seven options for soup bases and a large variety of meats, seafood and sides, from Kobe beef to quail eggs, prime brisket and lobster balls.

Diners cook the meals at their table and can add vegetables, including multiple kinds of mushrooms and greens, and they can choose from noodles such as udon, ramen and vermicelli or white rice. There’s also a full menu of barbecued meats, seafood and vegetables.

KPOT first opened in 2018 and primarily has East Coast locations.

The Sioux Falls space, which is 7,200 square feet, was the right size to accommodate the concept, said Raquel Blount, vice president of commercial real estate for Lloyd Cos., who represented the landlord.

“They were very excited about the opportunity to enter the market and find a space in that size in the target zone that the national (retailers) like to be,” she said.

Since Dress Barn closed in late 2019, “we had a lot of interest in the building, but it’s been a matter of sizing,” Blount said.

Retailers now are looking for either smaller space — more like 4,000 or 5,000 square feet — or larger sizes exceeding 10,000 square feet. With KPOT, the building “was the size requirement, so that in combination with the high visibility and strong traffic count of that center and great co-tenancy made it a very good fit.”

The other tenants in the retail center are PetSmart, Shoe Carnival and Sally Beauty.

The restaurant has confirmed it’s “coming soon” to Sioux Falls but has not announced a timeline for opening or taken out a building permit.