Wauwatosa committee approves liquor license for K Pop Korean BBQ & Hotpot

The Wauwatosa Government Affairs Committee on Jan. 21 approved a new Class B liquor license application from KHP Wauwatosa LLC, doing business as K Pop Korean BBQ & Hotpot, for 2635 North Mafer Road.

The license application was presented to the committee by city staff and the applicant's agent. City staff said background checks were completed with no issues and that the applicant is eligible for the license. The committee voted unanimously to approve the application.

The item matters because the location is the former Buffalo Wild Wings site and the new restaurant will serve alcohol on premises. City staff told the committee the conditional use permit for the restaurant location was granted in March 2023, and the applicant completed departmental reviews required for the license.

City staff described the business as "a Korean barbecue and hot pot" and said the applicant operates a similar restaurant in Greenfield. Brian Pham, the agent for KHP Wauwatosa LLC, told the committee, "We are looking, late March. That is the plan" for a tentative opening date. Pham also gave hours of operation as "noon to 9:30, and then weekend is gonna be noon to 10:30."

Committee members had no outstanding objections after staff's summary. Alder Lowe moved the item and a colleague seconded; the chair recorded the motion as passing unanimously.

The approval allows KHP Wauwatosa LLC to complete licensing requirements and proceed toward opening, subject to the standard city and state processes that follow issuance of a local license. The license period on the application was listed as ending June 30, 2025.

No further conditions or amendments were recorded in the committee discussion.

Note: Statements about opening date and hours were provided by the applicant and described in committee discussion; they were presented as tentative.