The opening of Goki Goki presents authentic Korean food to the community
May 7, 2018
When looking for a place to eat in Fenton, there are over 50 options but out of all these restaurants, around 10 are ethnic. Opened on April 18, the people of Fenton now have another option to choose from and can venture into Goki Goki and try another type of authentic food: Korean BBQ.
“I came to Fenton because Fenton is a foodie town, everybody loves food here,” owner Joe Kim said. “The people of Fenton are very well traveled; we were surprised at how many people have been to Korea and were excited to have Korean food here. We’ve been open for a couple of weeks and so far have been welcomed within the community. Every day is better than the next.”
The first thing to see when walking into Goki Goki is a market side that Korean treats and snacks along with an Illy, Italian, coffee shop and bakery. A speciality meat market is also included on this side where customers have a variety of fresh meat and seafood to choose from. On the other side of the building, tables covered in white cloths are set up waiting for the opening of a sit-down restaurant.
“The restaurant side it is going to be korean barbeque; we are hoping to open it to the public the within the next couple of weeks,” manager Stacey Walsh said. “We are getting more and more customers every day and I think once the restaurant opens it will attract even more. The market side offers a little bit of everything, from the chicken market to Zimmerman’s pastry products.”
On the back wall of the market side, a hibachi grill is placed where customers can order dishes to go. There, customers can watch their food be prepared or even try to cook it themselves.
“We also offer our hibachi speciality dishes, there are 10 to 11 items on the menu right now,” Walsh said. “You have your more traditional chicken stir fry but then you have your spicy pork and gogigui, which has sweet potato noodles. I’ve been eating a lot of them recently and the other day I wondered why I haven’t been gaining weight, but they’re healthy and delicious.”
With the opening of the restaurant, Goki Goki is now hiring for cashiers, hostesses and servers. Workers must be 16 years of age. Sophomore Karenna Mansour recently applied and is now working there.
“I am a cashier at Goki Goki, I check people out on the market side,” Mansour said. “I joined the staff because I thought it was an interesting and different idea to bring to our town because we don’t have a Korean barbeque in Fenton. What drew me to work there was that I think it will broaden people’s horizons when it comes to eating and trying new things.”
Goki Goki is open seven days of the week. If interested in applying for a job or have any further questions, contact 313-467-2250.
