Your Bowl, Your Rules: DIY at Witch Topokki

For those who’ve dreamed of walking through the food stalls of Seoul, seeing the bubbling pots of spicy rice cakes and smelling the rich air of gochujang and japchae, Witch Topokki offers all that right here in Manhattan! This all-you-can-eat, affordable Korean restaurant combines the heart of Korean street food with a fun DIY dining experience. 

Courtesy of Vidhan Bokaria

Topokki, which consists of soft rice cakes simmered in a flavorful sauce, is one of Korea’s most popular comfort foods. At Witch Topokki, guests can choose from 13 different rice cakes, including classic cylindrical rice cakes and special varieties like corn cheese or even sweet potato wheat. Each has a slightly different texture and flavor, giving you the chance to customize your bowl exactly how you like it.

The restaurant features a buffet-style spread, where you can pile your plate with fish, rice cakes, mixed vegetables, dumplings, crispy tofu, and even seafood. If you want to branch out, Witch Topokki also features a hot pot and ramen bar, where even college staples, like Buldak, can be found. My favorite thing about this restaurant, however, is building my custom broth. Three scoops of broth are recommended for your topokki bowl, so I like mixing in one scoop of the signature witch sauce, kari kari, and carbonara to achieve the perfect balance of spicy and sweet. 

Courtesy of Vidhan Bokaria

Once you’ve chosen your base and ingredients, you take your topokki bowl back to your table, where the real fun begins. You pour in the broth, turn on the burner, and wait as it starts to bubble. Next comes the best part: adding in all your ingredients one by one. I usually start with the rice cakes so they can soften in the heat, then toss in tofu, vegetables, and noodles to soak up the flavor. Watching everything cook right in front of you is the most magical moment of the experience. By the time the broth thickens and the rice cakes turn chewy and coated in the sauce, you’ve made something that’s entirely your own.

Beyond rice cakes and topokki, the buffet includes other Asian-inspired foods like Dan Dan noodles and fried rice. Now, of course, there is pizza, onion rings, and French fries, because no buffet is complete without a little international fusion.

For those with dietary restrictions, Witch Topokki has food that is both vegetarian and halal-friendly. Many of the bases and toppings are plant-based or customizable, allowing diners to skip meat and seafood without losing any amazing flavor or satisfaction. This inclusivity makes Witch Topokki a great spot for groups where everyone has different preferences or needs.

Courtesy of Vidhan Bokaria

My favorite thing about Witch Topokki is that I get to decide exactly how I want my bowl to be. Everyone’s bowl ends up looking a little different, and that’s what makes it so special. Some people build colorful bowls full of vegetables and noodles, while others go all in on fiery mala broth and fondue cheese rings. 

Witch Topokki always has a way of cheering people up. Maybe it’s the comforting heat of the broth, or the feeling of sitting around a bubbling pot with all my childhood favorites. It’s the kind of place that makes you forget about everything else for a while and just focus on enjoying your meal. 

Everyone, no matter their tastes or background, can make a bowl that feels like home to them at Witch Topokki. It’s the type of restaurant where every meal is personal; whether you pile on the noodles, go heavy on the topokki sauce, or keep it simple, there’s no wrong way to enjoy it. That freedom makes Witch Topokki not just delicious but inclusive, a place where everyone can sit around the same pot and create something of their own.