Two new restaurants coming to Chinatown London

Two new restaurants are opening in Chinatown, London. Zhang Liang Malatang, a Chinese concept with more than 5,500 outlets across the Asia-Pacific, is making its European debut in the city, joining Speedboat Bar – a new Thai restaurant from JKS Restaurants and chef Luke Farrell.

Located at 112 Shaftesbury Avenue, the 1,200sq ft Zhang Liang Malatang's hero dish is Malatang – a spicy soup originating from Sichuan province that is now a popular street food dish throughout China. Diners can choose from fresh ingredients including meats, seafood, vegetables, condiments and herbs, allowing them to customise their bowl beforee taking it to the counter to be served with their soup of choice. 

"Chinatown London provides a unique window on the Far East in Europe, which is reflected in its complete representation of authentic and exciting food and culture from east and south east Asia," says a spokesperson from Zhang Liang Malatang. "To have welcomed Zhang Liang Malatang, such a prominant concept known across Asia-Pacific, alongside Speedboat Bar, an innovative restaurant at the forefront of reimagined Thai cuisine, is a direct response to the trends that we are seeing first-hand in the far east."

Speedboat Bar, the third brand from JKS, is located at 30 Rupert Street. With a menu created by Farrell, who spent over 15 years training and working in south east Asia, the brand's offering is inspired by Bangkok's Chinatown. The restaurant's signature dish is a creamy Tom Yam Mama. Its kitchen is powered by a large Chinese bullet oven to create crispy pork bellies and salt-roased poultry. 

Karam Sethi, founder of JKS Restaurants, comments: "We're pleased to have brought Speedboat to London's Chinatown. The space is a loving recreation of the restaurants and bars of Bangkok Chinatown's Yaowarat Road, conceived with our partner, Luke Farrell. Guests can come in from lunch through to late night to enjoy zingy salads, stir fries, noodles and aromatic curries with whisky sodas in a lively, buzzing space."

The openings of Zhang Liang Malatang and Speedboat Bar follow the launch of hand-pulled noodle restaurant Kung Fu Noodle and the announcement that Pochawa Grill, Maguro Groups’ debut casual Korean BBQ concept, is set to open later this year.

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