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| - Being a Korean-American who lives in Seoul and runs his own Korean blog, I can assure you that K-Peppers does a pretty good job delivering almost-authentic Korean food to Madison/Middleton. I say "almost-authentic" only because most of the dishes are slightly sweeter and milder than its original Korean counterparts, and they have quite a few ingredient substitutions that make it more appealing to American palates. Because of this, I think the label "fusion" is justified, especially in case a hard-core native Korean (like me) came in and started making a ruckus because their soup/stew wasn't spicy enough. Or you never want to insult the huge population of Koreans in Madison as well.
This was my second visit (both for lunch) and I had the pleasure of bringing along my sister, a long-time Madison resident, who was hesitant about Korean food especially after disappointing visits to New Seoul, the other Korean restaurant in town. I told her that my first visit was pretty good and this second one would be for validation. Luckily for both so us, we were both very pleased with our dishes--spicy bulgogi, soft tofu soup, and a side of jin mandu (steamed dumplings). We got them at the spiciest level 5 and they surprisingly cleared both our sinuses in no time, something that we are accustomed to when eating traditional Korean food. The only quirk I had was the egg roll on my plate, seeming totally out of place on a bulgogi dish, but then again that's where "fusion" comes in.
As for service, the American waiter was very nice, prompt, and knowledgeable about the food--no issues there. The ambiance and atmosphere was better than your normal Korean restaurant, which oftentimes skimp out on quality decor to save money. Actually, it wouldn't surprise me if they hired an interior designer or consultant to give the place a more rustic, Asian charm. We both thought the Korean figurines and ornaments were a nice touch to the place. As for the budget, the price is on the higher end, but it's understandable because of logistics and location. The two Korean markets here get their inventory from Chicago, which in turn makes prices slightly higher than your average restaurant.
Overall, I was very pleased with our visit and even more pleased that my sister now has a place to indulge in decent Korean cuisine. And although my stay is limited to a few more weeks, I won't hesitate to return just to try out some of the more "exotic" Korean dishes served here. Well done K-Peppers.
Food: 4
Service: 5
Value: 3
Atmosphere: 4
(Out of 5 stars)
PS. Additional photos have been posted compliments of mykoreaneats.com.
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