LIFE AND SEOUL: TRIO OF NEW OPENINGS AT CHINATOWN LONDON

Shaftesbury has announced the openings of three more East Asian concepts at Chinatown London, Europe’s foremost destination for representing traditions and trends across the Far East. The new tenants include a leading Korean grocery, and UK debuts for a Hongkongese café and regional Chinese restaurant.

Seoul Plaza has launched its Korean grocery-led store at Chinatown London’s 2,500 sq ft 65-67 Charing Cross Road unit, providing a selection of their most popular items, including kimchi, tofu, noodles, and canned drinks. Seoul Plaza also offers authentic Korean grab-and-go hot and cold food, with seating for up to 10 on the mezzanine level.

An 80 cover, 1,500 sq ft debut restaurant and café has opened at 68/70 Shaftesbury Avenue in Chinatown London, called The Eight. It takes inspiration from the traditional Hong Kong tearooms that originated in the 1950s. The menu includes 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.

Opening at one of destination’s most prominent gateways, on the corner of Shaftesbury Avenue and Wardour Street, is Kung Fu Noodle, the third new concept at Chinatown London from restaurateur Alex Xu. The 50-cover, 1,800 sq ft restaurant is the first live hand-pulled noodle concept within Chinatown London, and specialises in dishes from Gansu province in Northwest China.

Julia Wilkinson, Restaurant Director at Shaftesbury, added: “Authenticity is at the heart of everything we do, and no doubt these three bring that to Chinatown London. 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.”

Dan Suh, Managing Director at Korea Foods, parent company of Seoul Plaza, commented: “If you are looking for a tasty lunch at incredible value, or to cook a traditional East Asian dish or explore Korean snacks, we have something for you. 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.”

This news follows the signing of Pochawa at Chinatown London, with the casual Korean BBQ concept set to launch on Wardour Street later this year.

Further information can be found @ChinatownLondon and www.chinatown.co.uk