CHIReview
photo credit: Christina Slaton
Kimski
Included In
Kimski, connected to Maria’s Packaged Goods and Community Bar in Bridgeport, is a place you could easily come just to drink—but you should be here for their Korean bar food that has a sprinkling of Polish influences. Kimski is affordable, easy, and the menu is full of things like spicy rice cakes, juicy bulgogi cheese sandwiches, and Polish sausage with krautchi—a housemade kimchi-sauerkraut sent to earth directly from the fermentation gods.
When you walk into Kimski, it looks like a carry-out spot only. But Kimski has plenty of tables, a big bar inside, and a backyard patio you wish you had at home. It’s a weird setup where you need to cut through Maria’s to get into the Kimski seating area, but the staff will help you find your way. Kimski itself is modern and industrial-looking to counter the dive-bar feels of Maria’s, so even though the two are connected, Kimski and Maria’s have distinct vibes.
Eat and drink at Kimski, then transition back over to Maria’s and drink some more.
Food Rundown
Maria’s Standard
A house sausage with soju mustard, krautchi, and scallions on a roll. Solid sausage.
Kimski Poutine
You want these. Fries with kimchi beer gravy, curds, kimchi, scallions, and sesame seeds. Get the meat on top.
Meat Potskis
Potsticker + pierogi = potski. This meat version has ground beef and potatoes with cheese, soy cream, and some pickled onion on top. Good stuff.
Kopo Wangs
Sweet and spicy wings with sesame seeds and scallions. They have a real smoky flavor to them. On the smaller side and make for a good starter.
Scallion Potato Pancakes
Who knew you could take scallion potato pancakes and add pork shoulder and kimchi with a smoked soy sauce. Delicious.
Kimchi Fried Rice
Kimchi fried rice with some kraut, scallions, and a fried egg draped over the top. Makes for a good side.
Specials
Keep an eye out for any of the specials. They’re usually a Korean version of something like a cheesesteak or an Italian beef. Always good.