Yummy Bowl is inching closer to opening in the former Applebee’s space at McHenry Plaza on Richmond Road, but the debut is not a done deal yet. A chain press release named Friday as opening day, while franchise co-owner Chunbin Chen says the final scramble on cleaning, decor, and hiring could push customers’ first bowls back a few days. Renovations started in December, and the site still has to clear a required county pre-opening inspection before it can serve food.
Owner: final steps remain
Chen told Shaw Local in a phone interview that “the store is not ready yet” and that he has been relying on friends and family to help because hiring staff has been difficult. He said the opening is more likely to land on May 18 or May 20, 2026, instead of the earlier date floated by the chain. For now, crews are concentrating on deep cleaning and last details before anyone takes a seat.
Health permit and preopening inspection
McHenry County Department of Health spokesperson Nick Kubiak told Shaw Local that Chen had not yet filed the required health-permit application. Once that paperwork hits the county’s desk, an inspector is set to visit the next business day for a preopening inspection. The restaurant can only open if it passes that check, which means the actual launch hinges as much on county timing as on paint touch-ups.
What the menu will include
According to the chain’s website, the McHenry Yummy Bowl plans to serve build-your-own Mongolian stir-fry bowls, authentic Japanese ramen, premium sushi and crispy Korean fried chicken. The restaurant’s location page lists the address as 1700 N Richmond Rd and currently shows “Hours: Coming Soon.” The setup is expected to mirror other Yummy Bowl locations, with both sit-down dining and carryout options.
Where it fits on Richmond Road
The new Yummy Bowl is moving into a storefront at McHenry Plaza, a long-standing shopping center on North Richmond Road that city economic-development materials count among the corridor’s key retail spots. Local documents note that McHenry Plaza mixes national chains with local businesses, so filling the former Applebee’s site is a notable shift for the neighborhood’s retail lineup. A fresh sit-down restaurant could help keep foot traffic flowing to nearby shops and services.
Chen says he plans to bring on additional staff once the restaurant is officially open, replacing the friends-and-family crew now pitching in to get the space over the finish line. Residents curious about the exact opening date will have to watch for the health-permit filing and the required preopening inspection that must clear before the doors unlock.
