K Ribs BBQ On 3 Years In Joliet: 'We Just Focus On Our Quality'

JOLIET, IL — Many start up restaurants don't last a year. Joliet recently saw the Grill Island restaurant on Route 59 go out of business less than two months after it opened. But there are success stories out there. This fall, Joliet businessman Dillon Kim celebrates the third anniversary of K Ribs BBQ. It's Joliet's first Korean-style barbecue ribs restaurant.

It's in downtown Joliet at 221 North Chicago St., right next to the Joliet Junior College culinary arts campus.

An insurance agent in downtown Joliet with American Family Insurance for the past 15 years, Kim branched out into opening his own restaurant next door in 2018. His wife helps manages the kitchen, and they have several employees who cook and help run the register.

You don't see K Ribs BBQ posting a barrage of photos of their menu and specials on Facebook and social media. They have a website, a simple menu, and they rely on word of mouth to grow their customer base.

As of Sept. 2, K Ribs BBQ had 175 Google Reviews averaging 4.6 stars out of 5. The last four reviews came within the past month.

All were five stars:

• "This has become my favorite place to eat. The smoothies and the rice bowls are my favorite. And the ribs are great as well," posted Kahlil.
• "Great quality food and the kimchi and Korean slaw are delicious. Also, family friendly food and environment!" Michelle wrote.
• "Had a very tasty Spicy Pork rice bowl. The restaurant was very clean and service was quick," Joey stated.
• "Some of the most delicious food that I have tried, great customer service and great products, I definitely recommend stopping by here for lunch," Alexis commented.

Kim said that the positive reviews on Facebook and Google have been valuable for K Ribs BBQ. He pointed out that so many restaurants have closed since the coronavirus pandemic. K Ribs BBQ weathered the storm and always stayed open.

"We thought we would have a hard time with the pandemic, but we didn't at all," Kim said. "We just focus on our quality. "

It's currently open Tuesday through Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. K Ribs BBQ features dining, carryout and delivery. K Ribs employees handle the delivery service themselves since K Ribs no longer uses delivery driver companies.

Amid the pandemic, many restaurants chose to increase their prices, but that has not happened at K Ribs BBQ, Kim said.

"We're the same as three years ago," he said. "We still use fresh ingredients, fresh meats and fresh vegetables. We just absorb the increases."

Kim said he's extremely fortunate to have a steady and loyal lunchtime crowd. On Thursday, about a dozen members of an East Coast minor league baseball team in town to play the Joliet Slammers visited K Ribs for their lunch.

The beef bowls and rice bowls remain two of the top-selling items, Kim said. The Korean style ribs and the rib tips are doing well with the customer base, he added.

"That is one of the hot sells for dinner time," he said, referring to the ribs and rib tips. "We are running the barbecue oven almost every day compared to three years ago."

Patch asked Kim, who's been a downtown Joliet businessman and property owner for several years, how things are different now versus three years ago when K Ribs BBQ opened.

"It's way more safer," he said.

About 30 percent of his customers are people passing through Joliet. Some visitors are traveling through Joliet as part of the historic Route 66 tours. Aside from Joliet, Kim said that K Ribs BBQ also has people who come from Mokena, Plano and Wilmington.

"Within 20 to 30 miles," he said.

He provides meal discounts for people who are military veterans and members of law enforcement.

Besides the food, K Ribs also serves bubble teas and smoothies that are popular with many of the young adults and college students, the owner said.

"My philosophy: quality food brings quality customers," Kim said.

There are no plans on the horizon to make any changes with the menu, Kim said. It's not a huge menu.

"It's about 10 to 15 items," Kim said. "We just emphasize on getting stronger, with the same price, making the taste better and more portions. We have mostly a regular customer base in the Joliet area. Some, I see them every week, and they're introducing their friends and family members. This is interesting. Most of our customers come because of referrals.

"Our business is based on the quality of food we provide, so customers come back again and again. If people are disappointed, they're not coming back. We just want our customers (happy) with our quality and portions."

The next major change at K Ribs BBQ will involve the restaurant layout.

Kim plans to knock out the wall between his restaurant and his insurance agency. When that happens, perhaps next year, it will increase the size of the dining room seating capacity.

"As soon as I retire, this place will be part of the restaurant," he said, referring to his insurance office. "We own the building, so we don't owe anything."

The phone for carryout and delivery orders at K Ribs BBQ is 779-242-1152. For more, visit the website here.