Uncle Roger to debut pan-Asian concept in Chinatown

Malaysian influencer turned restaurateur Uncle Roger (aka Nigel NG) will debut his pan-Asian concept Kawan by Uncle Roger this April.

Opening in Shaftesbury Capital’s Chinatown London, Kawan by Uncle Roger will be Ng's first restaurant in the UK.

It is being launched in collaboration with Keng Yew (co-founder of YiQi, SanHao, Dozo and The Eight) and Malaysian executive chef Daren Liew (Nanyang Blossom, SanHao, Duddels and Hakkasan Group).

Spanning 1,600 sq ft with 60 covers, the restaurant will offer a menu that draws on a wide range of Asian cuisines and family-style dishes, reinterpreted through a modern British lens.

Rather than focusing on strict regional authenticity, Ng says Kawan "celebrates flavour, comfort and generosity". Fried rice sits at the heart of the menu, serving as a canvas for flavour and technique, alongside a broader selection of Asian–British hybrid dishes.

“I’m so excited to be launching Kawan By Uncle Roger," says Ng. "Of course, there will be fried rice on the menu, but with a partnership with chef Daren Liew, there's going to be so much more than that - can’t wait to show you what we've been working on! Oh, and my uncle says he hopes Jamie Oliver pays a visit."

Ng has a worldwide following of 5m. 

"Chinatown London is the epicentre for on-trend F&B concepts from East and Southeast Asia, that have a unique ability to bring people together," adds Emma Matus, head of restaurant leasing at Shaftesbury Capital. "Kawan will be a one-of-a-kind experience, building on Uncle Roger’s charm and real passion for great food, and backed by Keng Yew and Daren Liew, both of whom have experience of Chinatown London and understand its audience inside-out.”  

The restaurant’s name, Kawan, means “friend” or “companion”.

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