KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot, a national chain with roughly 120 locations across 35 states, has signed a lease for nearly 10,000 square feet at The Marketplace at Factoria, marking its first restaurant in Washington state.

The Puget Sound Business Journal reported the deal on Monday, Aug. 3. No opening date has been announced.

The signing is the second major lease at the Factoria center in less than a week. Japanese-product retailer Teso Life Marketplace signed for 23,375 square feet in the former Rite Aid space on July 30, with plans to open within six to 12 months. Together, the two deals fill more than 33,000 square feet of retail space at the 370,000-square-foot shopping center owned by Kimco Realty.

What KPOT brings to Factoria

KPOT is an all-you-can-eat concept where diners cook marinated meats on tableside grills or simmer ingredients in individual hot pot cookers. Guests order via tablet and choose from a rotating menu of soup bases, proteins, vegetables, and desserts. The restaurants also feature a sauce-and-appetizer bar and a full bar.

Founded in 2018 in East Brunswick, New Jersey, KPOT has grown aggressively under parent company Vertex Hospitality, opening 40 to 50 new units annually for the past three years.

In 2023, it ranked as the second fastest-growing chain in the Technomic Top 500 for both sales and unit growth. All locations except one corporate training store in Scarsdale, New York, are franchised.

"You usually don't see full-service restaurants expand at this kind of pace," Victor Chow, vice president of Vertex Hospitality, said in a July 2025 FSR Magazine profile of the chain's growth.

The Factoria space, at nearly 10,000 square feet, is larger than KPOT's typical 8,000-square-foot footprint, according to the same profile.

Why Factoria

The Marketplace at Factoria, a 43-acre center at 4055 Factoria Blvd. SE, drew approximately 6.1 million visits in 2024, according to the City of Bellevue's January 2026 Factoria Existing Conditions Report. The center is anchored by T&T Supermarket, Amazon Fresh, and Target.

The neighborhood already features a mix of Korean, Thai, Indian, and Mediterranean restaurants alongside international grocers. Korean is among the top languages spoken in the area, and 25.9% of Factoria residents were born in Asia, according to the same city report. About 7,800 people work in Factoria, anchored by T-Mobile's corporate headquarters at the nearby Newport Corporate Center.

No broker, leasing agent, or local franchisee has been publicly identified for the deal. The next milestone to watch: a building permit application with the City of Bellevue, which would signal a construction timeline.