Family-Owned Chinese Concept Opening in Jacksonville's Southside

JACKSONVILLE, FL — Licious Noodles and Bao is preparing to open its next Florida location at 4160 Southside Blvd #2B, Jacksonville, FL 32216, bringing the family-run Chinese concept to the Southside area. Owner Josh Cai told Business Debut the restaurant is targeting an opening within the next one to two months.

The family-run concept, led by father-and-son team Gang and Josh Cai, continues its Florida growth with this third location.

What to Expect

The Jacksonville location is planned as a full-service, sit-down restaurant centered on approachable pricing and traditional Chinese comfort food, Cai told Business Debut.

The dining room is expected to include approximately 35 tables, and over 100 seats.

Menu and Vision

Licious Noodles and Bao focuses on Chongqing- and Shanghainese-style dishes, with recipes developed by head chef Gang Cai. Before moving to Florida, the family operated a Chinese restaurant outside the state, where Gang Cai spent years refining the dishes that would later become the foundation of Licious Noodles and Bao.

“My dad has been cooking his whole life,” Josh Cai told Business Debut. “This is really his food and his experience coming together.”

Menu highlights include Yibin-style dry noodles, spicy soup dumplings featuring Sichuan peppercorn, and rotating vegetable-forward dishes such as a green onion oyster mushroom appetizer, Cai said.

Growth Story

The family relocated to Florida several years ago and opened their first Licious Noodles and Bao location shortly after arriving. Josh Cai told Business Debut that the initial Florida restaurant was a modest operation, run largely by family, as they worked to introduce regional Chinese dishes that were less familiar to many local diners.

As word spread and customer demand grew, the concept expanded to additional Florida markets, with the Jacksonville restaurant marking the brand’s third location in the state.

“We didn’t rush anything,” Cai told Business Debut. “We focused on getting the food right and learning each market before growing.”

Opening Timeline

The Jacksonville location is in the final stages of construction and is targeting an opening within the next one to two months, Josh Cai told Business Debut.

Cai told Business Debut the family plans to continue growing thoughtfully, focusing on additional Florida markets once the new Jacksonville restaurant is established.

Hours

Planned hours are seven days a week from 11 a.m.—9 p.m., with the kitchen closing at 8:30 p.m.

Follow for More

Visit their Website, Facebook, and Instagram

Are you a restaurant vendor? Join our referral network and reach more interested prospects.