An exciting new dynamic duo is about to take London’s restaurant scene by storm. Andrew Wong, the chef behind the exceptional two Michelin-starred dim sum restaurant A Wong, is linking up with Dishoom’s co-founder Amar Radia to create a brand new gastropub in the capital. Talk about a dream team.
London’s gastronomic equivalent of Maverick and Goose are opening Kong in Shoreditch, which is what they’re calling a ‘Chinese public house’, AKA a boozer serving top notch Chinese food. They have been pretty tight-lipped about the menu so far, but hinted that there will be ‘dumplings at dawn, noodles at lunch, grills with a cold pint at dusk’. The concept will pay homage to the history of Chinese communities in the East End, which was home to the capital’s original Chinatown from the 18th to the mid-20th century.
Kong will open in the Nolton Folgate development in Spitalfields, taking over what was once the much-loved Water Poet. The former boozer closed down in 2019 due to redevelopment.
We don’t know exactly when Kong will open yet, but according to the developer’s website it will be arriving around autumn. You can sign up for updates on the Kong Instagram.
Andrew Wong said: ‘Kong is a Chinese kitchen reflecting our personality, shaped by London, the East End, China, and A Wong. Untraditional, instinctive, fearless, all-day cooking.’
Amar Radia said: ‘The grand east London pub and the Chinese kitchen have been part of London for over two hundred years. Kong honours that history while writing the next chapter – a Chinese Public House with a warm, wide welcome.’
London’s best Chinese restaurants.
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