In honor of Lunar New Year, WTTW News visited a Bridgeport restaurant combining Mexican and Asian flavors. The owners of Belly Bowl Asian Kitchen and Lounge talked about the passion behind each dish and the concept for their new spot.

“We wanted a lounge area where people can eat and relax,” said Ivan Williams, who runs the restaurant with his wife, Stephanie Gong.

“We have Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Latino,” Williams said. “We try to mix it all up.”

The owners experiment with different spices and flavors, offering a blend of cultures. Customers can get Korean short ribs with rice; tofu soup; ramen; and Mexican sushi rolls.

“We know people love deep-fried food, so I made a Mexican roll,” Gong said. “It has cooked crab meat, cream cheese and a spicy mayo sauce.”

And if you’re still craving fried food, the restaurant offers a deep-fried tamale: a chicken green chile tamale served with Korean sauces on top.

“Anytime my mom comes to Chicago, she brings me enough tamales for a whole month,” Williams said. “I started to let everyone try them, and we started adding different spices.”

Belly Bowl is located at 3034 S. Halsted St. in Bridgeport.