This restaurant should put a label of "kids are not welcome" at the door. This is literally the most kids unfriendly restaurant I have ever been. My 2 year old and I had waited for a while before the owner could come take our order. My kid was a bit fussy from hunger so I took her out of the high chair. She was standing right next to the table, not even walking or running. The owner came over and told me the kid needed to be in the high chair at all times if we want to stay. I said she wouldn't be able to stay in the seat the whole time, but I would make sure to watch her if she wanted to get out for a bit. There were only two other small tables besides us, not busy at all. The owner kept saying there would be hot food served around and it would be dangerous if my kid was not in the high chair at all times. He literally said my kid was unruly and basically asked us to leave. He was very rude and condescending. I would not recommend anyone going there. read more

Big fan of K Peppers. I am always reminded why I go back...when I go back! The Bibimbap is still the best around (gotta do the hot stone bowl). The flavors are great and their Red Chili Paste is excellent it's incredibly flavorful. Their sides are always interesting and delicious. This goes especially for the kimchee which is alway crunchy with a perfect amount of flavor and spice. I was also pleasantly surprised to have the check split for us without asking as we had a group of six in there for what was obviously a work group lunch. Individual checks were brought the the table without having to ask for them to be divided. It was a very nice touch. It is hard to find a place these days that don't roll their eyes when separate checks are requested and we didn't even have to ask! It is a favorite lunch spot of mine and will continue to be so. read more

Hey food is not bad at all ! I had Kimchi Jigae and when I wanted spicy, they gave me spicy alright ! The reason why I am giving them 3 stars because the service was iffy. My friend did not like her dish, so our waitress first offers her a new look in the menu and then adds in, "Oh you need to pay for both" then after my friend showed disatisfaction, she tells her "Can we somehow change the way it tastes by taking it back in?" Also side dishes are not unlimited (I never been to a place that doesn't offer unlimited side dishes) Prices are a little high too. Oh and make sure to ask separate checks or else ! read more

Let's get right to it: the bulgogi bibimbap at K Peppers is my absolute favorite restaurant meal right now. Period. But there's so much more to recommend K Peppers. Delicious banchan (which have been different every time I've eaten there - gotta love variety). Wonderful spring rolls (always served piping hot). And a range of spiciness from mild to "pain." (Seriously - that's what it says on the menu.) Back to the bibimbap. You can get it in a hot rock bowl (worth the very slight extra charge) and they'll make the rice extra crispy for you. There are so many wonderful layers of flavor, too - it isn't just about heat. You can get it with any number of proteins, but get the bulgogi - just sayin'. The service (rendered almost entirely by the owner, himself) is prompt and polite. I can't wait to go back. This deliciousness is becoming a fixture in my life. read more

An excellent lunch restaurant if you have the time to go visit. There are two things that hurt my experience while dining at K Peppers, and none of it had to do with my main dish. Careful with your stars! I enjoy a bit of heat but found 3-stars to be my limit of enjoyment. 1) There is only one server/host, and while attentive, when busy the role is stretched. May not get refills on drinks when necessary if at a busy time. 2) The "fusion" part of the restaurant. It's the first restaurant I've ever been served kimchi and macaroni salad as side dishes on the same table. Not sure how I feel about that one. read more

My sweetie and I went on a Friday night, about an hour before closing. I was enticed to go here by the many positive reviews, and I'd say.... eh, it was okay. The service was great and the atmosphere sophisticated and cozy. I got the bibimbap with the hot stone (it's a bowl made of stone that is heated to keep the food hot as you eat it). Sadly, I'm pretty sure the bibimbap I've had elsewhere was more colorful and plenty more flavor than here. Both of us dining added soy sauce, hot sauce, and ladled in soup and mushrooms from our side dishes, to make the bibimbap taste like anything. (Also, next time, I'll forgo the hot stone because it kept my food too hot for too long!) We'll probably try again sometime, but because of the dish I ordered, the place didn't become insta-fave. read more

So rude. I walked in to order something for take out and felt like I was bothering the host. He said immediately that it would be way longer than 30 minutes because of all the people in the restaurant which he proceeded to point out to me and then left me standing there. The part that is really upsetting is he didn't even know what I wanted to order. It could have been a bowl of rice. Not going back there again read more

Waiter was hilarious (though might be taken as rude). Food was delicious but pretty expensive. I got the bulgogi bibimbap. Medium spicy. It wasn't spicy at all, just as a disclaimer. Go higher if you want. I also got it in the stone bowl, which is extra $$, but in my opinion isn't that effective and was not worth it. The meal was $16 in total. I kept leftovers that lasted me a couple more meals, but for the average person, the dish is pretty finish-able in one sitting. I don't think that it was worth $16. Price aside, the food was pretty good. Definitely better than most things closer to downtown, so I encourage venturing out. read more

I did a two month internship in Korea, so every time I go somewhere, I look for a Korean restaurant. This is by far the most authentic Korean food you will find. It tastes exactly like the food I ate while I was there. The owner is great, and the food is well priced. read more

I don't have a lot of experience with Korean food and I have only been to one other Korean restaurant in Madison but I have gone back to K Pepper multiple times for their chicken bibimbap. Delicious. The other dishes I've tried there were good but the bibimbap is a good choice for an American girl who doesn't know what to order. read more

The food is still great! My new favorite - the spicy beef bulgogi - is a great improvement of my previous favorite, the beef bulgogi.

