About Us

Welcome to Korean Bob! We’re Jackie Lee and Joseph Hong, and we’re excited to share authentic Korean cuisine with the Invercargill community.

For us, Korean Bob is more than just a restaurant — it’s a dream built on family traditions, cultural exchange, and a love of bringing people together through food. Jackie grew up in South Korea learning to cook from her mother, who ran a family restaurant. Many of the dishes on our menu — like bulgogi, bibimbap, kimchi, kimbap, spicy pork, and Korean pancakes — come directly from those home recipes passed down through generations.

Before opening Korean Bob, we spent years inviting friends, students, and families into our home to enjoy these same dishes. At times, we’ve served as many as 75 guests during Korean Thanksgiving! We also spent three years volunteering at Pasta Café in Queenstown, helping serve hundreds of community meals every winter. These experiences reinforced our belief that food is about more than eating — it’s about connection.

Joseph brings years of experience in international marketing at SIT Polytechnic, while Jackie has worked as a professional chef, most recently at The Langland Hotel in Invercargill. Together, we combine our skills to make Korean Bob not only a place to enjoy great food but also a “cultural library” — a space where anyone can experience the warmth, flavors, and traditions of Korea.