Casita de lil Chingu: A reinvention of Chingu in a new neighborhood, service model
KeeYoung Kim // 2023 photo by Zach Bauman
The closure of Chingu in May of 2025 was a surprising hit to our city’s dining scene.
Fans haven’t been completely without Chef KeeYoung Kim’s food, though. Kim has maintained other projects, such as Chingu Coffee in West Plaza, Sura Eats sauces, consulting on the menu for KC Pickle Club, and holding pop-ups at local events.
Now, Kim has taken up residency on the Kansas side, serving some familiar Chingu dishes with a twist.
Kim, Gil Zavala, and Jesus Zavala have created Casita de lil Chingu to serve food at Garden House Cafe and Sagebrush.
Casita De Lil Chingu Food At Garden House Cafe // Photo courtesy of Jordan Fox
After a few pop-ups at Garden House Cafe and Sagebrush earlier this year, Chingu–now Casita de lil Chingu–has a longer-term plan for serving the Rosedale community. Starting last weekend, a new menu of Korean/Mexican dishes can be enjoyed at Garden House Cafe and Sagebrush cocktail bar.
“I’ve always enjoyed being at Sagebrush and Garden House as a customer,” says Kim. “I respect them and what they bring to the KC community, so that was a great foundation. We weren’t actively looking to start anything up again, but when approached with this opportunity, we became excited about the idea of being part of what they are building in that corner of Rosedale. Coffee, cocktails, curated local goods, and food–all the best things in one spot.”
The type of Korean and Mexican dishes that customers can expect include a carne asada taco, with a “kimchi-fied” pico de gallo and a gochujang-marinanded doeji al pastor, according to Kim. Fan-favorites from Chingu, such as Korean fried chicken, tteokbokki, Brussels sprouts, galbi, and bibimbap, may be found on the menu as time goes on, but likely with new Mexican influences.
The local response has been “incredible,” says Kim. “Sagebrush and Garden House have been doing something really special here. We’ve met people who live close by, and they seem excited to have a food option within walking distance or a short drive away. It’s been great to see regulars from Chingu and Chingu Coffee come out to support as well.”
Casita de lil Chingu food at Garden House Cafe // Photo courtesy of Jordan Fox
Kim has drink recommendations for both spots. A simple but potent espresso or a classic drip coffee at Garden House Cafe is what Kim recommends for a breakfast or brunch stop, while the house margarita or daiquiri is his go-to at Sagebrush.
The residency is a long-term plan, but there are no guarantees in the restaurant industry. “We need to figure out the logistics for turning the space into a full kitchen/permanent location, which is one of our goals, but we’re taking it one step at a time,” notes Kim.
Chingu, and now Casita de lil Chingu, remains a reminder to patronize and appreciate our local favorites while we can.
Casita de lil Chingu has residency inside Garden House Cafe and Sagebrush at 1639 Southwest Blvd, Kansas City, KS 66103, with service on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The hours are limited, so check each establishment’s social media for specifics.
