Ichibuns opens in London's Chinatown

Japanese-inspired restaurant Ichibuns, from the founders of Nobu and Ping Pong has opened at 22 Wardour Street in Chinatown, London.

The 130-cover, 3,900 sq ft restaurant spans across three floors. The restaurant space takes up two floors while on the lower ground floor, a bar area features a wall lined with Japanese pachinko (arcade) machines and Japanese craft beer cans.

On the ground floor, guests can order from a concrete takeaway counter which has been moulded to represent Japanese granite. The menu offers a selection of Hokkaido-inspired cuisine, including wagyu beef burgers; ramen; coco whip soft serve and a selection of shakes and cocktails.

Designed by Noriyoshi Muramatsu of Tokyo's Studio Glitt, interiors are inspired by 1950s and 1960s Japanese subcultures meets American diner. Walls are decorated with Manga comics, vintage newspapers and Japanese fishing flags.

Benjamin Goldkorn, director of Ichibuns, said: "We are delighted to have opened our first restaurant in such an eclectic and high quality dining and cultural destination. Our focus on Japanese inspired ingredients and prime cuts of delicious beef, meant securing a location popular with food-loving and culturally inquisitive consumers was important to us. We therefore could not have asked for a better site than on Wardour Street, in the beating heart of Chinatown London."

Chinatown, managed by Shaftesbury, has 79 East Asian restaurants shops, bars and cafés.

Julia Wilkinson, group restaurant strategy executive at Shaftesbury, said: "We are thrilled Ichibuns has opened their debut site in Chinatown London, creating a truly unique Wagyu beef experience in an Instagrammer's heaven. The capital already boasts one of the world's most exciting gourmet burger scenes, and Ichibuns' innovative and alternative take on a hugely popular food trend, makes them an exciting new addition to Chinatown London's food operators where the best authentic Chinese and East Asian traditions meet modern dining experiences."

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