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 Westchase, West Houston, at 10852 Westheimer Rd, in the Lakeside Village Shopping Center.
What Now Houston spoke with Daniel, who confirmed the opening is slated for this June/July and that construction is currently underway.
“The Houston food scene moves fast, but true greatness takes time. In the case of Chimac 3, it took exactly 7 months,” Kim said in an email.
“After a gauntlet of construction delays, hard-learned lessons, and sheer operational grit, Houston’s favorite destination for scratch-made Chicken Wings and loaded bowls is entering the final stretch. Located at 10852 Westheimer, the team is currently checking off the final health department inspections and securing their certificate of occupancy, targeting a launch at the end of this month or early next month (June/July 2026).”
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.
“At the end of the day, we aren’t trying to be pretentious. We just want to make food that is familiar to the Houston palate and something you can eat 2-3 times a week,” Kim said.
“Whether you’re a college kid trying to hit your fitness macros or a mom looking to feed her family well, we want to feed the masses without skimping on flavor, high-quality ingredients, or portions.”
Kim opened the first location in the Cypress/Cy-Fair area. A second Chimac location opened on Cypress Road early last year.
“It’s all the comfort food I loved eating while growing up, up until right now: chicken sandwiches, crispy wings, and classic Asian-American food. We took the comforting dishes everyone knows and Americanized them with bold Korean flavors.” Kim said.
“Think Korean American food with a heavy emphasis on the “American.” All the flavor profiles will feel completely familiar, but you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the execution. We use incredibly high-quality ingredients and put a massive emphasis on scratch-made cooking. From 90% of our sauces to 90% of our food, it is all cut, hand-made, and marinated with care right inside our kitchen.”
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.
“Westheimer is the perfect spot because we are building a late-night after-hours space to capture that midnight crowd looking for late-night food in Houston,” Kim said.
“Plus, this location will house our central commissary kitchen.”
If you’re planning your first visit to the new Westheimer spot, we have a few suggestions. The KBBQ Chicken Bowl comes in three distinct styles: KBBQ, Spicy KBBQ, or Jerk. Get it served over hot Lo Mein noodles or seasoned fried rice for a total flavor bomb, and make sure to drizzle our signature creamy Chimac Sauce over the top. You can go for the Spicy KBBQ Wings, which feature the perfect balance of caramelized heat and sweetness, or stick to southern classics like our crispy Hot Lemon Pepper. The Spicy Korean BBQ Chicken Sandwich is the brand’s custom, scratch-made take on a wet hot chicken sandwich.
“As restaurant brands expand, they usually lose their original flavors, portion sizes, and specialties,” Kim said.
“We are preventing that by prepping all our signature sauces, slicing meats, and keeping vegetables uniform in one central kitchen. It keeps everything authentic.”
Chimac is anticipated to open inside the Lakeside Village Shopping Center at 10852 Westheimer Rd sometime this year.
“While the ultimate goal is to perfect internal restaurant costs, clean up operations, and prep the numbers for future investment rounds before building store number four, Chimac‘s immediate focus is anchoring itself into the local neighborhood,” Kim said.
“The team wants to provide a reliable, premium space where Houstonians can leave fully satisfied without breaking the bank. Local schools, sports teams, and organizations looking for partnerships or local sponsorships are encouraged to reach out directly to [email protected] to collaborate. Keep your eyes on the corner of 10852 Westheimer over the coming weeks—the fryers are about to drop.”
