Super cool and relaxing ambience at this place. Stopped in for lunch with my husband. He is obsessed with this place. Our drinks or fantastic. The plum mafia is sweet and refreshing perfect for a day where the sun is out. The beef japchae (glass noodles) or super tasty. They have different levels of spice. I love their levels, especially for the extreme spiciness labeled as simply PAIN. Our server was very personable and got us our items in a timely fashion. Definitely will be back. read more

K Peppers - Plum Mafia - Asian Fusion Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Our bulgogi was better than the bibimbap; which used to not be the case at the former location. The bulgogi was flavorful and delicious. The ingredients have changed, which seems to be the reason they are not as awesome as before.. Tasty little appetizers set out while you are awaiting your order. Very pleasant service, often by the owner. Recommend. read more

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I'd give this like a 4 for overall. 3 if we're basing this solely on food. Staff was super helpful and nice. They have their menu on the wall or you can select the QR code and order there. My internet cut out so we ended up ordering with the staff. We both got the plum iced tea. My boyfriend claims it tastes like grape juice, but you can really taste the plum notes. This was a good pairing for the food as it comes out piping hot or if you choose to get it spicy. We ordered the tteokbokki which was super soft and chewy. Large portion. Hint of sweetness with the spicy. My saddest qualm is that this is often served with fish cake, but not here. I ordered the soondubu. Comes out piping hot. You almost have to wait ten minutes before it can cool down. Full of flavor, but not the best soondubu I've had. My boyfriend got the can't decide udon noodles. This was very surprising to me and I would actually get this dish the next time I come here. Normally I'm not a fan of udon, but something about the flavor and texture which they hit right here. The portions are large, definitely could take this for second lunch. read more

So you want good Korean food in Madison. My best advice is to drive 2 hours down to Koreatown in Illinois (Glenview/Niles)! First red flag is you know how Korean side dishes are supposed to be like appetizers? Not here - they come out with the entrees, aren't particularly good, and no refills lol. Also $20+ for some kimchi jjigae is crazy talk. As much as SoCal/NJ elitists complain about the Korean food in Boston, even Korean food in Boston is miles ahead of whatever this was. read more

Was there for lunch. Good prices. Large portions. Had the Dolsot Bibimbop Dubu $15 plus plum tea Dubu = tofu. It had lots of cabbage and carrots, spinach zucchini, sesame seeds, and yummy crusty baked rice on the bottom. Very healthy. Friendly owners! Atmosphere was comfy cozy! read more

Our absolute favorite restaurant in Middleton/Madison. We have eaten at KPeppers for over ten years and have always had a wonderful experience. Excellent food, service, and atmosphere. They are family owned and the food is cooked from the heart. A must try!! read more

The food tasted good ! The sauce that came with the wings tasted amazing - spicy yet balanced. We went for Can't Decide Which Bulgogi Bokummyon and added eggs on top with extra shrimp. This entree was also great in flavor with balanced spices. Our only qualms with this place is that it took quite a long time ( more than 35 minutes) to get anything served other than water. Appetizers came after that delay. Service was good though as they apologized for the delay claiming it was quite backlogged at that point. read more

K Peppers - Everything Bokummyon - Asian Fusion Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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Amazing lunch experience at K Peppers! We ordered the beef bulgogi japchae and bibimbap lunch specials and both were phenomenal. The menu is straight forward, you can order from your phone which is nice and easy. The owners are super friendly and provide excellent service. We will definitely be back for dinner soon to have some soju with our meals. read more

K Peppers - Beef Bulgogi Japchae - lunch special - Asian Fusion Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

This was my first time going to K Peppers. It was a little lackluster, to say the least. I ordered the "Can't Decide" stone pot bibimbap, which was $21. It had both pork and beef, both of which didn't carry much flavor and were pretty dry. It was served with an untraditional group of vegetables, like cabbage, spinach, and brussels sprouts, and a fried egg on top. It didn't crisp up well in the pot, which was a little disappointing. I'm used to more authentic bibimbap, which has mushrooms, carrots, Korean spinach, bean sprouts, and has an automatic, sesame oil flavor. Though it was decent, the bibimbap lacked flavor and crispiness that authentic dolsot bibimbap usually provides. I do enjoy they had a selection for someone like me, who literally can never decide on a single item, so having the variety of two choices of meat was a nice touch. The banchan was pretty good too. read more

