As reported by Sauce Magazine, Nick Bognar, the James Beard-nominated chef behind lauded local eateries Indo, Sado and Pavilion is set to open his fourth restaurant concept, Khao Soi Cowboy, in spring 2027 in the former TURN space at KAF-owned .ZACK. Located at 3224 Locust St. in Midtown, the restaurant and bar will focus on “purposefully inauthentic” Northern Thai and Southeast Asian cuisine in a high-energy, dive-bar style atmosphere, offering all-day lunch and dinner service as well as late-night dining and tiki-inspired cocktails.
The restaurant’s namesake, Khao Soi, is a Northern Thai curry noodle soup that was a staple of Bognar’s childhood, cooked by his grandmother. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he offered the soup to-go at Indo, inspiring the demand for a new restaurant with the dish as its focus.
“I always wanted to open a more casual concept,” Bognar told Sauce. “We’ve always been playful and creative with our restaurants, but I really want people to experience the loud Southeast Asian culture and the boldness of our food, drinks, decor, music, service and overall vibes at Khao Soi Cowboy.”
The concept is a welcome addition to the neighborhood and to .ZACK following the closing of David Kirkland’s TURN in March 2026 after nine successful years in the space.
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome Nick and Khao Soi Cowboy to .ZACK and provide yet another reason for people to come to Midtown and explore the area,” said KAF Executive Director Chris Hansen.
