Kung Fu Chicken, the popular Asian fast-casual restaurant, is opening in Miami Beach.
Kung Fu Chicken
A fast-casual Asian restaurant that became a viral hit in Miami is expanding to Miami Beach.
Inspired by the street food of China, Japan, Korea and Thailand, Kung Fu Chicken opens on Washington Avenue this month, showcasing the 24-hour marinated chicken that became popular in Little Havana and at Florida International University.
The new restaurant is the largest space for the brand, with 1,600 square feet and seating for 40 (it’s a popular takeout spot as well and probably will be on tourist-heavy Miami Beach).
What makes the chicken special? The owners will tell you it’s the tapioca starch dressing and the sauces.
Chicken fingers at Kung Fu Chicken. Kung Fu Chicken
“I grew up watching my grandmother cook, turning simple ingredients into something meaningful for our entire family,” says chef Yu Bi, who grew up in Sichuan, China, and owns the brand along with spouse Dr. Tingjun Lei. “That’s where I learned that food should be treated with care and shared with intention. At Kung Fu Chicken, we’ve taken that same approach.”
The menu is simple. Classic chicken sandwiches ($9.99) served with a spice mix, Asian coleslaw and pickles on a butter brioche bun. Chicken wraps ($8.99) with vegetables. The Lava Sandwich, a panko-crusted chicken stuffed with mozzarella and sweet corn. Crispy fingers ($7) with sauce on the side and the Big Kick Leg ($5.99), a braised, then fried chicken leg quarter.
There’s even an intriguing new item: the Master Chicken Steak ($8.49), a large panko-crusted pounded-thin chicken cutlet that’s served at night markets in China. You can pair it with the new radish kimchi.
And if all this chicken is too much for you, there’s a soft egg sandwich ($9.49) with bacon, cheese and Kung Fu Sauce, a umami blend. Other sauces include sweet sriracha, honey garlic and Szechuan Ma La Powder, a dry spice blend fueled by Sichuan peppercorns.
The Master Chicken Steak, a cutlet pounded thin, then fried, at Kung Fu Chicken. Kung Fu Chicken Kung Fu Chicken
Where: 1502 Washington Ave., Miami Beach
Opening: March 21
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Wednesday-Monday (closed Tuesday)
More information: eatkungfuchicken.com
Connie Ogle loves wine, books and the Miami Heat. Please don’t make her eat a mango.