K Peppers - Can't Decide Bibimbap - Asian Fusion Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

I love this place. It is perhaps my favorite place to get asian food in Madison. The food is always so great. Comes out super quick too. I always get the medium spice option for their bibimbap which is perfect because I can't tolerate super spicy food. The service is 10/10. They are so nice and accommodating. And I've been here so often that they know my order already. The interior is also so nice and spacious. 100% recommend this place read more

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My family & I used to go to K. Peppers when they were located in Middleton, often, & it was one of my favorite restaurants when I lived on the west side of Madison. This was our first time visiting them at their new location which I'm sure gets more people since it's more visible/a busier area. We got there at 7:30pm & they closed at 8:30pm and we were told the food wouldn't be ready til 8:09pm and did we want to still eat. It was my birthday and we'd come from across town so we stayed but time got very tight as it was 8:15pm by the time we ate & we didn't want to stay past closing so took our entrees to go after a couple bites (the owner said we could keep eating which was kind but didn't want to make them have to stay late). Based on the cooking time (which is bc one of the owners cooks everything I think), I definitely recommend making sure to get there with at least an hour and a half to eat. I'm not sure if this is how it always is. Anyways, the food was delicious, as I remembered it! They always bring a few little dishes of food to eat before whatever you order and it changes by the day. This night it was their kimchi which was SO good & we contemplated buying some to go, pickled cabbage, pickled cucumbers & onion, and a breaded corn thing that was drizzled with something sweet. My mom and I always loved these so much when we used to come & they were just like I remembered! Next we had their "K Pepper Signature chicken wings" which were SO good. They had excellent flavor and were also nice meaty pieces of chicken. We would definitely get these again. Then for our entrees I got the "shrimp bokummyon" at a level 2 for spice and it was delicious and a very good sized meal. My husband got the "kimchi beef bulgogi" at a spice level 3 and he enjoyed it. Mine heated up well and was a full dinner for the next night and had a good kick of spice after sitting. Usually we always get one of the bibimbap meals but since we'd be taking most of the entrees to go, we didn't want anything with the fried egg (but the bibimbaps are amazing). I'm really glad we made it here for dinner. It's different than the last location in that you can order and pay on your phone & don't have a physical menu/traditional service. There's a menu up on the wall too but way easier to do on your phone. Prices seem to be higher than before but it's run by the owners who are a married couple and do everything so I'm sure this is why. The food is high quality and good portions so I will definitely be returning but making sure we get there much earlier so as not to have to rush. read more

K Peppers - Shrimp bokummyon - Asian Fusion Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Great restaurant! Our family has been there several times now and it's never disappointed. Service is great and the food comes out hot and delicious! We'll be back again soon. read more

This is the best Korean restaurant in the Madison area. Outstanding service. The food is exceptional every time.

Food was good. Little portions for the price. Nice little place. The waiter was friendly and helpful. May try again someday. Not anytime soon. read more

One of the best Korean foods in the country! I've tried Korean food all over but this neat little place blew us away. Their dolsot bibimbap is the best. You can hear it sizzling as you eat. Paired with their own gojuchang it adds that perfect umami. My favorite part is the appetizer plates that come with your meal. There are new offerings every time. The corn cakes were so yummy. So fortunate to have this gem in Madison! Pl do not change. read more

Best Korean food I've ever had. Some reviews sound like they have never been to K Peppers. Excellent service a food is very fresh. Love it

My party of two visited on a Friday night. Honestly? We ended up at K Peppers after a walk through other downtown Middleton restaurants revealed K Peppers was the only place without a one hour wait. It ended up being a lovely dinner. The menu is available on the wall or through a QR code and ordering could be done online or with a server. We had egg rolls, friend dumplings, beef bulgogi noodles, and pork bibimbap with the entrees ordered mild. The service was fast and friendly (although we had some glitches with the online ordering). The server patiently answered our questions about Korean food and provided advice while ordering. The food was fresh and flavorful, especially the entrees. I would eat at K Peppers again. read more

