Business Spotlight: K-Kimbap

K-Kimbap
98 Mott Street (inside Mott Street Eatery)

@k_kimbapnyc

Mott Street Eatery, located on 98 Mott Street, just gained a new addition to the delicious lineup they already have…K-Kimbap! I had the inspiring opportunity to interview the owner, Yoori and get to know her business.

Blog by Alice Yang, Photos by Jordan Ji

Yoori’s Background:

Born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, Yoori pursued a career as a makeup artist and hairstylist. She dedicated herself to helping people feel confident through her expertise. In 1998, Yoori moved to America and explained, 'I chose dog grooming because I spoke little to no English.' Through her work as a groomer, Yoori became the primary caregiver for the dogs when their owners were on vacation. She quickly came to care deeply for each dog. Yoori would intentionally research the best food options, and was always delighted when the dogs enjoyed the meals she prepared.

The Fruition of K-Kimbap

One day, Yoori walked by a store selling frozen kimbap and thought, 'Why not make it fresh?' Her entrepreneurial spirit was inspired by childhood memories of her grandmother, who had opened and owned a traditional Korean restaurant back home. That legacy fueled Yoori’s own dream of opening her own restaurant. 

When asked about her life’s dream, Yoori passionately shared, 'My goal is to open a shop that helps people eat healthy!' She also relayed a fun fact: kimbap, a beloved Korean dish, often contains up to seven different vegetables, making it both delicious and nutritious. 

Difficulties Along The Way

Every business faces its own set of unique challenges. Yoori expressed that one of the difficulties her business encounters is acquiring customers as a new business. This can make it challenging to cover operational costs, including rent. 

The kimbap making process can be time consuming,but Yoori stated with a smile that, “she wants to make it faster and get better and better, one day at a time”. According to one of her employees, Yoori is known for her hardworking and selfless nature, frequently offering free samples to customers. Yoori's favorite part of owning a business is watching people enjoy her food and hearing their feedback. "It’s incredibly rewarding to see customers return for more!" she commented. Although facing challenges as a new business owner, Yoori is always a ray of sunshine. Her positive attitude really is contagious.

K-Kimbap’s Menu Highlights: 

Every item on the menu feels like it was crafted with love. When I asked Yoori to name her top three favorite dishes, she smiled and said, 'it’s hard to choose—I love everything.' But if she had to pick, bulgogi, vegetable kimbap, and tteok-kochi are among her favorites. Their traditional Korean drink, Sikhye—a sweet rice beverage—takes up to 12 hours to make!

Yoori takes great pride in ensuring that all her food is made with natural ingredients.What truly sets Yoori’s business apart is the level of care she puts into every detail. Everything, and I mean everything, is handmade. She even grows her own perilla leaves! Yoori meticulously washes the sesame seeds up to six times before roasting them herself. She takes the concept of a home-cooked meal to a whole new level, bringing the heart and soul of family cooking into every bite.

Visit K-Kimbap at 98 Mott Street on your next trip to Chinatown!