Sarasota Restaurants: Black Kirin Modern Asian Coming Soon

SARASOTA, FL — Black Kirin Modern Asian, a new full service restaurant, is in build-out at 3255 University Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34243. Owner Rong Chen shared that they are targeting an opening around late November or early December.

Chen said the restaurant will take over a former Applebee's location and undergo a full interior overhaul. “We are redoing the kitchen, the whole kitchen, and the bar,” Chen told Business Debut.

What to Expect

Chen said the menu will lean on Chinese and Thai dishes, with select items from Korean and Malaysian cuisines. “The major part is about Chinese and Thai, but we also are featuring couple dishes from Korean cuisine and Malaysia,” Chen said.

On the Thai side, expect curries. From Korea, Chen plans to serve Korean rice cake and Korean barbecued spare rib.

Chen said the Chinese offerings will take a newer direction and focus on what Chen described as a healthier approach. “We do a little bit of the Chinese cuisine, but in a newer way,” Chen said.

The dining room will seat about 210 guests. “We're demo the previous bar which is in the central part and we are having a bigger bar,” Chen said.

Plans include both indoor and outdoor bar seating.

Opening Timeline

Chen said Black Kirin Modern Asian is targeting opening “around the end of November or early December.” That timing depends on construction progress and setup of operational systems.