Empire Building

Up Next for Bill Kim: an Asian Beer House

Photo: courtesy Urban Belly

The last year has seen chef Bill Kim open Urban Belly and Belly Shack in quick succession and to recession-trumping success. You’d think the guy would be ready to rest on his laurels, but there’s already a new concept on deck: “It’s going to involve some sort of alcohol. It’s going to be some kind of Asian beer house with casual food that I remember as a child,” he told CenterStage Chicago. Sound a little like this’ll be to Kim what The Publican is to Paul Kahan? Not exactly: “It’s really different,” Kim explained to CC. “When I did some traveling through Korea and Japan, you can’t compare it. It’s a little smaller, it’s about having little bites of stuff instead of full entrees.” Kim estimates he’s about two years out from getting the gears turning on this one. [CenterStage]

Up Next for Bill Kim: an Asian Beer House