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I wish I would have believed the low rating on Yelp before I tried this place. I ordered the "can't decide which bulgogi bibimbap" that comes with both pork and beef bulgogi. The dish comes with some sides (pickles, kimchi, gochujang sauce). The bibimbap itself was so bland. I know I ordered it to go, but there was no attempt at crisping the rice before it got put into the to go container - it was just plain steamed rice. The pickles were good. The bibimbap was just totally unseasoned rice with bland unseasoned vegetables and a bland steamed egg that was not runny, crispy, or flavorful in any way. The soup with potatoes that came with the meal was also horribly bland and tasted like dishwater. The meat quality was not good at all. Tiny dry pieces of pork and beef that look like something you'd get in a hospital cafeteria. The meat did not seem to be fresh, good quality, or prepared in a way that would warrant the hefty price tag. Honestly this place is so expensive I was assuming it HAD to be at least decent - I was wrong. As a cherry on top of the cake, I found a thin, black hair in my food. Gross. I will never return to this restaurant again. The prices are basically robbery for the big bowl of rice with bad quality meat on top, the food does not even taste good (I was not excited to go in for another bite), and you might find some hair in your dish. I really wish I hadn't fallen into the trap of trying this place. If you're reading this, take it as a sign - skip this place. read more

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All round excellent, food and service. Ambience was nice and clean. A little pricier than expected. read more

Food is consistently exceptional and owners are very friendly, especially once you become a regular! Can't think of anything that I wouldn't recommend as I've never had a bad meal here, but personal favorites are the japchae and bibimbap dishes. read more

Terrible resturant!!! Where do I even begin? I've had some terrible customer service and boy does this place just take the cake and I didn't even get to eat there. Congratulations on being the worst restaurant in Madison! You should be so proud for driving out would-be customers. It started out with a phone call. Before my family and I were going to eat there, I called to ask how long they opened and the owner said that it depends. If they are busy then later or if they are slow then they would close earlier. He literally said that they were slow at the moment and that they were going to close up soon. Mind you, they just opened at 5 PM and I called at 6 PM. He then asked me if I was coming later, I said no, and that we were heading out there now. He then proceeded to ask how many people were coming. I said 6 adults and 3 kids. He was taken aback and said that was a lot of people and since we are coming as a group, he would not be able to seat us together. I said it's fine and that we're okay with that. He then said they can't move tables around because all the tables and chairs are in a certain layout and cannot be moved. I didn't ask for anything to be moved for us. We hung up but after the phone call, I had a feeling that we might not have a good experience there but I wanted to try it out since I've been meaning to eat there and my Sister in law and her fiance was excited to eat Korean food. Little did we know of what was to come. My Sister in laws and brother in law got there first and were standing at the counter. I thought they would be seated already. When I arrived, the owner said that he couldn't seat us because of reserved tables. He continued to say that if he seated us, we'd be sitting far from each other, like opposite ends. He also told us that a group as large as ours should eat somewhere bigger. Basically, he gave every excuse in the book about why we couldn't eat there. He had never said he couldn't accommodate us over the phone, because if he had, my family and I wouldn't have wasted our time going there. He also didn't mentioned anything about reserved tables and there's no reserve link on their site. The owner was rude, unwelcoming, and acted like we were a problem to his business. Who treats potential customers like that? It was such a waste of time going there. I have never ever encountered such a terrible business like this. Thankfully Pho Nam Noodle House was across the street and so we headed over there and had the best customer service. Their food was delicious and they were so welcoming. Their service made up for the terrible encounter we had at K-Peppers. If you want authentic Korean food AND good service, I would encourage you to head over to New Seoul Restaurant. DO NOT waste your time coming here. You can thank me later. read more

The place was super nice when we arrive early in the morning for breakfast. Even though we were the first costumers the owner made sure we were comfortable. The food were great, my friends and I liked almost everything about their dishes. The food presentations were on point with a bibimbap on stone bowls and a fancy set up for the dumplings. The slight downside is that the bibimbap tasted ok, not good nor bad. This is mainly because the veggies in the bowl were not seasoned so they tasted bland compared to the other half of the dish. If you want an authentic Korean food experience this place is a safe bet. read more

Only done take out so far, but it's been some of the best Korean food in Madison. Enjoy the several types of bibimbap, the kimchee and banchan (sides) are great, and service has been great too. read more

Fabulous food! Great new(er) location. And I got a pint of kimchi to take home with me.

