New Corridor Restaurant Offers Columbian Street Food

Iowa City is home to a new family-owned restaurant that specializes in fresh, Columbian street food! Que Chimba is now open in the Old Capital Town Center.

About Que Chimba

According to an article from the Daily Iowan, Que Chimba opened its doors at 201 S Clinton Street back on March 23rd. They report that the name of the new business "is a popular Colombian phrase meaning 'that’s great,' and is typically used as a reaction to something." The eatery was originally looking to move into Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville, but found that the downtown Iowa City location "fit their business model perfectly."

So far, students in Iowa City seem to be enjoying Que Chimba's Columbian street food. Alejandra Garavito, one of the folks behind the new restaurant, told the Daily Iowan that they were much busier than they expected during their in their first week, and that they've seen "a diverse demographic of customers."

The Menu

The menu at Que Chimba is fairly small, but the Daily Iowan reports that the owners plan to expand it in the future. For now, the items available include empanadas, arepas, patacón, and tequenos, with your choice of beef or chicken. There are also a couple of vegetarian options. Que Chimba hopes to eventually add Colombian hot dogs and more flavors of arepas to the menu. Current drink options include fruit juices and Colombian sodas.

Business Hours

Que Chimba is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday & Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. The reason they're able to stay open late is thanks to their walk-up window. Although the Old Capitol Mall closes at 7 p.m. (6 p.m. on Saturdays), they can continue to serve food through the window, kind of like a food truck. Great news for college students looking for a late night option!

For more information about Que Chimba, you can follow the official Instagram account HERE and the Facebook page HERE.

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