Operations
KYU igniting NYC lunch scene with to-go concept
Featuring a walk-up window offering a selection of sandwich versions of the upscale restaurant's most popular dishes, desserts and custom-crafted beverages, the pricing at KYU Grab & Go is more accessible to a lunch crowd. Sandwiches and chicken dishes range from $16 to $22, desserts from $10 to $12 and beverages from $5 to $8.
June 17, 2025 by Cherryh Cansler — Editor, FastCasual.com
KYU, a full-service restaurant known for its wood-fired flavors, is hoping to change the New York City lunch scene with the launch of KYU Grab & Go.
Featuring a walk-up window offering a selection of sandwich versions of the upscale restaurant's most popular dishes, desserts and custom-crafted beverages, the pricing is also more accessible to a lunch crowd. Sandwiches and chicken dishes range from $16 to $22, desserts from $10 to $12 and beverages from $5 to $8. It will operate Thursdays through Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The move into the takeout arena aligns perfectly with the burgeoning off-premise dining trend, with the National Restaurant Association reporting that 75% of restaurant traffic is now off-premise, according to Head Chef Raheem Sealey, the culinary force behind KYU NYC.
"The Grab & Go concept was created with the idea to meet New Yorkers where they are: always on the go," Sealey said in an email interview with FastCasual. "We saw an opportunity to expand from dinner into lunch, especially as trends show that takeout is a growing trend for young professionals looking for a quick bite in between meetings and for tourists looking for something new, cool, and delicious while exploring the neighborhood."
Seale, a Miami native with a culinary background that includes opening KYU Miami, designed the menu for on-the-go dining, featuring hand-held iterations of KYU's dishes.
"The go-tos are our cult-favorite Spicy Chicken Sandwich, and hand-held versions of KYU menu staples including the Smoky Short Rib in a sandwich and the Korean Fried Chicken takeout box with Japanese sweet potato chips," Sealey said. "The menu also has some of our signature items off the dinner menu, including the Coconut Cake and the Cinnamon Roll."
To complement the food offerings, KYU has partnered with Art of Tea and Brooklyn-based Big Apple Roasters for a selection of beverages.
KYU, with locations in Miami, Las Vegas, Mexico City and Manhattan, is known for its crispy, smoky and umami-rich flavors. It was recently featured in an episode of "And Just Like That…"
About Cherryh Cansler
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