K-Pop Kimbap began serving customers July 9 outside the Old Port Square Garage at 427 Fore St.
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A Maine-based Korean food truck is bringing kimbap and other traditional Korean dishes to Portland's Old Port.
K-Pop Kimbap began serving customers July 9 outside the Old Port Square Garage, at 427 Fore St.
The business is owned by husband-and-wife team Josh and Yunhee Keough. Born in South Korea and adopted by a family in the United States, Yunhee grew up on Peaks Island with limited access to Korean food and culture. She later taught herself to cook Korean dishes using cookbooks and online videos before turning her passion into a business.
"The Old Port is Maine's biggest stage, and for a kid from Peaks Island who once felt invisible in her own state, that means everything," said Yunhee.
"Korean food is something I had to go find for myself growing up, and now I get to share it with my own community. When you step up to our window, you belong there. When you try kimbap for the first time and your face lights up, you belong there. This truck is about belonging, and now it finally has a place to belong in Old Port Square.”
The menu centers on kimbap, a Korean dish made with seasoned rice, vegetables and protein wrapped in seaweed. K-Pop Kimbap also includes kimchi, scallion pancakes and rotating seasonal specials, including lobster kimbap and fried rice.
The addition marks the latest food offering in the Old Port Square district, including Gelato Fiasco, PopUp Bagel, Barkada and Ladyfish.
K-Pop Kimbap will serve customers from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. every Thursday through Oct. 29, with additional appearances on select weekends. The schedule will be posted on the food truck's social media channels.
"Yunhee’s story and her food add something really special to the mix here, and it’s exactly the kind of local talent we want people to discover in Old Port Square," said Jacob Soley, director of development at East Brown Cow. "We're excited for the district to get a taste of it every Thursday."
