A new restaurant in downtown Kamloops that offers a creative take on Asian cuisine dishes is now in full swing after a soft opening this summer.
CM Chicken & Katsu, located on 4th Ave, opened its doors four months ago and has received praise for its freshness and unique take on Asian-inspired dishes.
The restaurant is being run by General Manager Leon Kim and Owner Katie Yun, who previously ran the popular North Shore restaurant Blue Fish Sushi.
The decision to relocate downtown came with some anxieties, but they both believed it was the right choice to start fresh with a new adventure.
Faizal Bukhari/The Omega
According to Yun and Kim, CM Chicken & Katsu is a new franchise restaurant under the Chungman brand, which is not yet commonly seen in BC.
“It is a fairly famous Korean Chicken brand across the world,” Kim said. “We figured they supply good food, and we want to bring that name into Canada.”
Since opening in the summer, they’ve been working to find the perfect menu for the customers in the community, serving fried chicken and other popular Asian food while only using fresh ingredients and keeping creativity alive has been their priority.
So far, the response has been positive despite the ongoing construction in the area, which is making it harder for people to visit.
“For a restaurant that has been open for four months, we’ve had a lot of good Google reviews, and people following us on social media as well,” Kim said. “Every customer that has come in has complimented our food and the quality of it.”
The restaurant’s ambiance offers a relaxing experience for customers to enjoy. A mix of modern and traditional Japanese Korean decoration adds to the experience of what the cuisine can offer.
To drum up excitement and appeal to younger adult patrons, the management said they’re in the process of developing a 10 per cent off offer for students, as well as targeted nights with special offers such as half-off beer. Additionally, there have also been talks about opening later, a decision they hope will make customers return to the location.
Starting next month, the restaurant will be on campus as it plans to bring its CM Poke Bowls for students to enjoy. The poke bowls are part of the new menu launched in the first week of November.
With over 20 years in the restaurant business, Yum and Kim guarantee a high kitchen experience and top-notch food quality from CM Chicken and Katsu.
For more information on changing menus and upcoming events, please visit their website here or stop by the restaurant at 125 4th Ave, downtown Kamloops.