A local strip mall restaurant with a passionate fan base has gone out of business.

But the owners hope that it will reappear somewhere else.

Koco Bell, a Korean street food restaurant in West Boise, has permanently closed its location at 13601 W. McMillan Road, Suite 104. The space has been taken over by Tommy’s Italian.

After starting out as a food stand on the corner of Five Mile and Ustick Road, Koco Bell opened his small storefront in 2021. The restaurant serves authentic Korean and fusion cuisine, from kimbap to barbecue boxes and—as I can personally attest (yum!)—rich, delicious Korean corn dogs.

Owners Jaikoo “Steve” Kang and his wife Mariela have built a loyal following. Koco Bell has earned a near-perfect 4.9 out of 5.0 stars from 221 Google reviews. It also has an exceptional 4.8 out of 5.0 on Yelp.

When the Kangs announced the closure, they posted messages on social media thanking customers. “The best is yet to come!” Mariela Kang promised.

According to their Instagram page, the owners of Koco Bell are looking to open “another, much larger location and we plan to offer all kinds of Korean dishes.”

The time frame and location were not communicated.

“Thank you to all of our loyal followers who have kept us going and thank you to those who have helped out at our restaurant,” wrote Koco Bell. “We hope to do more with you in the near future!”