Entering a ‘new era,’ beloved Boise restaurant to expand with downtown location

Ever since it opened, Koco Bell has felt like a delicious secret destined to find a larger audience.

Started as a parking lot food stand in 2020, the Korean street food outfit soon moved into a modest brick-and-mortar in Meridian. Then it relocated to 2999 N. Lakeharbor Lane in Boise, where it still operates — recently under different ownership.

And now Koco Bell will spice up downtown.

Launched by the brand’s founders, Koco Bell Express is on track to open in late September or early October at 116 N. 5th St., at the corner of 5th and Idaho streets. A grab-and-go concept, it will take over the former Lumos Optical space in the same building as another Asian concept, Dharma Sushi.

Focusing on a convenient to-go model, Koco Bell Express will serve bento boxes, sandwiches, bowls, soups and more — from breakfast to dinner time, co-owner Mariela Kang said. Meals will be prepared fresh daily until they’re sold out for the day.

Mariela and her husband, co-owner/chef Jaikoo “Steve” Kang, have built an enthusiastic following over the years. Koco Bell on Lakeharbor still rates a nearly perfect 4.9 out of 5 stars on Google, and 4.5 out of 5 on Yelp.

Koco Bell has begun teasing the grab-and-go operation on social media, where it describes the expansion as a “new era.” There are photos of mouthwatering items such as Korean kimchi pizza and a Korean fried chicken bento box. And look out, boy band fans: There will be canned latte drinks branded with the South Korean pop group BTS.

The downtown presence of Koco Bell Express instantly will increase Asian street food competition in the area. It joins two other Korean restaurants blocks away, each with their own exceptional online reviews. Seoul Street Cafe, 624 W. Idaho St., rates 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google. And the fast-casual Cupbop chain’s location at 298 N. 8th St. — reopened after a temporary closure earlier this summer — snags a 4.7.

This story was originally published September 11, 2025 at 4:32 PM.

Michael Deeds

Idaho Statesman

208-377-6407

Michael Deeds is a long-serving entertainment reporter and opinion columnist at the Idaho Statesman, where he chronicles the Boise good life: restaurants, concerts, culture, cool stuff. He started as a summer intern after graduating from the University of Nebraska with a news-editorial journalism degree. Deeds’ prior Statesman roles have included sportswriter, music critic and features editor. His other writing has ranged from freelancing album reviews for The Washington Post to bragging about Boise in that inflight magazine you left on the plane.