Sometimes we get the feeling that there are restaurants where the brand image and design concepts receive most of the owners’ attention, while the kitchen and dishes are more of an afterthought. In the case of K point, offering Korean specialties served with genuine culinary traditions of the Asian peninsula, this is not true. The walls are nearly bare, but the food is remarkable.
K point recently opened deep in District VII without fanfare, which is not surprising; its single-story corner building nestling between multi-story houses was previously a nondescript wholesale store, and someone tells us it used to be a cannery, which is thoroughly believable.
The location isn’t exactly ugly, but it’s certainly nothing special. As we step in, we face a counter with an atmospheric lamp – this is the centerpiece of the restaurant’s decorations. Let’s just say the place is still in its “soft opening” phase.
The story of the restaurant started from a buffet called KPOP. The small eatery used to operate in the new underpass of Keleti Railway Station, and quickly became a local favorite thanks to its friendly prices and quality dishes. The buffet closed down – only to reopen as this proper restaurant a few months later.
At the entrance, we were greeted by a very nice lady, who was our waitress throughout the evening, as well. If required, guests can call her with a button on the table, but in our case, this wasn’t necessary – at the time of our visit, the place was empty. We learned that this was due to our early-evening reservation, and that the restaurant would soon fill up, mostly with members of Budapest’s South Korean community.
These local Asian residents immediately spotted the restaurant and became regulars at this authentic eatery. They can eat a lot, and love to drink. While the drink list is short, it has everything necessary for a fun night – for example, soju, a sweet alcoholic beverage made from rice with a 19% alcohol content, which is usually poured into beer.
In accordance with Korean dining culture, all dishes are served at once, and everyone at the same table can take what they like from the different plates. The prices vary significantly, but all of them are good value for money, with portions big enough to feed larger groups.
First, we receive a spicy mussels stew, which continues steaming on the heater placed in the middle of the table. We also get a variety of side dishes to be consumed alongside the drinks and other dishes, as well. In addition to rice, another basic side dish is the tteokbokki, made from soft rice cakes and chili sauce, which is also a popular Korean snack food commonly sold by street vendors.
The prawn soup (HongHap Tang, 5,000 HUF) is very spicy, very filling, and very delicious. The sweet-and-spicy pork (Tangsuyuk, 5,000 HUF), served as a main dish, is much less spicy, but still is an authentic Asian dish, especially with the soy-paprika sauce served alongside it. The dishes are served not only with kimchi, but also with the iced juice of the pickled cabbage to alleviate the spicy soup.
The menu includes a total of 27 items, some served in the aforementioned style, so we recommend visiting with a larger group and trying several dishes together. Korean cuisine is characterized by a lot of chicken, pork, and seafood, not to mention spices; accordingly, this kitchen in authentic, honest, and the service is rather friendly, as well. For Budapest-based fans of Asian cuisine, K point is definitely worth at least one visit.
K-Point Restaurant & CaféBudapest 1071, Bethlen Gábor Street 31
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