Beefy King reopens to large crowds after fire; arrest made

Longtime Orlando restaurant Beefy King is back to serving roast beef and tater tots after being closed for more than a week from a fire.

The restaurant, which originally opened in 1968, reopened Wednesday and served about 800 sandwiches compared with 450 to 500 on a normal day, owner Roland Smith said.

“It was all that we had hoped for plus some,” he said. “It was unbelievable.”

The fire happened on Nov. 12 at about 1:40 a.m. at the restaurant at 424 N. Bumby Ave. in the Milk District.

John Cairl Huff, 36, was arrested and faces charges of second-degree arson and criminal mischief, according to Orange County records. Huff entered a written plea of not guilty in court last week.

According to an arrest affidavit, Huff repeatedly confessed to setting the fire, and surveillance cameras place him at the scene.

Fire scorched the exterior while the interior suffered water damage, and holes cut by firefighters were left in the ceiling last week, Smith said.

After the fire was cleared, workers were seen daily repairing the restaurant.

Restaurant regulars and Beefy King fans brought Smith and his family coffee, doughnuts and small monetary donations to help repair the restaurant as quickly as possible.

A hot chicken concept selling out at Orlando events in recent weeks is getting a more permanent space in an Orlando food truck park.

Chicken Fire, which has been serving Nashville-style chicken from a food trailer at events at spots like Redlight Redlight bar and East End Market, will be joining À La Cart in the Milk District at the start of the new year, owner Kwame Boakye said. The food truck venue is at 609 Irvington Ave., Orlando.

Buzz has built around Chicken Fire since its first event in October, with events in recent weeks selling out, Boakye said.

The eatery’s fried chicken features a hot oil glaze that includes cayenne pepper, brown sugar and other spices. There are different levels of heat available and the chicken is served with pickles over a slice of bread.

“I call it the perfect blend of salt, sweet and heat,” he said.

BaBbi BaBbi Korean Kitchen is set to open in late December by Doctor Phillips.

The 3,053-square-foot restaurant is slated to join Phillips Crossing, at Sand Lake and Turkey Lake Roads near Interstate 4 and anchored by a Whole Foods Market.

The menu will include the Korean rice dish bibimbap. Meals also come with free side dishes, such as kimchi, according to a news release from Weingarten Realty.

The soft opening will take place in late December followed by a grand opening in the first part of next year.