Tender Lovin' Chix, a new chicken and fried rice restaurant, opens in Minneapolis

Tender Lovin' Chix is ready for its next phase.

Marques Johnson and Billy Tserenbat (of Billy Sushi) opened the brick-and-mortar location of their food truck concept on Monday.

The shop is now dishing up an expanded menu, which still includes the chicken tenders and fried rice on which it built a name, at the former home of Fire & Nice Ale House .

While the food truck only launched in early 2023, by November it had already taken over the space at 2700 Lyndale Ave. S in Minneapolis, working for months to transform it into a streamlined restaurant with bold red and white branding

The restaurant builds on the food truck concept with TVs for sporting events and a bar that serves cocktails, beer, wine, and sake.

With more space for culinary exploration, the menu has expanded, now including items like chicken curry and chicken teriyaki, as well as new apps like onion rings and chicken dumplings.

The new Tender Lovin' Chix (aka TLC) is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Related: Where your favorite Twin Cities food trucks will be the week of Aug. 19