Korean Fried Chicken Restaurant Set to Welcome Customers at 4th & Race

First Location for Franchise Owner Opening in 3CDC Space near Convention Center

CINCINNATI (April 10, 2023) – A space within Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC)’s 4th & Race project is the new home of an internationally popular Korean fried chicken restaurant. bb.q Chicken is set to open today in a 3,500-square-foot space at 150 W. Fourth Street, at the corner of Fourth and Elm streets.

Henry Ly is a franchise owner of bb.q, a South Korea-based fried chicken concept with 130 locations stateside and 3,500 worldwide. bb.q’s New Jersey-based U.S. headquarters assisted Ly with the design of the space, working in conjunction with Linked Solution Inc., Ly’s design team for the project. While Ly is an experienced business owner, bb.q is his first restaurant. A business partner of his encouraged Ly to try the restaurant when they were in California, and he contacted the corporate office soon after to see what he needed to open his own franchise.

With oversized booths, multiple TVs and bb.q’s classic red-and-dark-gray color scheme, the space gives off an upscale sports bar feel when customers visit bb.q for lunch, dinner or drinks. Diners can expect an authentic Korean Fried Chicken experience when they visit.

“Imagine yourself to be in Hongdae or Gangnam on a busy night, enjoying Chimaek,” Ly said, referencing the Korean term for fried chicken and beer. “We’re thrilled to bring Korea’s finest fried chicken to Cincinnati, and we hope to add to the growing dining scene in the city’s urban core.”

Favorites like Gangjeong — fried chicken with zesty, sweet and hot spices — is what bb.q Chicken is known for. The menu preparation and ingredients are identical to those in Korea, and key ingredients are imported from the facility there. Patrons will have an opportunity to try flavors including Honey Garlic, Golden Original and Secret Sauce, which are some of its best-selling options. In addition to chicken, bb.q’s menu also features traditional Korean dishes like ddeok Bokki and American side dishes like French fries.

“We’re excited to be activating another space in the southwest corner of the Central Business district with a great dining option,” said Lindzie Gunnels, Commercial Leasing Manager with 3CDC. “We expect bb.q to be a great spot for a variety of audiences –folks in town for a convention, downtown workers in search of a great lunch option, and residents in the urban core looking for a meal throughout the day.”

bb.q will be open daily from 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. While bb.q officially opens to the public today, Ly is planning a grand opening event at the end of April. This is Ly’s first bb.q location and the second in Ohio. bb.q joins Paris Baguette at 3CDC’s $116 million 4^th & Race project, which features 22,000 square feet of street-level commercial space with a 584-space garage and 264 residential apartments above.

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