In the July heat, it may have seemed strange to see a line out of the door of Korea House Restaurant on a Wednesday afternoon.
The Austin Asian eatery was preparing to do “God’s work” feeding their community for free.
On the first Wednesday of every month, the first authentic Korean BBQ restaurant in Austin opens its doors to feed whoever walks in. The kitchen staff volunteer their time, as do the front of house who take orders from strangers crammed together at communal tables.
The charity feeding has recently surpassed its 15,000th meal, and the owners, who recently had to start dipping into their savings to continue the tradition, say they have no plans to stop.
“We’re not rich, but when we share with others, always God provide us better things somehow,” said Vivian Newton, who opened the restaurant in 1988 with her friend Pok-Cha Kim. “If we have to close down, we’ll close down. But until then, we’re just going to keep on going.”
Tips and donations are accepted by not expected, and often pooled for donation to the homeless, who often are among those who come in and eat for free.
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“That first taste brought [me] back to Korea,” Moses Yoo, an unhoused Korean American told KUT News after his meal. “The smells of the streets, of all the different foods and just hearing Korean at a Korean restaurant here in Austin… It was nice to have someone speak back Korean.”
It’s not just the needy who take advantage of the free meals, but students at local universities who can always use a bit of financial relief. In the case of two who also spoke with KUT, it was probably the first restaurant they ever remember going to as kids, and now as adults the attachment is even stronger.
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The charity is driven strongly by Newton and Kim’s Christian faith, and from the decor to the music, the word of God is central in their lives. They hope those who eat are not only filled up physically, but also spiritually.
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