Kim Chi Grill: The Best Restaurants Don't Always Look Like Much
Some of my favorite meals have come from places with faded shopping plazas, handwritten signs or parking lots that make you question your life choices.
I’ve learned something over the years. The restaurants spending all their money on the food usually aren’t spending it on the building. Kim Chi Grill is one of those places.
It’s tucked into an ordinary strip mall in Bonita Springs that most people drive past without a second thought.
Which is exactly why I almost smile when someone says, “I’ve never noticed that place before.”
Of course you haven’t. That’s how places like this stay special.
When I’m scouting restaurants for The Paradise Plate, I’m not looking for white tablecloths or valet parking. I’m looking for places where the food does all the talking.
Kim Chi Grill barely whispers from the outside.
Then the food arrives…and suddenly it has everyone’s attention.
The first thing you should order? The Pork Belly Bao Buns.
Don’t debate it. Don’t scroll through photos. Don’t ask yourself if you’re “in the mood.”
Just order them.
The steamed bao is impossibly soft.
The pork belly is smoky, rich and practically melts into the bun.
It’s one of those dishes that makes conversation stop for a minute.
And that’s always a good sign.
These days, though, one of my favorite parts of coming to Kim Chi Grill has nothing to do with the menu.
It’s hearing Chef James call my kids by name.
He somehow remembers what’s happening in our lives, asks about milestones they’ve recently celebrated, and picks up our conversations as though we’d seen each other last week instead of last month.
My kids think he has the world’s greatest memory.
I just smile. (Chef James actually pays attention to my Facebook content.)
That’s the kind of place this is.
Then comes my favorite sound in the restaurant.
A few minutes after I place my order…
Ssssssshhh.
The unmistakable sizzle of the wok as the meat hits the hot pan.
I hear it every single time.
It’s like an old clock in its predictability.
That sound tells me my hibachi is on its way.
Some people hear background noise.
I hear dinner.
After the first bite, you’ll probably do what I still do.
Look around the dining room and wonder…
“How is this place not packed all the time?”
Then again…
Maybe that’s part of the charm.
Not every great restaurant needs a line out the door.
Some are quietly waiting for people who care more about what’s on the plate than what’s on the sign outside.
That’s Kim Chi Grill.
Before your first visit, here are some insider tips to know before you go:
Forget everything you think you know about strip mall restaurants. You’re about to make an exception.
Don’t spend too much time reading the menu. Your first order is easy.
Go hungry. You’ll want to keep ordering.
Don’t judge the dining room. The kitchen is doing all the heavy lifting.
If you live in North Naples or South Lee County…you have absolutely no excuse.
I recommend taking someone who’s never been. Watching a friend realize they’ve driven past one of Southwest Florida’s best little restaurants for years without stopping…it’s almost as satisfying as the food itself.
Almost.
Because those bao buns are pretty hard to beat.
Some restaurants spend their money on chandeliers.
Others spend it on flavor.
Kim Chi Grill made the right investment.
The Paradise Plate Takeaway
Restaurant: Kim Chi Grill
Location: Bonita Springs, Florida
Known For: Pork Belly Bao Buns, hibachi, Korean specialties and unforgettable hospitality
Perfect For: Food lovers who know the best meals aren't always found in the fanciest places.
The Paradise Plate Takeaway
Some of the best restaurants spend their money on what's on the plate, not what's on the building.