Peter Ho has spent most of his career as a chef in fine dining, from acclaimed restaurants in New York and Chicago to Michelin-starred kitchens. Most recently, he was the executive chef at Oak at Fourteenth, the lauded Boulder restaurant from Bryan Dayton.
Now, Ho is ready to build his own brand. But in a more casual setting. In October, he opened Sorry Umma selling Korean-style hot pot in a Westminster shopping center.
“I’ve always wanted to create an experience with Korean food. Hot pot felt like a good starting point, allowing me to save a bit on labor costs while showcasing higher quality ingredients,” he said. “I think Westminster has a lot of potential. There are not too many Korean restaurants in the area, plus we’re right next to H Mart, which is a huge symbol of Korean food.”
That location brings a high profile, but Ho said he’s ready to impress.
The all-you-can-eat dinner menu, priced at $34.99, features premium cuts of meat beef like ribeye, beef tongue, tri-tip, lamb and brisket. Additionally, customers can browse the refrigerated front bar for additional toppings like Napa cabbage, oyster and shitake mushrooms, daikon, bok choy, tofu, noodles, gyoza, squid, fish, kimchi, sauces and oils.
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“We source our beef from the same supplier as Oak. I’m trying to focus on a variety of cuts, like USDA Prime and some choice options. In the future, I want to add more varieties like wagyu or bison, which would come at a surcharge,” he said.
Each diner has a personal stovetop to cook their hot pot in a broth of their choice; they include flavors like Tteokbokki (made with a gochujang base), miso, mushroom dashi, mala (spicy) and bulgogi. The broths are meticulously crafted to complement the meat, which Ho encourages eating “shabu shabu” style – referring to the Japanese style of hot pot where thin slices of meat are cooked in boiling water for only a few seconds at a time.
“When you keep dipping the beef, the flavors of the broth get better and better,” Ho explained.
Noting the restaurant’s namesake, Ho encourages patrons to get creative with their flavor combinations: “Umma means ‘mama’ in Korean. So, while traditional mom’s cooking might be authentic, Sorry Umma is all about personalizing your meal, there are no strict rules. ‘Sorry Umma’ is a bit like saying, ‘Sorry, mom — I’m making it my way, and maybe even better!’”
Ho eventually hopes to grow the Sorry Umma brand to include other concepts like Korean BBQ. But for now, he’s taking his time to get every detail right at his hot pot venture – from the ingredients to the interactions. And he recently got a big boost after a post by TikTok user @souljaboyupinnaoh (and her mother) singing the eatery’s praises went viral.
Originally from South Korea, Ho moved to the U.S. with his family during high school. After graduating, he joined the U.S. Army and fell in love with cooking while stationed in Germany. Upon returning to the States, Ho attended culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu in California and went on to work in renowned kitchens like Restaurant Gordon Ramsey, Aldea in New York City, and Aureole. He moved to Colorado in 2020 and made his mark in the kitchens at Rijola and Oak at Fourteenth.
Now he’s excited about sharing his love of Korean cuisine with the community. “Talking to each customer and getting positive feedback, that’s huge for me,” he said.
The winter months are the perfect time to do that, he added. “There’s something really satisfying about eating hot soup in cold weather.”
Sorry Umma, 5028 W. 92nd Ave., Westminster. Monday to Friday, 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
