All-you-can-eat fried chicken is about to hit the East Village. Good Time Country Buffet, a Southern-style buffet from the team behind Kisa and C as in Charlie, is slated to open this spring at 166 First Avenue. The menu is built around the country buffet staples the partners grew up with in Atlanta, including fried chicken, collard greens, fried green tomatoes and stuffing. The new restaurant is taking over the former Ferns bar space and will run on a set-price buffet model.
As reported by Eater New York, Good Time Country Buffet is led by David JoonWoo Yun, Yong Min Kim and Steve JaeWoo Choi, and community paperwork shows the dining room will hold roughly 60 guests. PIX11 notes that the team is still finalizing buildout and staffing and will announce the exact grand-opening date once those pieces are locked in.
Who’s behind it
The trio has already built a following with inventive Korean American concepts. Kisa was named a James Beard Foundation Best New Restaurant semifinalist, while C as in Charlie earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, according to The James Beard Foundation and the Michelin Guide. That track record suggests Good Time Country Buffet will not be shy about bold flavors, even while it leans into classic comfort food.
What to expect
The buffet is built around Southern comfort plates, with fried chicken, greens and cornbread at the core, plus rotating sides that nod to old-school country buffets. The team is also leaving room for playful touches that reflect their Korean American background, though they have not detailed specific dishes yet. Community filings cite a set-price meal model, according to Eater New York, but the owners have not confirmed what that price will be.
Space and neighborhood
The group signed a long-term lease for the East Village address last August, taking over roughly 1,800 square feet on the ground floor plus a basement, a deal reported by Commercial Observer. the initial announcement noted that Ferns had occupied the space before closing in February 2025. Once it opens, the buffet will add a value-focused option to a block already packed with small, well-regarded restaurants.
Timeline
The partners are still circling a specific debut date, but they are aiming for a spring opening. As PIX11 reported, the official grand-opening announcement will arrive after buildout and staffing are complete. For now, East Village neighbors can look forward to a casual, set-price spread centered on hearty Southern plates, with the team’s now-familiar flair layered on top.