This place just made me feel at home right when I walked in. Amazing food, super delicious and big portions. Menu had the history of the food being served and I loved it! Definitely try the Topokki! read more

Food here is amazing. Bulgogi Bibimbap has amazing flavor and a generous portion. It is still a smaller operation so the kitchen can be a little slow sometimes, but worth the wait. Be careful on the menu's 1-5 spicy scale. The 3 was very hot, still good though. Think I will stick to the level 2. read more

K Peppers - Asian Fusion Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

So, we went here Thursday night for dinner. The spicy chicken wing appetizer was good. But, quite frankly, I make better Bibimbap at home. Pretty flavorless. Out of 3 people, 2 of us had very upset tummies. We will not return. read more

This place has excellent customer service. The waitstaff work their asses off and try their very best to get everything right. The food here is... good. It's A-OK. They Korean fusion (which by all intents and purposes so am I har har har) so make some changes to the food. The problem I have with this place is that the menu is a bit limited. Spicy Pork Bulgogi and Ttuekboki are the stand outs in my opinion. Soon Dubu isn't worth ordering. Also their spicy scale is SPICY. Do NOT be fooled. I had the kimchi jigae in a 3 and could barely finish it. Don't try to prove your manliness by ordering a 5 because like another review said... I don't even want to imagine. No soju but they have sake... bit weird but hey whatever floats your boat. 10 to 15 bucks an entree. read more

K Pepppppppsssss! Seriously love this place. Amazing bibimbap ! That's the only thing I've gotten here but it keeps me coming back. Also the fried veggie rolls are great. Owner is a nice guy, good service ! Happy to have this place on this side of town . read more

We stopped here for a late lunch around 1 pm. Both of us ordered the Bibimbap in the hot stone bowl. Mine was a 4 star heat. I must say it was very tasty. My bowl was sizzling when it came out so no problems there. I think it could have used a few more vegetables but overall I enjoyed it. I must say that a lot of the reviews seem to point to the attitude of the owner, and we had no contact with him so maybe that helped. He sounds a bit like the soup nazi from Seinfeld....our waiter was very polite and attentive. ' Would I go back? I think so! read more

The food is okay, but the service is really bad. The owner is very cheap and will nickel and dime you for everything. Want another rice? Sure 2 dollars. Want more free side dishes? Sure, 5 dollars. Need a stone bowl? Sure, 1 more dollar. Want to make your food spicy? Sure, add a dollar to your total bill. The owner will give you attitudes if you don't tip a lot because of his bad attitudes. The portions are getting smaller and smaller. Mr. Kimchi, Sol's on the square or New Seoul all have better korean food with much better services. read more

I will not go to this restaurant any more. First, the service is not good. We were set to sit closed to the door, and it was too cold. Then we asked whether we could chang to another inside table. We were told those tables were reserved for 3 people. After a few minutes, another two couples came in and they were set to those inside tables. And a small side dish needed $2. I went to other Korean restaurant, these small side dishes are free to refill. read more

We found this gem when walking around. The food was excellent and the service was great. The bimibop bowl was like I remembered from South Korea, and the fried veggie balls was an amazing starter. Will definitely be back! read more

Just came back from eating here. This is probably our favorite restaurant in the Mafdison area. It's certainly mine! The food is always outstanding! Fresh and perfectly flavored. Most of the family usually orders Beef Bulgogi, in spice levels between 0 and 5. Nate orders Beef Bulgogi Bibimbap, and it's his new go-to. Tonight, I had the Seafood Stew (I'm not going to try to remember how to spell it) for the second time at spice level 4...Fantastic! I come from Northern CA, and was always spoiled by Cioppino, which when done well, is wonderful. This stew at K-Peppers was an order of magnitude better than any cioppino I've ever had, which isn't a slam on Cioppino, it's just that this stew is THAT good! Came home with some leftover stew and some take-away kimche (best I've ever tasted) for lunch tomorrow. I'm a happy man! If you like asian food (Korean or otherwise), you need to try this place! read more

The food here is delicious and authentic. The service is great and the environment is quaint and lovely. Everything I've tried here has been wonderful. read more

