Bluto’s Fish & Chicken has customers flocking to Blue Ridge location

By Joyce Smith

A sign by the order window of the new Bluto’s Fish & Chicken serves as a thank you for customers’ patience — and perhaps a bit of a warning.

This is no typical fast food operation. The sign says its food is cooked fresh to order, taking a minimum of 10 minutes. 

But fans say it’s worth the wait and they have been flocking to the south Kansas City spot since it opened in July.

The owners are Muhamad Alia and his nephew, Abdulaziz Urmi, only a few years apart in age, and originally from Palestine. 

Bluto’s most popular orders are the wings and fish. It also serves Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, catfish nuggets and catfish sandwiches, shrimp, shrimp po’boys, spicy chicken sandwiches, Buffalo chicken sandwiches, Italian steak sandwiches, gyros, giant tenderloins, whole chickens, tilapia, and whiting. Burgers include the All American, barbecue, cheeseburger, and bacon.

“All fresh, made to order, and halal certified,” Alia said of the food.  

About 90% of Bluto’s sales are to-go.

Area resident Gary Shelby goes to Bluto’s a couple of times a week for the chicken and shrimp.

“They have good customer service. Very friendly,” he said. “And the food is great. Good chicken.” 

Alia moved to Kansas City in 2005. Urmi came about 12 years later. Since then, they’ve discussed opening a business together.

The pair took over a freestanding building — a former cell phone shop at 9260 Blue Ridge Blvd., and spent about a year revamping it for a food operation. They did as much labor as they could themselves to save money, but hired experts to build out the kitchen.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

They named the restaurant Bluto’s after Popeye’s nemesis from the cartoon and comic. 

Now, the uncle and nephew are negotiating to open a Blue Springs operation by April. The location will be revealed once the lease has been signed. 

Alia attributes Bluto’s success to its good food, preparing it fresh to order and “the secret of the flavors and the love of the community that we are part of.”   

Hours: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.