The Chairman Opening a Tenderloin Brick-and-Mortar

[Photo: Sergio Ruiz/Flickr]

Popular food truck The Chairman (the artist formerly known as Chairman Bao) has amassed a following of loyal fans across the Bay Area. Now, owner Curtis Lam is ready to anchor his operation with a permanent brick-and-mortar location in the Tenderloin, giving hungry pork-belly bun chasers a sure bet for their next fix.

The location is the company's former commissary kitchen, a 900-square-foot space which Lam is in the process of repurposing as a cozy spot for lunching, complete with 14-15 counter seats. Lam also hopes to repair the trees outside of the space, with the potential to add planter seating outdoors.

In addition to the signature bao, the new spot will feature an expanded menu of noodle and rice bowls, salads, and additional sides, and Lam says some custom housemade sodas may be in the works as well. But for fans of their food-truck offering, which includes baked and steamed buns, Lam stresses that their core menu will remain a focus. "We're really excited to step off the truck and come back to a restaurant environment," said Lam, who says he's excited to see how the menu works out in this new setting.

The Larkin Street location is now in the midst of a full buildout, but Lam hopes that it will be ready to debut by midsummer. And fans of the truck, fear not: The Chairman will continue to make appearances in mobile form.

· Chairman Bao Drops the "Bao" [~ ESF ~]
· Zagat Names Chairman Bao to Top 5 SF Food Trucks [~ ESF ~]
· The Chairman Truck [Official website]