Absolutely delicious food! Right after you order they bring out an assortment of side dishes. The kimchi and seaweed were delicious! We ordered the beef bolgogi bibimbap which was very tasty, especially reheated, and the bbq short ribs. Highly recommend. read more

See all

Maybe it should be "con-fusion" cooking. Or at least menu. Lots of instructions in this cozy restaurant . Not a good sign when the front of the menu, under the name, gives owners' definition and social ideology of the tipping process. Sign at entrance explains that due to "energy" and "traffic" issues, they will no longer be open for lunch on Mondays. Carbon footprint problems? Much of menu contains lots of special directives, many uses of the word "NOT" and "NO" and complex instructions regarding the ordering of sides, which were never defined. Food was passable; soup tepid; not used to paying two dollars for a cup of tea with lunch special at most West Coast Korean restaurants, anyway. Waitress was a model wannabe who thought job beneath her--interrupted us frequently without excusing herself for speaking over us to ask if everything was okay--when any fool could see we were out of water and tea. Why do so many waitpeople equate good service with just showing up at table and interrupting and not anticipating what is needed? The locale has easy off street parking; very tidy inside; decor is Hello Kitty meets Pottery Barn. read more

I'd been meaning to try some Korean food for a while now and discovered this place. From my non-expert research it seemed like bulgogi or bibimbap were the way to go. I had pork bulgogi, one friend had the beef bulgogi, and the other had samgyubsai which is particularly porky pork side. Pretty dang tasty. I ordered my bulgogi a 3 on a scale of 1-5 in hotness and it was about as spicy as you'd want anything to be--plenty fiery but the spice didn't overpower the other flavors. I'd advise lower numbers if you're not looking for something legitimately spicy. They also give you a bunch of side dishes: kimchi, cole slaw, a kind of tempura broccoli, a fish cake thing, and a fritter with sweet sauce. I'm no kimchi expert but it was pretty good. So, add me to the list of fans of this place. Definitely worth going to! read more

We did take-out from here and we were so glad we did. The tofu bibimbap was so delicious, I couldn't stop eating it even though I was full and my stomach started to hurt.. I still needed to eat ALL THE BIBIMBAP. Give me BIBIMBAP!! read more

They do little to Americanize or help explain the menu of traditional Korean dishes. An inexplicable 1-5 spiciness choice. We last tried the 3 level, and being non-Asian but a lover of Korean food and tolerant of kimchi, found it completely inedible. If you want to introduce Korean food as an American staple, you have to do it like the Chinese did it 50 years ago, or survive on Korean Americans supporting you. read more

our workplace cafe is being remodeled this week, so we are forced to venture out to get sustenance. i happened upon a local review of this new restaurant, and my lunchmate's been to korea, so we decided to give it a try. it was absolutely remarkable. the interior of the restaurant is very clean and welcoming, the two men working were very attentive; one asked if i didn't like the sauce for the bibimbap because i hadn't mixed it in yet. i assured him that i would like it, i just hadn't gotten that far yet. the kimchi was good, it tasted better after i had gotten to other flavors. there was also a cucumber kimchi, potato soaked with syrup, and a macaroni salad. this also comes with a bowl of miso soup. i could not finish all of the food and happily boxed up the rest for leftovers. read more

I've tried their bibimbob, seafood noodle and soft tofu soup. Food is okay and I like those side dishes, but the price is soooo expensive!

Kpeppers is...ok! After running to Madison for the weekend I decided to check out Kpeppers. It's a small place situated in a strip mall. Parking isn't too bad, and you should get a spot even when it's busy. My first impression was the place was small, clean and had a good atmosphere. We were seated right away by the owner. I was sad to not see any soju on the menu, but there was an explanation about liquor licenses and what not. Reading the menu further...Awwww snap no kimchijeon either :( what the feck?? So I subbed soju for water and kimchijeon for pajun (which was made with egg, not what I'm used to but good overall). A plus was that there was gimbap on the menu! I was with a group of six that night and the waitress was friendly and fast. The sides were ok, kimchi was very good but the rest of the sides left a lot to be desired (no anchovy, squid or potatoes). I ordered the beef bulgogi bibimbap in the hot bowl because there was no jajangmyeon, seriously I almost cried! Everything came to us quick, hot and as ordered. The bibimbap was good, nice flavors and the sauce gave it a nice little kick. The portions were just right even though it was a little costly. My impression of Kpeppers was ok, I've had better but this is Wisconsin and I'm glad to see Korean restaurants at all!!! I would come back to try the topokki and Tuk Mandooguk next. I wish I could give more stars but the lack of soju, kimchijeon, or jajangmyeon crushes me. Those are my staples and without them I usually opt for a burger. read more

