Shoryu snaps up third site
The group, led by Tak Tokumine, has secured a 1,300sq.ft unit situated next to Whyte & Brown in Kingly Court, just off Carnaby Street. The 55-cover restaurant will join Shoryu sites in Denman Street and Regent Street within the growing Shoryu portfolio.
“UK noodle culture has really become more sophisticated in recent years, especially in London where there are many east-Asian eateries vying for attention," Tokumine told BigHospitality. “While places such as Wagamama made this type of noodle-soup bowl a familiar sight, the style was more hybrid, combining Chinese, Japanese and south-east Asian flavours.
“As the British market has become more accustomed to noodles, we're able to introduce very specific dishes, such as Hakata tonkotsu ramen, for those looking for the ‘real deal.’”
Ramen - a Japanese noodle dish often flavoured with soy sauce or miso - will be priced between £9 and £11 at Shoryu Kingly Court, with Japan Centre’s executive chef Kanji Furukawa overseeing delivery of the dishes, which use a pork-based thick white soup and includes wasabi, piri piri and their signature Shoryu varieties. Traditional sushi, sashimi and starter dishes will also be available, along with a number of sides such as hirata buns, gyoza, pork dumplings and takoyaki deep-fried octopus balls.
Ramen revolution
As with the existing Shoryu Soho site, Shoryu Kingly Court will feature an open ramen kitchen, allowing diners to watch chefs preparing the tonkotsu ramen noodles from the Hakata district of Fukuoka City. There will also be outside seating and retractable windows for the summer months, while an extensively stocked bar will be complemented by a bar counter eating area.
The restaurant's interior, which has been created by Blenheim Design, will also feature an authentic 'Hakata Bei' wall, only the second example of the traditional tiling technique to be found in the capital - the other being in Shoryu Soho.
Shoryu Kingly Court is the newest addition to Japan Centre’s growing portfolio that includes their flagship supermarket on Shaftsbury Avenue; Shoryu restaurants in Regent Street and Denman Street; and Umai - a sushi & sake bar in Westfield Stratford City, along with an online shop.
Given the current popularity of ramen restaurants in London, Tokumine says the Shoryu ramen concept has the potential to grow outside of the capital. “There's no reason it can't expand out of London,” he added. “Inside the capital there's certainly still plenty of room for growth for those of us wanting to bring authenticity to the market.”
Shoryu Kingly Court will open in April.
