New Korean BBQ restaurant is open in former Kansas City-area Applebee’s
Jayla Solomon, manager at Let’s Go BBQ, said the opening of her new restaurant is something the Independence community has been waiting for.
Since the initial announcement in August, Jayla said neighbors have been peeking their heads into the former Applebee’s space and asking the same question:
“Is it open yet?”
The answer is now, as of a few days ago, “yes.”
Let’s Go BBQ offers all-you-can-eat Korean barbecue at 18801 E. 39th St. S in Independence Center, with assistance from singing robot servers.
When customers walk in, a hostess will seat them and ask for their phone number. Once provided, customers will receive a QR code with the menu. From there, customers can select from a variety of meats, sauces and sides.
Proteins include beef short rib, bulgogi beef, ribeye, pork belly and shrimp teriyaki. Non-meat items include sweet pineapple, kimchi, cheesy corn, jasmine rice, a veggie platter and macaroni salad.
Once customers are seated and have ordered, a rolling robot blasting energetic tunes will turn the corner with their uncooked items. It’s up to diners to scorch the items themselves utilizing the grill in the center of their tables. They can adjust the heat of the grill using the knobs on the side.
Lunch is $24.99 per person with a one-hour limit, while customers are allotted two hours during dinner service for $34.99.
The restaurant is still in its soft opening phase, Kayla said, but it’s still seen plenty of business. It’s still hiring and awaiting its grand opening.
There are Korean barbecue places in the metro — KPot being one of them. But its locations are in Overland Park, Tanger Kansas City at the Legends and the Northland. Kayla hopes Let’s Go BBQ will fill a void in the area.
“It was just a really good idea to bring one closer to Lee’s Summit, Blue Springs, Independence area,” she said.
Kayla’s mom, Holly Solomon, handles the acquisitions of the restaurant. Previously, Holly told The Star she hoped the spot would be the first of many.
During an interview in August, Holly said she dreamed of taking the brand national and was looking elsewhere in the metro, specifically in Johnson County.
In late 2024, Applebee’s closed all but two of its KC-area restaurants, but the Independence spot had already been closed for a few years.
Asian all-you-can-eat restaurant All in One Eatery recently opened in a former Overland Park Applebee’s at 11000 Metcalf Ave.
This story was originally published April 9, 2026 at 3:24 PM.