'Chimaek' is a compound word, formed from the words ‘chicken’, and ‘maekju’, the Korean for beer. The concept is big in South Korea, and has also been influenced by its popularity on the streets of New York’s Lower East Side.
The 100-cover venue, which is currently in its soft launch stage, is at 30 Woburn Place, and features a 500 sq ft terrace with 30 extra covers overlooking Tavistock Square.
The menu focuses on free-range chicken that has been double-fried Korean style, and brushed with one of three sauces: the soy garlic, hot, or liquorice. There are also Asian-style ‘comfort food’ such as katsu bao, seaweed fries, and kimchi coleslaw.
The site claims to be the first restaurant in the UK to use the ‘bottom up’ beer system, which provides ice-cold pints in four seconds, filling the beer glass from the bottom up, using magnets and a special dispenser that seal the glass when dispensing is completed.
This is said to minimise spillage and make pouring quicker.
A 30-person-capacity private dining room will add an extra 20 seats, plus a self-service beer station, new sound system, and a 60-inch TV screening sports games or K-Pop karaoke sessions.
Wing Wing's colourful branding was inspired by K-Pop design, and was created by designers The Plant, who have also worked at the new Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square, and Jamie's Deli in Dusseldorf.