Further details of Akira Back’s first UK restaurants revealed

Further details of Akira Back’s UK restaurant debut have been announced, with a new opening date set for early 2024.

Mandarin Oriental Mayfair confirmed its restaurant partnership with the Korean-American chef in May this year.

The sister property to the five-red-AA-star Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, which is also expected to open in early 2024, will house two Akira Back restaurants: Akira Back and Dosa.

Akira Back will be a 148-cover Japanese restaurant serving lunch and dinner, with dishes such as the AB tuna pizza, consisting of a wafer-thin crust, umami aioli made with ponzu sauce, tuna sashimi, micro shiso and white truffle oil; and the Jeju domi, a sea bream with tobiko and chojang.

There will be three private dining rooms, named Chi, Sui and Ka, meaning earth, water and fire in Japanese philosophy.

Meanwhile, Back will also bring his Michelin-starred Dosa, which is based in Seoul, to the UK in the form of a 14-seater chef’s table offering contemporary Korean seasonal dishes. Dosa, which means gifted in Korean, will serve a set menu inspired by the four seasons.

Late night cocktail bar ABar Lounge will showcase signature serves such as Bouquet of Ghangzhou (grape skin vodka, St Germain, lacto-fermented peaches, chrysanthemum, burdock bitter, agave and Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial NV) and Javapolitan (quinoa vodka, Cointreau, clarified cranberry, lime, Indian spices and butterfly pea tea).

Bar snacks such as duck spring rolls, Korean chicken wings and Kaluga caviar will also be available.

The ABar rooftop has been scheduled to open later in 2024 in time for the summer.

The restaurants and bars have been created by Tokyo-based design studio Curiosity and will feature statement pieces such as mirrored and bronze ceilings.

Akira Back is a former professional snowboarder who was born in Seoul, Korea and raised in Aspen, Colorado. His dishes are influenced by his childhood memories of Korea and his love for Japanese culture.

He currently operates 25 restaurants across the globe, including in Paris, Las Vegas and Dubai.