Japanese restaurant concept Kanpai Classic has signed for its debut site in the UK.
The company, which operates nine restaurant brands across Taiwan and China, has taken a 4,317 sq ft unit at 147-149 Wardour Street in Soho.
Kanpai Classic specialises in serving bite-sized chunks of wagyu beef cooked over a charcoal flame. It’s 86-cover London restaurant will be overseen by executive chef Nicolo Bolognesi, formerly of Nobu Hotel Portman Square, and will initially offer a 14-course omakase menu.
Soji Hiraide, CEO and founder of Kanpai Group, said “Having introduced wagyu to Taiwan and China, we’re about to do the same in Europe. We can’t wait to give London its first proper taste of the world’s finest beef.”
Nick Weir, joint managing partner at Shelley Sandzer, which represented Kanpai Group on the letting, added: “Kanpai will be a fantastic addition to Wardour Street, bringing an exciting and distinctive offer to Soho’s bustling community of tourists, locals, and office workers. A tried and tested concept that has experienced huge success across Taiwan and China, and we are proud to have assisted Kanpai in its European debut, the latest in a long list of London debuts by leading international operators we have helped facilitate.”
