Amongst the wave of trendy restaurants hitting Baton Rouge in the past few years, an incipient market has emerged: hotpot and Korean BBQ.
That specific corner of the local culinary scene was previously the sole territory of Volcano Korean BBQ and Hot Pot, which closed in 2024 and replaced with Ombu Buffet.
The first new arrival was KPOT, which opened on Aug. 28, and Legend Pot followed just a few months later.
That begs the question: which restaurant does it best?
The first big difference between the two is the overall atmosphere and decor. Both restaurants aim for a sleek, modern design.
KPOT feels a bit like a space station the first time you walk in, with neon and mood lights littering the restaurant.
Legend Pot, on the other hand, takes a much lighter approach. While still very fresh and modern, the lighting is a bit warmer, and the color scheme incorporates more gold, giving the restaurant a warmer feel.
While your personal preference with the ambiance may vary, one area where Legend Pot definitely has a leg up is its overall arrangement.
The sauce bar at Legend Pot is in the center of the room, whereas the KPOT sauce bar is at the back. Legend Pot’s sauce bar’s central location makes it more readily accessible for a greater number of tables than KPOT’s.
The sauce bars themselves are fairly comparable, though Legend Pot’s has red chilis whereas KPOT’s has jalapenos. I find the red chilis generally pair better with the variety of sauces, so at least having them as an option at KPOT would be a welcome addition. Both could also implement signs containing basic sauce recipes, which I’ve seen in other Korean BBQ and hot pot places but is strangely absent at either Baton Rouge location.
The food on the bars are essentially the same, though KPOT’s fried chicken was surprisingly good for a buffet dish that usually just tastes like the restaurant felt they were obliged to do it. However, Legend Pot has a smorgasbord of the little cakes that many Chinese buffets order in bulk, and I am a sucker for those.
Service at both restaurants has been consistently excellent every time I’ve been. The first time I went to KPOT, being new to the entire concept, my waiter happily answered all of my questions and even prepared his own custom sauce from the bar, which was excellent. Furthermore, KPOT has an iPad at each table which allows you to place new orders at any time without flagging down a waiter, which is handy and easy for the customer.
When I went to Legend Pot for the first time, I was concerned about the lack of an on-demand ordering system. I had previously eaten at a similar restaurant out of state where the waiter only came two or three times to our table and I walked out feeling scammed.
That’s not an issue at Legend Pot, however. The wait staff has always been incredibly attentive, and I never had to wait more than five to ten minutes for a waiter to come check on us.
Last, but not least, the food itself. Both are excellent, but they excel in different ways.
Legend Pot slightly edges out KPOT in the hot pot game. Their Szechuan spice had a fuller, more complex flavor, and also fewer peppercorns, which, while delicious and necessary for any authentic Szechuan cuisine, do get a bit annoying to deal with in bulk after your soup has steamed off. I also like the additional kick in Legend Pot’s Thai Tom Yum, which isn’t that spicy at KPOT.
However, KPOT outperforms Legend Pot with their Korean BBQ. The steak options are more diverse, and the hangar steak is simply exquisite. The bulgogi sauces are generally also a bit saltier and less sweet than at Legend Pot as well, which I prefer. However, most of the art of Korean BBQ comes down to your skill, and both restaurants provide quality ingredients to work with.
Also, just a tip, bring spices with you. While they do provide salt and pepper, most seasoning on the meat is expected to come from the sauce you make, which you may not want on every single bite.
One option that Legend Pot has that KPOT can’t compare to is their sushi. This has been somewhat inconsistent in the two times I’ve been. One was closer to the restaurant’s opening, and the sushi that night was quite bad, with poor portioning and a slight stale flavor. However, the last time I went, it had improved significantly, tasting much fresher, and I really enjoyed my Philadelphia and Spider rolls.
The prices at both restaurants are pretty comparable, although when considering the sheer amount of additional options provided by the sushi at Legend Pot, it still is the better overall value despite being two dollars more expensive.
In all, both restaurants are fantastic, but they do each have unique strengths. Ultimately, it’s up to you to determine which one suits your tastes best. However, wherever you decide to go, you won’t be making a bad choice.
Gordon Crawford is a 20-year-old political science major from Gonzales, La.
