BigHospitality revealed back in April that the Japan Centre CEO would open a 6,000sq ft space in September featuring a 100-cover dining courtyard with open kitchens.
Described as London’s only dedicated Japanese Food Hall, it will combine a main food hall and three different specialist food and drink rooms set around a central 100 seat dine-in courtyard and will be set over two floors.
The first specialist room will be The Tea Room, where customers will be able to order loose leaf tea as well as sample different teas. The second room - The Sake Room - will allow customers to browse, sample and purchase from the wide range of sake.
The Miso Room will serve fresh miso and allow customers to weigh their own and purchase hard to find miso from small producers.
The main food hall will offer a wide range of fresh, dry and packed goods with a large selection of ingredients, from dashi and soy sauce, to seaweed and freshly milled rice. It will also feature a Japanese bakery, fruit and vegetable stalls, sashimi fish and meat counters and a homeware section.
“This central location off Leicester Square will be the new home for all things Japanese in London with our Japanese take on the shop, dine and experience concept,” says Tokumine. “I’m very excited to be opening the doors this autumn”.
Tokumine, who also founded ramen business Shoryu, is also believed to be looking to create a Japanese version of Italian marketplace and foodhall Eataly in London. The location is still under wraps but he is understood to have secured a 14,000sq ft space for the venue.