Had the "Haemulpajun" appetizer and "Pork Bulbogi" Both were very good! Waitress was extremely pleasant and able to explain menu items as I wasn't that familiar with the food. I'll definitely make this a stop when I'm back in town! read more

To be fair, I'd give 2.5 stars if I could. I wouldn't refuse to come back, if for example some friends really wanted to go, but I would prefer to eat elsewhere. The service is bad. When we came here we were asked to sit down at the front for two minutes and ended up sitting there for 15 minutes, even though several tables were open, and when we finally ordered it the food took about 30 minutes to come out. A meal that should've taken about one hour max took almost two hours for us. In addition, there are fees everywhere. Plate sharing, sauce with your bimbimbap, hot stone bowl, extra sides, etc. You will be asked if you want these but won't know you were charged until you see your bill. While most of these are not unreasonable, most other Korean restaurants will not charge you for some of these, and this was the first time I've ever seen an extra charge for bimbimbap sauce, ridiculous. Which brings me to pricing. This place is pricey but also has some great quality food. Some items on the menu, however, are pretty lackluster for the price, such as the rice cakes (Toppoki). read more

I came here with a coworker... I was hesitant because I am vegetarian and I know Koreans are know for there meaty bbq BUT guess what I could eat there .. We started off with this savory crepe sort of dish that was delish, then i had the veggie bibimap or however you spell it .. to bad I couldnt have the kimchi - its not veggie here :( but anything with a broccoli next to it on the menu I was able to eat... Also it is decorated very well, I forgot I was in Wisconsin (hey don't judge). I felt like I was in Santa Monica or Korea Town ... read more

Dont' go this place! waste of time, especially with your kids. Manager, owner is very rude and disrepectful. He's never kind. needs alwasy money for extra dish or rice bowl without any explanation. Poor quality depending on how much you pay compared to other Korean food places. read more

Great food. It's a bit more expensive than standard asian food, but its also quite a bit better quality (good cuts of meat/etc.). You also get a nice array of "free" starters (kim-chi, fish cake, etc.) with your meal, as is common at Korean restaurants as well. This really isn't mentioned on the menu, so will take some by surprise. I went with spice level 4, which was just right. Overall I really enjoyed the place and would recommend it. read more

Pros: 1. Friendly owner 2. Korean restaurant in an area without many Korean restaurants, so fills a need. Cons: 1. Owner "nickel and dimes" you, charging for everything. $1 here, $2 there. Prices overall on the high side. 2. Food tastes a little "artificial". read more

I'm sad to read the poor reviews for this restaurant. My husband and I ventured out last week and were both pleasantly surprised. The "fusion" label had turned us off a little, since we like our Korean as authentic as possible, but I'm glad we gave this place a chance. The owner, I think, was our server, and he was great. Personable, helpful, kind, attentive...everything you'd want a server to be. There were a handful of other tables in the dining room and he was the only one working the front of the house, but we never felt neglected or like we were waiting an exorbitant amount of time for anything we needed. My husband ordered the seafood bulgogi, and it was maybe the best thing either of us have ever put in our mouths. I had the dolsot bulgogi bibimbap and it was delicious. Also, randomly, the lemonade was awesome. I was extra pleased to see that, even though they call themselves "fusion," they still brought out soup and banchan, all of which were delicious (though the kimchi was a little sour for my taste, but the cucumber kimchi was to die for). In summary, this place is a little gem in Middleton. We'll be going back again...and again...and again. Don't take the bad reviews seriously, or you'll miss out on some great Madison dining (and there isn't that much, so take what you can get). read more

Ever since I ate here, I've been craving it! dishes range between $15-$23 but def worth every penny!

Wow. WOW. I did a google search of vegetarian food in my area and came up with K Peppers, which was right near my place of work. I had seen it a lot but never tried it. A lot of the food is vegetarian, so I decided to try it. I had the lunch special, L1, which is vegetable bibimbap. It was AWESOME. That meal only cost me $10, and not only was it so much food that I could only eat half (so now I have lunch for tomorrow, too!), but it also came with a free side of tofu soup, which was amazing as well, plus a side of sweet kim chi which, as you can guess, was delicious, too! I highly recommend K Peppers, and most definitely will be back very, very soon! read more

I'm working my way through Korean restaurants in the area, and this was by far the best! I got the pork bolgogi bibimbap. It has all sorts of interesting flavors and textures - I was impressed (and I don't generally get bibimbap because it can be boring.) I might not get the stone bowl next time since the food was so hot (heat-wise) that it took a long time to cool down so I could eat it. But the spice was just right (I got 3) and the banchan were great. The restaurant was busy but service was still good. The only thing I would change is that it doesn't make sense to me to charge extra for spicy... I do second the nickle and dime thing somebody else mentioned. But the food was so great I'll be back for dinner. read more