Put up Malone noticed in Salt Lake Metropolis days earlier than the Hive Music Pageant; meets widespread native Korean BBQ restaurant

Post Malone takes time to pose with Cynthia Seo, owner of EJO Korean BBQ in South Salt Lake on Tuesday, July 20, 2021. Photo: Gephardt Daily / EJO Korean BBQ

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, July 21, 2021 (Gephardt Daily) – Just days after Garth Brooks put on an electrifying performance at a sold out Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, another music giant, Post Malone – is headlining the upcoming one Hip-Hop Hive Music Festival at Utah State Fairpark – is definitely “in town”.

Posty, as he is affectionately known, was seen setting the scene in a low key setting with an intimate group of friends at one of the valley’s most popular family-owned Korean BBQ restaurants on Tuesday afternoon.

Cynthia Seo, owner of EJO Korean BBQ in South Salt Lake City, told Gephardt Daily she was impressed with how friendly he was when he walked in.

“He was so centered and nice.”

Even though he looked familiar, Seo said she didn’t immediately know who he was.

“Our server said to me, ‘He’s Post Malone!’ and I went, oh really, and then I texted my kids and they said, ‘Are you crazy, you don’t know him?’ “

Then the light was turned on. It’s this Post Malone who has sold more than 60 million records and now calls Utah home.

Just last year, the 26-year-old musician, rapper, actor and entrepreneur swapped a rental home in Beverly Hills for property in one of the canyons along the Wasatch Front.

In any case, he loves the place and even went so far as to pay tribute to the state in his 2019 song “Wow” when he sang over a “750 Lambo in the Utah Snow”.

Malone said to Variety at the time, “Being in Utah and being away from the hustle and bustle and everyone else – it’s just me with my video games and a cold one – that feels good to me.”

While performing at the Joe Rogan Experience in July 2020, Malone explained what drew him to Utah.

“You feel like you are part of something bigger, but you are so insignificant,” he said, seemingly impressed by the majestic natural beauty of Utah.

“And then you can just say I accept everything around me and I am relaxed and at peace knowing that the world is spinning around you and everything happens for a reason,” he said to Rogan.

Malone added that when he decided to move, his life in Los Angeles just wasn’t sustainable.

“Always something going on. I couldn’t. And it definitely influenced my creative process. There are a lot of people who want to drain you.”

On Tuesday, the musician, who catapulted himself to fame with the song “White Iverson” in 2015, looked relaxed and happy as he enjoyed the company and the meal at the South Salt Lake restaurant.

Seo said the group picked the Korean all-you-can-eat BBQ special that the restaurant is offering.

“He loved all the meat we served him,” said Seo. “And then he even took something to take away.”

Seo said she asked him if he was okay to take a picture and he said, “yeah sure, why not?” The musician even wore a South Korean “Hite” beer baseball cap.

Seo said that not only was it fun serving Malone and his entourage, but it also gave the staff an emotional boost, including her husband who is the restaurant’s head chef and two of her sons who also work there.

Seo said the current restaurant, which has been open for six or seven years at its current location at 633 E. 3300 South, like most restaurants, struggled during the pandemic. She credits her loyal regular customers for keeping the business going.

“They always help us. It was a great experience, ”she said.

Now that vaccinations are a reality, Seo is relieved that business is back to normal. Her family, she said proudly, has been serving Korean food in the Salt Lake Valley for decades. Her mother was the first Korean restaurant owner in Salt Lake City, Seo said, starting Korea House Restaurant at 1300 S. 145 East 35 years ago, though others now run it.

“Back then it was ‘what is Korean food?’ But now it’s popular, ”said Seo.

“I hope he and his friends come back. We’ll feed them well, ”she said with a smile.

It’s been a busy summer for Malone, releasing the single “Motley Crew” with an accompanying music video on July 9th with several guest stars, former coworkers and friends including Tommy Lee, Tyla Yaweh, Tyga and his manager Dre London.

Malone will headline the two-day Hive Music Festival at Utah State Fairpark on Friday, August 6th and Saturday, August 7th. Posty will be billed as the top act on Saturday.

Local music insiders say Malone is in tip top shape and eager to play in front of a large audience.

Cynthia says if someone gets hungry during upcoming rehearsals, they know who to call.

You can find more information about the EJO Korean BBQ here.