New Sushi Buffet Replacing KPOT in Tuscaloosa Aims to Open This Week

A new eatery offering all-you-can-eat Japanese cuisine may be just days away from opening off Tuscaloosa's Skyland Boulevard, management said on Monday.

As the Thread previously reported, the KPOT hotpot and Korean BBQ restaurant that opened in the old Ryan's Buffet on Courtney Drive near the CMX Hollywood 16 permanently closed last month.

The building has belonged to Tuscaloosa real estate magnate Stan Pate for decades, and is still being leased by the restaurateurs behind KPOT.

Faye Lu, the former manager at the Korean BBQ, told the Thread last week that work is well underway to replace KPOT with a new concept they're calling Nami Supreme Buffet.

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"We are planning to open the restaurant before July 4th if everything can be settled by this week," Lu told the Thread. "We can't wait to have everyone try Nami Supreme Buffet."

The new restaurant will feature Japanese cuisine, including sushi and hibachi-grilled dishes, served à la carte or picked up from the all-you-can-eat buffet.

"Our professional team of chefs has been dedicated to food and culinary art for more than 30 years," Lu said.  "They add different elements to make Nami creative while keeping classic, traditional dishes."

Lu said the staff is nearing the end of converting KPOT into the new Nami concept, and if everything goes as planned, they'll open for business sometime before Independence Day.

For news and pictures after the buffet opens and for more ongoing coverage of exclusive restaurant and retail development news in West Alabama, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.