Chimac is expanding! The Houston-born Korean-American fusion eatery is expecting to open its third location in the region. According to owners Daniel and Andrew Kim, the new Chimac will open in the Westchase district of West Houston at 10852 Westheimer Rd, located in the Lakeside Village Shopping Center.
What Now Houston briefly spoke with Daniel, who confirmed the opening is slated for this year and that construction is currently underway. Unfortunately, Kim was unable to share further details by the time this publication was issued.
“Chimac is a Korean-American fusion restaurant founded in Houston, Texas, by Daniel Kim in 2018. We specialize in cooked-to-order Korean BBQ served alongside bold American flavors — a combination Houston food lovers keep coming back for,” the Chimac website reads.
“Whether you’re a longtime fan of Korean dining or trying KBBQ for the first time, our menu is built to welcome everyone. Think marinated bulgogi, KBBQ steak bowls, spicy kimchi fries, Korean chicken, and house-made sauces crafted from over 19 signature spices.”
The name Chimac may sound familiar. Chimac is a wildly popular South Korean cultural phenomenon that pairs fried chicken with cold beer. The word is a clever mashup of the Korean word for chicken (chi-kin) and the Korean loanword for beer (maek-ju).
The Houston brand was founded in 2018 by the Kims. Originally from New York, the Kims honed their culinary skills in kitchens across the U.S. before settling in Houston to blend authentic Korean street-food traditions with bold American flavors.
Kim opened the first location in the Cypress/Cy-Fair area. A second Chimac location opened on Cypress Road early last year.
The new location, set to open on Westheimer Road this year, will be in the former Krab Queenz Seafood & Daiquiris Houston space. Krab Queenz permanently closed its last remaining Houston location at 10852 Westheimer Rd in the summer of 2024. The restaurant officially closed in late July 2024, after previously announcing plans to relocate.
Chimac is anticipated to open inside the Lakeside Village Shopping Center at 10852 Westheimer Rd sometime this year.
(This is a developing story. As more information is made available, we will update this article. Stay tuned!)
