The restaurant is not leaving Chicago permanently as the team has found a new home in the developing neighborhood.
From Crain’s Chicago Business, Cornerstone Restaurant Group is moving one of their popular concepts Urbanbelly from Wicker Park to Fulton Market this year at 950 W Fulton Street. This is headed by Chef Bill Kim who has worked at restaurants like Le Lan in the past. A May opening date is anticipated.
Before Urbanbelly was serving Asian cuisine at 1542 N Damen Avenue in Wicker Park, the restaurant debuted in Avondale in 2008. Kim also had a location in West Loop’s Timeout Market. Now, the team is stepping foot into another neighborhood.
“At Underbelly, we celebrate cultural diversity and the beauty of combining different cuisines,” says the excerpt from Kim on their website. “Each dish we create tells a story of two cultures coming together in the most delicious way possible.”
The Wicker Park menu featured specialty items like Korean fried chicken edamame dumplings, ramen and noodles. In the “munchies” section, his togarashi fries with curry mayo were popular. Alcoholic drinks, boba and boba floats were drink options.
Along with Cornerstone Restaurant Group owning Urbanbelly, another company called Taratsa Hospitality Partners will be operating the restaurant day-to-day. Cornerstone still owns Underbelly, along with Dimmi Dimmi in Lincoln Park and Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse. Kim also managed his self-titled Ramen Bar at Timeout Market, 916 W Fulton Market, prior to its closure in January.
Urbanbelly will be near the corner of N Morgan and W Fulton streets, at the Pitaki Greek restaurant space. What Now Chicago has reached out to representatives from Cornerstone Restaurant Group and is awaiting comment.
