One of London’s most influential restaurateurs, Alan Yau, is to make a spectacular return to the capital next year with a Docklands restaurant he likens to a “Chinese River Cafe”.
The Hong Kong-born founder of the Wagamama chain, and fine dining landmarks such as Hakkasan and Yauatcha, has not been directly involved in London’s dining scene since he pulled out of Chinese restaurants Park Chinois and Duck + Rice and Middle Eastern restaurant concept Babaji Pide in 2017.
However, Yau, 56, told the Evening Standard he is planning a big comeback in 2020 with three launches: two in Canary Wharf and one at the Westfield London shopping centre in Shepherd’s Bush.
The highest profile will be Chyna — a “relaxed” 120-cover seafood restaurant at Wardian London, a high-rise development of 766 apartments which is due to welcome its first residents early next year.
Yau said Chyna will have a large terrace overlooking the open water of Canary Wharf’s South Dock, making diners “feel as if you are sitting in a restaurant in Phuket or in the Caribbean”.
The restaurant’s seasonally led menu will focus on Cantonese cooking using British seafood, with European-style ingredients including Iberico ham and fresh sea cucumbers from Spain.
It will also have its own water market — a series of tanks from which guests can choose live seafood and fish.
Describing Chyna’s food offering, Yau said: “It is almost like what I would put together if you were coming to my house for a dinner party.”
He will also open a smaller, 45-cover Japanese-inspired counter restaurant, Yau Grilling, at Wardian London.
And the restaurateur revealed he is planning a permanent location for his Turkish pizza pop-up Yamabahçe, which has been in Marylebone and is now set to open in Westfield London in early 2020.
