Hip-hop artist DJ Khaled’s popular Miami restaurant chain has just opened in Chicago.
The Licking Chicago held its grand opening Saturday in the city’s South Austin neighborhood.
The restaurant sits at 5045 W. Madison St. with a menu boasting a lobster dinner for $22.99.
Khaled, whose work includes “All I Do Is Win,” had previously said he intended to make the franchise accessible and bring jobs to communities that need them. The first restaurant in the franchise opened six years ago. There are now currently six restaurants in the chain.
Co-owner Coffey Weston, who is from Chicago, said he wanted to bring the Austin community "something like downtown has."
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"Good food, good dining, take out area- all of that," he said.
That was echoed by Regional Manager Sharod Robinson.
"We're about bringing jobs and creation to the urban neighborhoods," he said. "We employee over 100 employees and all of them are from within the community."
Robinson described the food as "urban cuisine" with a southern Miami flare.
"We specialize in our finger licking wings," he said.
And it appears the restaurant has Chicagoans interested.
Weston said the response so far has been "crazy."
"Nonstop," he said. "We're running out of food."
Restaurant officials said there may be future locations planned for Chicago.
"This is just the beginning," Weston said. "Big time. It's going to grow."
So what is the one thing diners should try?
According to Weston, it's the "fried lobster and seafood rice."
"You gotta have it," he said.