Wonderful, as always! Topokki was SPICEY but we loved it. Calamari Japchae was excellent. Highly recommended for lunch or dinner.

Server guy with glasses was rude and condescending from the getgo. Just asked aimple questions about the menu but seemed like a jerk. Get off your high horse bro. Ordered bimbibap stone dish. Barely any meat, not authentic bulgogi flavor whatsoever. Just plain meat which was precooked and cold have to mix it in the bowl to make it hot. Mostly cabbage with little rice. It tastes like something that my grandkids can whip together. Only redeeming dish was the potato soup. I have had plenty of Korean food in Southern Cali and a few places here in WI and this place was the worst non authentic Korean food I've had. They are cutting corners to save money on ingredients. Over priced lackluster food and lousy unacceptable rudeness. Don't say I didn't warn anyone. read more

Every 5 star review indicates the food was good. It was amazing. What I was most impressed by was the warm service provided by Eric and Rachel, the couple who own the restaurant. Prompt and personalized, Eric was never far away and always ready to offer suggestions and answer questions, while also giving me and my friends time to talk among our selves. Additionally, he provided us information about the traditional Korean practices you would find while also giving us more western alternatives. In the meantime, Rachel quickly prepared our food exactly as it was described which looked even better than the pictures had shown. Multiple times she greeted us with a gentle wave or a quick conversation as she juggles the other orders. A gesture we appreciated greatly. Easily one of the best dinner experiences I've had, and will be at the top of my food recommendations. read more

K-Peppers has truly felt like a second home to me. The service is impeccable and the food is to die for. The attention to allergies makes eating at K-Peppers a more than comfortable dining experience. It's such a calm yet energetic environment, the banchan staples supplemented with variable additions make for a "reliable expedition" into trying consistently incredible dishes. Overall, K-Peppers is one of my favorite restaurants not just for the delicious food they serve, but for the home-cooked vibe they so deliberately put forward. read more

The food here is great and the atmosphere is cozy. I've tried the seafood bulgolgi bibimbap and the steamed pork dumplings. I would definitely recommend both. The bibimbap has a unique flavor and comes out sizzling in the stone bowls. I also found the portions to be fairly generous. I've been told by a friend who visited South Korea that the food here is pretty authentic, but I can't speak to that myself. Additionally, the service was prompt and polite. The tables, booths, and restrooms were clean. I will definitely be coming back to K-Peppers again. read more

K Peppers - Seafood Bulgogi Bibimbap - Asian Fusion Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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The food was good, and the waiter/owner sufficiently explained their system to us first-timers. I'll be back for another nice night out sometime! read more

We were wandering around Middleton, ran across K Peppers and decided to give it a try. It's located in a newish strip mall area with plenty of parking. The interior is plain but it was clean and had plenty of tables. It felt a little industrial. Our host/waiter led us to a table and gave us menus. He was perfunct at best. We ordered the Pork Bulgogi and the Beef Bulgogi Bibimbap. The banchan (sides) which were served were very good. A kimchi, a couple of types of pickles, a seaweed. These were all great. Our entrees when they arrived were also yummy. Tender meat, perfectly cooked rice. The portion sizes were not particularly large but they were all very tasty. The prices seemed a bit high for the amount of food and the atmosphere. Although I really liked the food, I think there are better options for Korean food in the Madison area. Ambiance, service and price were all lacking at K Peppers. read more

I didn't know I had signed up to be belittled for not knowing korean culture. Our sever was also the chef or someone heavily involved in the kitchen. It was only him and one other guy in the back. At one point, I pleasantly said "oh I didn't know you did keto options" and he said "um yeah, I make it" in an annoyed tone. I was genuinely shocked because I was happy and just wasn't aware it was an option there. Once he brought out our food, he asked me condescendingly if I "knew how to eat it" because apparently you're supposed to do it a certain way. I just wanted to eat some yummy food. I'll never go back. read more

