Over the past decade, the Chubby Group has grown from a handful of hot pot and Asian barbecue eateries to a national powerhouse with a robust Wagyu supply chain. The restaurant group is set to celebrate a significant milestone with the early May opening of Wagyu Master Sukiyaki at 21 W 35th St. in Midtown.
Under the Chubby Group umbrella, the Waygu Master brand encompasses various Japanese dining styles — including grilling (yakiniku) and hot pot (sukiyaki and shabu-shabu). The Midtown location is specifically designed to highlight sukiyaki through an elevated, intimate lens. Unlike the group’s more family-oriented locations, the Manhattan outpost focuses on a chef’s counter experience that allows for greater culinary precision.
“For Midtown, it’s more of a chef’s counter experience,” Charlie Chen, head of the Waygu Master brand, told What Now New York. “That setup will be more suitable for sukiyaki. We can make things a little bit more dedicated and prettier, and we are also able to do a tasting menu.”
The Midtown menu will feature seasonal appetizers and high-end sushi alongside the signature sukiyaki, all prepared by a team of specialized sushi and culinary chefs. The goal is to provide an experience that feels modern and personal while staying rooted in traditional Japanese techniques.
The Midtown opening is just the beginning of the Chubby Group’s New York City blitz. Chen confirmed that several more locations are in the pipeline, including Chubby Bowls — a modern, casual Chinese fast-food concept — and Chubby Tongue, a specialized Wagyu tongue experience.
Chen noted that the group is based on a successful Wagyu supply chain that connects back to Japan.
“We supply our own meat, and we supply most of our own supplies,” he said.
