One Asian cuisine restaurant closed its doors in Dinkytown near the University of Minnesota, but another will soon take its place.
Quang Minh, which served Vietnamese, Chinese and Malaysian food, closed in September, but K-Bop Korean Bistro will open early next year, and its owners expect success.
Restaurant owner Greg Park plans to serve low-cost, authentic-style Korean food.
“I think K-Bop will be different than other Korean places around the area because of the delivery service we will be providing,” Park said.
Park said he hopes modern-themed furnishings and competitive pricing will attract both college students and families.
Though Korean food is abundant around Minneapolis, K-Bop will be one of few to introduce Korean food to Dinkytown, Korean Student Association Public Relations Officer Caitlin Murphy said.
Although several campus-area restaurants have recently closed their doors, Eric Nakamoto — the resturant’s manager — is confident K-Bop will thrive because they’re the sole Korean restaurant in the area to offer delivery.
“This will definitely put us apart from the rest,” he said.
K-Bop is Nakamoto’s second go at managing an Asian cuisine restaurant. His Eden Prairie Japanese restaurant, Kabuki, closed after more than 28 years of service, he said.
“We found this place for lease, and I thought to myself, ‘I have to take another chance and open a new restaurant here in the area,’” he said.
The name of the restaurant is family-inspired. Nakamoto’s daughter suggested they name the joint after Korean pop music, typically referred to as K-Pop, and the idea stuck.
“The name ‘K-Bop’ comes from a Korean word that means ‘rice’ or ‘food.’ It also comes from the name of popular Korean music, so it all ties in together,” Park said.
The city has yet to approve floor plans, though Nakamoto said he hopes to open their doors between January and February.
“I don’t want to rush things with this new place,” he said. “Everything is being taken slowly because I don’t want to make any mistakes that could cause K-Bop Korean to fail.”
