blue, red, and orange interiors bring seoul’s visual energy to the kimchi restaurant in prague
SOA Architekti’s interior draws from Seoul’s Street Food Culture
Located next to Prague’s Masaryk Railway Station, The Kimchi occupies the premises of a former pastry shop, retaining part of its original spatial layout while introducing a new interior concept rooted in Korean street food culture. Designed by SOA architekti for a Korean husband-and-wife team, the restaurant brings together fresh, daily prepared cuisine with an architectural language inspired by Seoul’s visual energy, Korean culinary traditions, and contemporary pop culture.
The restaurant’s concept is based on serving Korean street food that is fast and accessible while maintaining an emphasis on freshness and quality. Ingredients are prepared daily, and the number of servings is intentionally limited. The operational layout is divided into two interconnected zones: fresh ingredients and primary food preparation are handled in the back-of-house kitchen, while the final assembly of each dish takes place at the serving counter in full view of guests. This arrangement supports an efficient workflow while maintaining a visible connection between food preparation and dining.
all images ©Studio Flusser
A Wave Motif and Bold Color Palette Define The Kimchi’s Interior
The visual identity was developed through collaboration between the architects, graphic designer, and clients. A dynamic wave, loosely inspired by the Korean flag, serves as the central design motif and extends across the restaurant, connecting the exterior signage, serving counter, and wall graphics. The motif creates continuity between the architectural elements and the restaurant’s graphic identity.
The color palette combines blue, red, and orange. Blue is applied across the tables, bench seating, wall finishes, and lighting details, creating a consistent visual layer throughout the interior. Red grout is introduced within the grid of white tiles, while textured orange mesh above the counter adds another material and chromatic element to the space. Together, these details establish a visual identity that links the interior to the restaurant’s Korean cultural references.
The Kimchi occupies a former pastry shop next to Prague’s Masaryk Railway Station
Open Kitchens and Flexible Seating Shape The Dining Experience
The seating arrangement accommodates different forms of dining, including window seating, communal tables, and takeaway service. Guests can observe the final preparation of their meals at the open serving counter, sit at a communal concrete table, or take their food to go. Through the combination of open food preparation, flexible seating, graphic elements, and a cohesive material and color palette, The Kimchi, developed by SOA architekti, connects the speed of urban dining with Korean street food culture and a clearly defined architectural identity.
Korean street food culture shapes the new interior concept
the interior draws on Seoul’s visual energy and contemporary pop culture
the open counter connects food preparation with the dining space
a dynamic wave forms the restaurant’s central graphic motif
blue tables and bench seating reinforce the restaurant’s graphic identity
the flexible layout accommodates dining in, gathering, and takeaway
textured orange mesh adds depth above the serving counter
red grout highlights the grid of white wall tiles
blue, red, and orange define the restaurant’s visual palette
window seating offers a direct connection to the street
project info:
name: The Kimchi
architect: SOA architekti | @soaarchitekti
location: Havlíčkova 1682/15, Prague, Czech Republic
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
client: The Kimchi | @thekimchi_cz
photographer: Studio Flusser | @studioflusser
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edited by: Christina Vergopoulou | designboom
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