A wave of Asian-inspired food offerings including a Korean fried chicken restaurant and an expansion of the popular Japanese ramen spot, Katsu Ramen, are coming to the Birchtree Center in Aurora this summer.

The Angry Chicken, a new, rice-battered fried chicken restaurant and bar concept, and Dae Gee, a Korean barbecue franchise with three locations in the metro area, are both under construction now the at shopping center on the southeast corner of East Jewell Avenue and South Havana Street.

John Kim and Hyun Kim are preparing to debut The Angry Chicken, their first restaurant, at the beginning of June once renovations to their new space are complete.

The two are gutting the former Whispers Bar & Grill location at 1930 S. Havana St. and adding 1,000 square feet of extra dining space in a full building and foundation expansion, bringing the space to about 3,200 square feet.

“This concept originated in Korea and it’s becoming very popular in the United States,” said John Kim, general manger of The Angry Chicken. “We’re creating a modern atmosphere with unique, good quality food in Aurora, but the staple is going to be our fried chicken, which is coated in rice. It’s very crispy and juicy. It’s going to be the best fried chicken that Colorado has to offer.”

“Havana Street is a prime location for us,” Kim said. “Aurora is the capital of Korean culture in Colorado, but we’re going to attract all kinds of customers with this fresh concept. Fried chicken is universal to all people.”

Next door, the vacant storefront that used to be Han Kang Korean Restaurant is being renovated to become Colorado’s fourth Dae Gee Korean barbecue location.

“I want to make this shopping center more like a place to eat for all families from everywhere,” said Chang Lee, who owns the Birchtree Center. “We have great Japanese and Korean food and a brand new full bar coming. It’s going to be a one-stop shop for places to eat.”

Lee also is the new owner of Katsu Ramen, which opened at 1930 S. Havana St. three years ago and had already practically outgrown its space. He bought the business from his friend Masumi Higo a few months ago and is now planning an expansion into the neighboring unit.

“That spot used to be Metro PCS,” Lee said. “They moved out last year, and we’re still figuring out what kind of concept we’ll have for the expansion. I think the dining room and kitchen will both need to get bigger though. The ramen broth we make is authentic and takes about 10 hours to make. The expansion will help us make the broth more efficiently.”

Construction on the Katsu Ramen expansion hasn’t started yet. Lee thinks the restaurant may need to close for a few days once that begins this summer.

Meanwhile, Whispers Bar & Grill is relocating down the street to 1535 S. Havana Street, behind Denny’s.

Terry Forehand, who has owned the popular neighborhood bar for 18 years, said she will have a grand reopening in a about a month after her new space is fully gutted and renovated. She’s hoping to book two of the bar’s local favorite performers, Jim Hyatt and Elvis impersonator Kelly Ray performing during the opening weekend.

“We still have a lot of work to do, but my new landlord is giving us three months to get up and running because I essentially have to start from scratch,” Forehand said. “When some of my customers heard I had to move, they all offered to help however they could because Whispers is a staple and they don’t want to see it close or go too far away.”