Sunday, April 20, 2025
Roberto Chang, a modern street food restaurant with a Latin and Asian inspired menu, has officially opened for business on Merrick Road. Located next to the Governor’s Comedy Club, its seeking to establish itself as a staple in the area that offers a fun mix of options for breakfast, lunch and dinner — all cooked in a 100 percent seed oil free environment.
The store on Merrick Road in Bellmore is the flagship Roberto Chang location, and the first restaurant by businessman Paul Cicchetti. His hope is to turn it into a franchise designed for young ownership.
“I said to myself, “How do young people today get a chance to go into business?’” Cicchetti told the Herald. “It’s so expensive. So I came up with this concept here, and I’ve taken out a lot of the normal expenses to create this franchise for young entrepreneurs. First and foremost, this was a franchise designed with the ability for young people to get into business.”
Because of the healthier, oil-free cooking environment, Cicchetti said it eliminates some of the headaches that are associated with restaurant ownership.
“We don’t have a chef — we don’t have grease fryers,” he said. “We use technology, which is basically a hot air commercial fryer. What does that mean? Well, for the person who wants to buy this franchise, it’s simple. We could run these operations with two people.”
The restaurant’s namesake is derived from the real Roberto Chang, who was born in the Bronx to a Latin mother and an Asian father. Learning to cook from his family members, he blended flavors from both sides of his heritage. Eventually, the popularity of his food creations grew, and he became a local phenomenon.
On the menu, foodies can find everything from breakfast cuisine to dinner favorites. Grab an “everything bagel” wonton and a cup of gourmet coffee in the morning, and come back for an interesting mix of empanadas, artisan eggrolls, and even pizza for during lunch or dinner.
“If you’re driving down Merrick Road and you see a Burger King, you know exactly what they sell, but when you see a Roberto Chang, you may be confused — it says Latin and Asian modern street food,” he said. “We’re basically New York City-type street food, food that you can hold in your hand and walk down the street. You don’t need a knife; you don’t need a fork.”
Roberto Chang is also music-oriented. Video walls make for a fun and enjoyable experience, allowing guests to kick back and immerse themselves in both music and food.
Cicchetti explained that a lot of thought and care went into the development of Roberto Chang. Its slogan, “Taste the Experience,” embodies a lot of what it cares about — a healthy and robust line up of food, and a cultural immersion into music.
“Everything was done in a very specific manner — in a very strategic way, that way it is always going to be consistent,” he said. “When we use our cooking technology, it really is revolutionary. And not because it’s just that good — it’s just healthier too.”
Roberto Chang officially opened on Jan. 6, and hosted a “Grand Opening” weekend on March 1 and 2, allowing those interested in learning about the cuisine to “taste the experience.” Cicchetti expressed excitement over its storefront on Merrick Road, and is hoping the surrounding businesses can contribute to foot traffic as Roberto Chang continues to expand and grow.
“One of my goals is to grow this and build it up,” he said. “It’s fun — it’s scary — and it’s rewarding. We just want to keep working hard to make people happy.”
Roberto Chang is at 2973 Merrick Road. To learn more about the restaurant, its menu with healthier alternatives to most cuisine, and opportunities in franchising, visit RobertoChang.com or call (516) 213-0099.