Our temporarily incomplete party of six came in at 6 pm on Monday, and we were seated right away. The solo cashier/host/server/food runner handled all of his tables really well (ours plus or minus 2 others throughout our night), but I can see if it had been any more crowded, there could've been some issues getting drink or side refills in a timely manner. It was a cold night and a little chilly in the restaurant so I opted for the hot plum tea, and DANG, it was delicious. I got some to take home. It comes as a condensed "goo" and you dilute it into hot or cold water. I was skeptical because I'm not a huge sweet person, but that tea was a great addition to my-somehow-first real Korean food experience. I like trying different foods, so when my lab mate said he wanted to go here for his birthday dinner, I was excited to try a place I probably wouldn't ordinarily go to (+ sorry Middelton, but you're usually a little far out for my downtown self). I got the tofu bibimbap in the hot stone ($1 extra) *insert flashbacks to getting a pedicure and deciding what extras to opt in to* (this one is worth it). It came with a small cup of really good vegetarian-friendly soup and an assortment of fun side dishes (including macaroni salad, kimchi heavy on the fish sauce, and vinegar-y cucumbers). My birthday friend told us they were bottomless, so hey, "can we get more of... everything?" I added some of the side dishes to my meal, and I wasn't complaining. I opted for no spice but for the sauce on the side. I ended up adding all of it, and it wasn't too spicy. The spice levels intrigued us ("5= pain"). Another friend wanted a "3," and he was warned that his meal would be VERY SPICY... and it was according to his watery eyes, running nose, and request for more rice to dilute some of the taste. I got more rice too (honestly, mostly so that I could have enough food for a leftover meal). That was free too! The prices of the meals are not cheap, but the quality and taste are good. The bathrooms are clean. The service was friendly. And, if you want Korean food in Midwest Madison, Wisconsin, you should come here. read more

K Peppers - Asian Fusion Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

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If there's better Korean food in the Madison area, I challenge you to find it. Seriously. I'm throwing down the gauntlet. The owner here is super nice, and we had a great conversation with him while we were waiting for our entrees. For an appetizer, we got the seafood pancakes (and they omitted the squid so I didn't go anaphylactic lol). The couple that founded this restaurant are from Korea, and knew they wanted to open a place in the US. I'm SO glad they chose Wisconsin. We were both boring and ordered the Bibimbap (I got the beef and he got the pork). When they brought out the meals, I wanted to sing "Alleluia!" because they were JUST AS SPICY AS WE ASKED. This is normally a huge problem in Madison: Other places simply don't believe you when you say you want it spicy. Not so at K Pepper - they put it at exactly the levels we wanted (and they were not for the faint of heart). I can't wait to go back. The parking lot makes it easy to find a spot near dinnertime, but we can walk (lucky dogs!). Love this place. read more

Wasn't sure what to expect, but was truly impressed with their gluten-free chicken Bibimbap. The waiter was so accommodating, helpful and efficient. Went for lunch on a Wednesday, and was glad to see business was very lively. Also observed many "regular" customers which is always a good thing. Lunch prices were very reasonable, and portions generous and delicious. Will definitely return, just wish parking was more plentiful. read more

K Peppers - Bibimbap - Asian Fusion Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Been here a couple times, and I enjoy it for Korean food in Madison! The banchan (small side dishes that come with the food) taste legit. The bibimbap is good enough and soft tofu jigae (soondubu) is also pretty standard and tasty. It would satisfy a craving. Prices are a bit more than Id want to pay though for standard type of Korean dishes... But we are in Middleton. read more

K Peppers - Soft tofu jigae - Asian Fusion Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Excellent food, would order again and I recommend whenever I can. Owners are great and accommodating!

I'm conflicted between 3-4, but I'll give this place the higher rating. This is probably the highest quality korean food that I've gotten to try in the greater Madison area; however, you gotta pay the price. It pains me to go here sometimes, but nonetheless I go at least once every other month. You probably won't get out without spending $15 a person. Recommend: Kimchi side dishes are pretty on point. I enjoy all of the kimchi/beef soups and the korean pancakes are pretty good. Do not recommend: I can't justify spending $18 on a special bi bim bap and having to pay the extra $$ for a stone pot. Nothing particularly special on this one. read more

K Peppers is one of my all time favorites! The food is always fresh and delicious. The flavors are dynamite. The service and presentation are highlights as well. I never miss a chance to come here. read more

Unfortunately, this restaurant has gone downhill. It seems like they've cutting back on ingredients and flavor. This place used to be pretty good and worth the price, but now very disappointing. read more