Enter Blind Dragon Chicago, Where River North Karaoke Dreams Come True

Customers can live out their karaoke dreams with Asian-inspired drinks starting next week when the Chicago location of Blind Dragon opens in the basement of the new Found Chicago Hotel in River North at 613 N. Wells Street. Blind Dragon is a brand started by John Terzian and Brian Toll, two Southern California nightclub moguls who opened their first location in 2015 in West Hollywood. Their company, the H.wood Group, has opened Blind Dragons in LA, Dubai, and Scottsdale, Arizona.

The upscale karaoke bar will eventually serve small plates, but for its debut it’ll only offer cocktails from a drink list that differs from its LA counterpart; they focus on tiki on the Left Coast. There are eight house drinks and two of them could be made into large-format bowls for sharing for $175. The “Shogun Assassin” is a mule with ginger beer, vodka, and shoju that uses Thai chilies for an extra kick. The Blind Dragon’s Singapore sling uses lemongrass. Scope out the menu for ingredients including togarashi, shiso, and yuzu.

The dark basement space is meant to be a facsimilie of the LA bar: a sleek spot to belt out a tune. John Sofio of Built Inc. designed the room with a cornered long-standing bar and vintage tiki matting. It also houses three private karaoke rooms equipped with AV systems. Those with stage freight won’t have to worry about singing in front of random strangers.

Found Chicago’s restaurant, Mason, is also on its way, though a spokesperson didn’t have an opening date. The hotel will also house a coffee bar called Mason&Mason. Meanwhile, tour Blind Dragon below and check out the drink list. Blind Dragon’s official opening date is August 7, but it’ll host Lollapalooza private parties this weekend.