to ask if you'd eat this?

[Stakhanovite]

Bought my regular jar of kimchi from my local (very good) Japanese-Korean restaurant and found it was leaking a bit. On opening, the contents expanded quite dramatically and there was much fizzing. I know it's a fermented foodstuff, but is this normal? Definitely hasn't happened before.

I don’t think I would.
I’d phone/email and ask if I could collect a replacement jar another day.

Perfectly normal - some jars fizz and overflow, others don’t. It’s to do with many factors, including seasonality of the vegetables (water and sugar content etc), and variations in packing. I’m sure that the restaurant would be happy to say the same or exchange for another jar if you still feel you don’t like it, though.

If it was already leaking a bit before you opened then no I wouldn’t eat it

No, I wouldn't eat it.

It's like the Magic Porridge Pot but with fermented cabbage.
Sorry, but this pic makes me want to scream!

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2412468-kimchi-and-artisan-cheeses-can-contain-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria/

I do normally eat ANYTHING, but I wouldn't eat that. I'd try to swap it.

Sorry - bit random! But read this new scientist thing recently and it would make me want to be pretty careful with Kimchi

Good advice, thanks all. Given the quality of the restaurant I think I'm willing to gamble on the bacteria, but asking for an exchange sounds like a good middle ground.