Brace for a double crispy kick to hit Grand Avenue this summer as Bap and Chicken takes over the old Grand Shanghai location. The counter-service restaurant comes to the city from John Gleason, an industry veteran who has worked at a wide range of Twin Cities restaurants including Can Can Wonderland, Smith & Porter, Giordano’s Uptown, and more.

The under construction restaurant will serve eight to ten version of bibimbap, including a choose-your-own-adventure build-a-bowl option, plus several sauce options for the fried chicken. The flavors will be a combination of traditional Korean and familiar Midwestern. Gleason, a Korean adoptee who grew up in Minneapolis said, “It’s not a fusion, it’s the food I’m accustomed to. It’s the food of who I am.”

The interior is being designed with Fredrick Horton III of EncompassArts.

A chance to get a peek at what is happening here will come on Sunday June 2nd during the now-actually-happening-as-usual Grand Old Day, where Bap and Chicken staff will be on hand with Korean ice cream treats.