Busaba Eathai to open flagship site in Shoreditch

Alan Yau’s casual dining chain Busaba Eathai is to celebrate its 15th birthday with a new flagship venue in Shoreditch that combines a restaurant and cooking academy. 

Spanning two floors, the 164-cover premises will open in February sporting a dedicated development and teaching kitchen in which executive chef Jude Sangsida and his wokmasters will educate both Busaba chefs and the public from April.

The latest venture is described as the ‘most ambitious’ for the group, which opened its first outlet in Soho in 1999 and currently operates 12 sites across London.

It will feature a dining room, tropical courtyard, two terraces, a bar and traditional attractions including a Buddha shrine and reflection pool.

“This launch marks a pivotal moment in the Busaba Eathai story,” Jason Myers, CEO of Busaba Eathai, said. “Our new site here in Shoreditch brings together all of the magic of its predecessors as well as representing our evolution as we celebrate our 15th birthday and look forward to our expansion across the UK.”

Opening week dishes will include customary Thai railway fried rice, Thai roti wraps and chilli beef rice, priced between £5 and £8.

As part of the launch, a number of free live events will be held from mid-February including Sookjai events, which focus on creating a happy heart, free yoga classes, meditation sessions, Cook Thai miniseries and well being talks. 

Hoxton radio will also join the team of resident DJs in Busbai Eathai Shoreditch bar, which has been themed on the Kinnaree – an angelic half-woman, half-swan graceful figure often found on temples and palaces in Thailand and decorated with Thai art, ranging from khon dance masks and bronze temple bells to a hand-carved Kinnaree statue.