Chubby Group is bringing a new concept, Chubby Bowls, to 809 Broadway this year. The group is targeting a winter 2025 opening, a spokesperson for Chubby Groups shared with What Now New York.
Chubby Bowls will offer Wagyu stir-fry, unlimited rice and soup and a new approach to fast-casual Asian dining. The concept will combine Asian culinary traditions with kitchen automation and technology to produce menu items. Each step of the process, from cooking to plating and cleaning, will be automated.
Chef Alan Ji, who has worked at Mott32 Las Vegas, Wing Lei at Wynn Las Vegas and Hakkasan, will craft the menu.
“At Chubby Bowls, we care deeply about the quality of our food — where it comes from and how it’s created,” a statement from the company reads. “Every bowl is thoughtfully made with nutrient-dense ingredients, served alongside unlimited rice and daily soup, and offered at an accessible price point, starting at just $20 per person.”
Founders Haibin Yang and David Zhao launched Chubby Group in 2016, starting with their first concept, Chubby Cattle, which they opened in Las Vegas. Now, Chubby Group operates 23 restaurant brands, including The X Pot, Chubby Cattle, Niku X and Mikiya.
The group has been active recently in New York, opening a Mikiya Shabu location in Midtown within the last six months. Niku X just opened in Midtown this month, bringing a Michelin-acclaimed Los Angeles-based Wagyu experience to Manhattan. Chubby Group’s Asian skewer concept Chubby Skewers is opening next month at 252 West 37th Street.
