Some exciting news is on its way to NYC barbecue lovers. While our southern neighbors have long criticized New York’s paltry selection of barbecue options, a brand new barbecue restaurant that wants to challenge that assumption is making its way up from down south – really far down south.
KYU first got its start in Wynwood, Miami, a former warehouse district turned art-hub that has become known as one of the hippest neighborhoods in Miami to emerge this decade. Famous for sponsoring street artists to create beautiful murals on the walls of the former warehouses, Wynwood has cultivated a well-deserved reputation as a hub for innovators – and Kyu is no exception.
KYU is a wood-fired Asian inspired restaurant. Owned by restaurateur Alan Omsky and business partner Jordan Sayfie, KYU is known for its diverse menu that offers “an array of flavors inspired by the many adventures and global travels of our executive chef and the Japanese barbecue grilling practice, Yakiniku. Deriving its name from the “Q” in BBQ, KYU offers a brand new take on Asian-fusion barbecue that cannot be found elsewhere.
If this sounds like something you might be interested in trying, you’re in luck! What Now New York can confirm that Alan and his team are gearing up to open KYU’s first NY location (and first in the North in general) at 324 Lafayette Street, between West Houston and Bleeker. With over 5,000 square feet of space available, KYU is posed to become one of the hottest new spots in NoHo.
324 Lafayette was previously home to Gato, Chef Bobby Flay’s Spanish-accented Mediterranean restaurant, which closed last March in response to the coronavirus pandemic and has remained vacant since. KYU certainly has some big shoes to fill, but if the reputation they earned in Miami is any indication, they should be just fine. Alan and the team have not yet identified a date for opening, but keep your ears to the ground for any signs or updates.
