Trio of Asian concepts launch in London's Chinatown
The 80-cover, 1,500sq ft restaurant and café has opened on Shaftesbury Avenue and takes inspiration from the traditional Hong Kong tearooms that originated in the 1950s.
Menu items include traditional Hongkongese favourites, such as Wonton Noodle Soup, Pork Chop Pineapple Bun, and Volcano Egg on Rice, alongside snacks and variations of the region’s famous milk tea.
It is joined by Kung Fu Noodle, the third new concept at Chinatown London from restaurateur Alex Xu. Located on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue and Wardour Street, the 50-cover, 1,800sq ft restaurant is the first live hand-pulled noodle concept within London’s Chinatown, specialising in dishes from Gansu province in Northwest China.
Korean-led grocery store Seoul Plazam which serves authentic Korean grab-and-go hot and cold food and has seating for up to 10 on the mezzanine level completes the trio.
“Authenticity is at the heart of everything we do, and no doubt these three bring that to Chinatown London,” says Julia Wilkinson, restaurant director at Shaftesbury.
“Seoul Plaza adds a new element to the emerging hub of Korean brands on Charing Cross Road; The Eight offers a real sense of nostalgia for Hong Kong’s tea and café culture; and hand-pulled noodles will be on show at Chinatown London for the first time, as Kung Fu Noodle celebrates the traditional art.
“They all reflect some of the best things you can find in the Far East, and we’re delighted to have them as part of the line-up here.”
“Opening a site within Chinatown London has been a huge aspiration since we launched the business, and we are delighted to have started selling our authentic products within the destination,” adds Dan Suh, managing director at Korea Foods, which is the parent company of Seoul Plaza.
The openings are part of a number of new venues planned for Chinatown. Maguro Group, the Korean restaurant group behind London's Bullgogi, Gogi and Bunsik, will open casual Korean BBQ restaurant Pochawa Grill on Wardour Street later this year. Inspired by Pocha, a shortened version of the word Pojangmacha, which refers to a Korean street food stall or restaurant on wheels, the food offer will focus predominantly on street food dishes.
Former Nahm chef David Thompson will open an outpost of his casual Thai restaurant Long Chim having secured 9 Horse & Dolphin Yard for the restaurant. The new restaurant will have a 2,800sq ft basement level with a small ground floor mezzanine.
