LOGAN SQUARE — A casual Asian restaurant specializing in chicken wings is opening on Logan Square’s California Avenue.
The new restaurant at 2532 N. California Ave. is called Landbirds. It’s the first restaurant for owner/chef Eddie Lee, a consultant who grew up frequenting Great Sea Chinese and other traditional Asian restaurants in Albany Park.
Lee, who is second-generation Korean American, said his love of Asian chicken wings stretches back to his childhood when his dad, who ran a photography business in Albany Park, would routinely send him to get carryout from Great Sea and other neighboring Asian restaurants.
“I grew up eating a lot of great wings,” Lee said.
With Landbirds, Lee said he’s looking to bring those traditional Asian flavors and techniques to Logan Square, where he now lives.
To start, Lee said he will only serve chicken wings made with homemade sauces. He said he wants to make sure his team has the process down and that people like them before he branches out. Slowly he’s planning to add more items to the menu like tofu and shrimp dishes, chicken tenders for kids and Asian-inspired sandwiches.
“I’m re-introducing some of the stuff I grew up on. Some of it won’t be touched at all because I think it’s perfect the way it is. Some of it will be new versions,” Lee said.
Drink-wise, patrons can expect Asian teas and sodas. The restaurant will be BYOB.
Lee has never opened a dine-in restaurant before, though he was a partner at Fire & Water Bakery in McKinley Park, which supplied fresh baked goods to restaurants in the city like The Spoke & Bird in the South Loop. He has also done consulting work for Chicago restaurants.
“I just really like food and I tend to stick with things that I like,” Lee said.
Lee said he’s excited to serve as both chef and owner at Landbirds. The name of the restaurant is a nod to the restaurant’s chicken-centric menu.
A grand opening will be announced in the coming weeks. But Lee is planning to open the restaurant sometime within the next few days for lunch service to test out the waters.
Do stories like this matter to you? Subscribe to Block Club Chicago. Every dime we make funds reporting from Chicago’s neighborhoods.