LAKEVIEW — No more hailing a cab to Lincoln Avenue to belt out karaoke in private rooms or to grill your own bulgogi — Yuki Hana is bringing both Korean treats to Lakeview.
The sushi restaurant, 2920 N. Clark St., is expanding into the former Clothes Optional space, 2918 N. Clark St., building four private karaoke rooms and six tables dedicated to grilling Korean barbecue, said Yuki Hana's manager Muugii Tumee.
Tumee used to drive or take cabs up to the train-deficient area of Lincoln Square that's home to the city's Korean joints. He'd hang out with friends at the grill-it-yourself barbecue restaurants and in the karaoke rooms.
"It's fun," he said. "You get your own private room. You don't have to be good. You can be yourself."
But the Lakeview resident said he doesn't really go anymore because it seems too far. The neighborhood could use its own karaoke and Korean barbecue place, he said.
Yuki Hana's new portion will be connected to the current restaurant. The karaoke system will feature 30,000 to 40,000 songs, with options in English, Korean, Chinese and Russian. The front of the new portion will offer grills for customers to cook their own meat.
The plan is to open the new portion in two to three months.
