The Kimchi brings authentic Korean street food to the city of Prague through an interior that captures the energy of Seoul. Designed by SOA for a Korean husband-and-wife team, the restaurant combines Korean culinary tradition with contemporary pop culture. A dynamic wave inspired by the Korean flag flows through the signage, serving counter, and wall graphics, while a bold palette of blue, red, and orange creates a vibrant identity. The result is a compact space where architecture, branding, and authentic cuisine converge into an immersive dining experience.
The Kimchi restaurant is located next to Prague’s Masaryk Railway Station, occupying the premises of a former pastry shop while partially preserving its original spatial layout. The project was created by a Korean husband-and-wife team for whom The Kimchi is both a personal venture and a natural extension of their everyday life. Their ambition was to bring an authentic version of Korean street food to Prague—fast and accessible, yet fresh, genuine, and prepared with uncompromising attention to quality. Ingredients are prepared daily and the number of servings is intentionally limited, giving the restaurant the character of a personal culinary experience.
The operational concept is divided into two interconnected zones. Fresh ingredients and primary food preparation take place in the back-of-house kitchen, while the final assembly of each dish happens at the serving counter in full view of the guests. This approach ensures an efficient workflow while maintaining freshness, authenticity, and a direct connection between the kitchen and its visitors.
The visual and functional concept was developed through close collaboration between the architects, the graphic designer, and the clients.
The interior draws inspiration from Korean culinary traditions, contemporary pop culture, and the vibrant visual energy of Seoul. The central design motif is a dynamic wave, loosely inspired by the Korean flag, which flows throughout the restaurant—from the exterior signage and serving counter to the graphics applied on the walls.
The colour palette is built around the bold contrast of blue, red, and orange.
Blue unifies the tables, bench seating, wall finishes, and lighting details, while the red grout within the grid of white tiles and the textured orange mesh above the counter bring energy, depth, and a distinctive visual identity to the space. The Kimchi presents a fresh perspective on quality fast food.
Guests can watch the final preparation of their meals in the open kitchen, choose from a variety of seating options—from dynamic window seating to a communal concrete table—or simply take their meal to go.
The restaurant combines the speed of urban dining with freshness, a personal story, and a distinctive architectural experience.
Mini Bio
Architectural studio SOA architekti operates on Wenceslas Square in the heart of Prague. The studio was founded in 2015 by Štefan Šulek, Ondřej Píhrt, and Ondřej Laciga. The name SOA is an acronym meaning “Sons of Architecture”. Originally focusing on interior and residential projects, SOA now specializes in educational and school buildings. The studio’s work is based on three fundamental principles: beauty, respect, and responsibility. Therefore, the client is always considered a member of the team.
Facts & Credits
Project title The Kimchi
Typology Street food Restaurant, Interiors
Location Prague, Czech Republic
Area 135 m²
Status Completed, 2026
Architecture SOA architekti
Lead Architects Štefan Šulek, Matěj Střecha
Gastronomy production InGastro
Graphic design Tomáš Eisner
Carpentry work Alan Sekula
Lighting U1 Lighting
Hand-painted signage Daniel Plavecký
Photography Studio Flusser