Two years after “coming soon” signs started teasing its arrival, KPot has finally opened its doors at the South Alex development in Penn Daw.
The Korean barbecue and hot pot chain had a soft launch for its newest Fairfax County location at 6224A North Kings Highway last Thursday, June 4, welcoming local residents who had been awaiting the incoming restaurant since 2024.
“We started construction in January [2025], and we were supposed to open in October 2025,” KPot Alexandria franchise partner and general manager Khanh Nguyen told FFXnow by phone. “And we’ve just been delayed, delayed, delayed until now. So, the community’s been really excited. They’ve been waiting for us to open.”
The restaurant joins a growing assortment of retail tenants in South Alex, a 400-unit apartment complex just off of Richmond Highway. Anchored by the grocery store Aldi, the neighborhood has also welcomed PJ’s Coffee and Inspire Nail Bar within the past year, and more dining options — specifically, the Mexican restaurant Big Papi’s and a new Peter Chang location — are on their way.
Started in East Brunswick, New Jersey, in 2018, KPot was established by four friends who wanted to combine Korean BBQ and hot pot into one all-you-can-eat, DIY experience. Under parent company Vertex Hospitality, which is also behind Kinya Ramen and Ugly Dumpling, the business has grown to 171 locations across the U.S. in less than a decade.
As a franchise in a national chain, the South Alex restaurant mostly sticks with the same menu that can be found at other locations, offering customers a choice of AYCE Korean BBQ, hot pot or both with unlimited access to appetizer and sauce bars. Meals are finished off with a complimentary dessert.
However, the company also gives the kitchen managers at individual franchises the flexibility to adapt their menu to their neighborhood, so “the energy, the vibe” at the South Alex KPOT is “a lot different than the other KPots in the area,” Nguyen says.
While Asian restaurants are plentiful in Seven Corners and Fairfax City, where KPot can also be found, the existing market in the Penn Daw area is less robust.
“We just want to bring something new and different to the folks there, just share our culture, invite them to our version of a cookout,” Nguyen said.
The selection of beers, for instance, caters to the Richmond Highway corridor’s diverse population, and the franchise is planning to set up a screen in a back room so they can host private events, something that Nguyen says isn’t offered at other locations in Northern Virginia.
KPot South Alex leaders are also prioritizing involvement in the community, whether that means participating in food festivals or sponsoring local sports teams. So far, the franchise has partnered with one District Soccer club in D.C., providing free jerseys in exchange for the players representing the brand.
Boasting the capacity to seat approximately 254 people, the restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Later this summer, KPot plans to officially introduce itself to Penn Daw with a grand opening featuring a ribbon-cutting ceremony, live performances by bands and K-pop dance troupes, fireworks and prizes for attendees. According to Nguyen, that will likely happen in the July or August time frame.
“We’re planning to have a whole shebang,” he said.
