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'Kay's Kitchen' brings Chicago-style food to Tampa

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Supporting black-owned businesses is an easy way you can make a difference right now in the movement for racial equality.

If you love southern home cooking, there's a restaurant in the university area you need to check out.

Kay's Kitchen bills itself as "Tampa's only Chicago style fried chicken and fish restaurant." Chef Kay Lee cooks up everything herself.

"I'm from Chicago. My husband and I wanted to give Tampa a taste of home so we started 'Kay's Kitchen.'" Lee said. "We have a special blend of seasoning that we put on our chicken, fish and shrimp."

That seasoning combined with a "Chicago style mild sauce" gives all these southern favorites a spicy mid-west twist.

Lee and her husband, Alvin first started serving food in a food truck. It was such a hit, they soon needed a brick and mortar location.

They opened their location at 11124 N. 30th Street in Tampa last summer.

Earlier this year Lee put in a walk-up window, a throwback to her food truck days. It turned out to be a wise investment. When the pandemic shut down dining rooms at restaurants, the walk-up window kept the business booming.

If you go, call in your order and don't forget dessert! There's usually homemade red velvet or pound cake.